Pryaniki – Russian Honey Spice Cookies Recipe
Pryaniki are traditional Russian honey spice cookies known for their fragrant blend of spices and a sweet honey base. These soft yet slightly chewy cookies are glazed with a simple powdered sugar and milk icing, making them perfect for tea time or festive occasions. With spices like allspice, nutmeg, and anise, these cookies offer a warm, cozy flavor profile reminiscent of classic Eastern European treats.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes (including resting time)
- Yield: About 48 cookies (depending on cookie size) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Russian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup instant coffee
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups honey
- 1–2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon anise (ground or liquid extract)
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 6 cups all purpose flour
For the Glaze
- 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
Instructions
- Prepare Coffee Base: In a medium saucepan, dissolve the instant coffee in the hot water, ensuring it is fully blended.
- Cook Honey Mixture: Add butter, granulated sugar, and honey to the coffee mixture. Heat on medium, stirring constantly until the butter melts and sugar dissolves into a homogeneous mixture. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl; let cool for 10-15 minutes.
- Add Spices: Stir in vanilla extract, allspice, grated nutmeg, and anise. Optional: add cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, or mint extract for extra flavor complexity.
- Incorporate Eggs and Leavening: Whisk in eggs, then add the baking soda dissolved in vinegar and baking powder. The mixture will fizz slightly as the leavening reacts.
- Mix in Flour: Add the all-purpose flour gradually, stirring with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together and flour is fully incorporated.
- Rest the Dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel; let it rest at room temperature for at least 4 hours or overnight. This resting period improves dough texture and flavor melding.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Heat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape Cookies: Using a 1 Tablespoon measuring scoop, portion the dough into balls. Roll each ball gently between your hands to get uniformly sized cookies. Place them spaced apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Avoid overbaking to keep the cookies soft and tender.
- Make the Glaze: While baking, whisk together powdered sugar and milk in a large bowl until smooth. Add flavor extracts like vanilla, mint, or almond if desired.
- Glaze Cookies: Once cookies are cooled, dip each one into the glaze, allowing excess to drip off. Place glazed cookies on a rack or parchment to dry. For even coating, flip cookies when glaze hardens and glaze the other side. Work quickly as the glaze can dry fast; thin with a splash of milk if needed.
- Store: Keep the glazed pryaniki in an airtight container at room temperature to retain freshness.
Notes
- Resting the dough overnight enhances the flavors and texture of the cookies.
- Glaze can be flavored with different extracts to match personal taste preferences.
- Do not overbake; pryaniki should be soft rather than crunchy.
- Use precise measuring scoops for uniform cookie size and even baking.
- Additional warm spices such as cinnamon or cardamom can be added to the dough for a richer spice profile.
Keywords: Pryaniki, Russian cookies, honey spice cookies, traditional Russian dessert, honey cookies, spiced cookies, glazed cookies
