Polish Honey Cookies (Piernik)

By es123

Ingredients

• 1 cup clover honey
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon hot water
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup rye flour
• Confectioners' sugar, Burnt Butter Icing or Orange Buttercream

Preparation

Step 1

To brown the honey, pour it into a small, heavy saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and cook about 8 to 10 minutes, or until honey just begins to give off a burnt-caramel aroma.Immediately pour into a heatproof glass measuring cup. There should be about 7/8 cup honey, and it should be a deep amber. Set aside to cool.

Beat eggs until thick and pale yellow. Add sugar and beat another minute. Add vanilla and almond extracts. Dissolve baking soda in hot water and stir into batter, then stir in melted butter. Stir in all-purpose and rye flours. Dough will be very soft and sticky, like a thick batter.

Chill dough for about 30 to 40 minutes, or just until you can work it.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease or spray cookie sheets.

With floured hands, pinch off small pieces of dough and roll into 3/4- to 1-inch balls. Place on cookie sheets at least 2 inches apart (cookies will spread). Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until golden.Remove immediately to wire racks to cool.

Before serving, dust cookies with confectioners' sugar or spread with icing.