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Stack of golden orange blossom honey cookies glazed with honey and topped with orange zest on a wooden board

Orange Blossom Honey Cookies: Soft, Fragrant Bites

Soft honey cookies flavored with orange blossom water and orange zest, brushed with a warm honey glaze after baking.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 4 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Calories: 108
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cookie Dough
  • 250 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 115 g unsalted butter, softened
  • 80 g honey orange blossom honey preferred
  • 1 egg large
  • 2 tbsp orange blossom water
  • 1 tbsp orange zest from 1 orange
  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds optional, for coating
Honey Glaze
  • 60 g honey
  • 1 tbsp orange blossom water
  • 1 tbsp orange juice freshly squeezed

Method
 

Make the Dough
  1. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
  2. In a separate bowl, beat softened butter and honey until smooth and pale, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the egg, orange blossom water, and orange zest, mixing until fully combined.
  4. Fold in the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms, no streaks of flour remaining.
  5. Cover and chill the dough for 30 minutes, until firm enough to roll without sticking.
Shape and Bake the Orange Blossom Honey Cookies
  1. Heat the oven to 175 C / 350 F and line a sheet pan with parchment.
  2. Roll dough into 24 balls, about 1 tablespoon each, and place 2 inches apart on the pan.
  3. Press the tops lightly with your palm to flatten slightly, and press sesame seeds on top if using.
  4. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until the edges turn light golden and the centers look just set.
  5. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack.
Glaze the Cookies
  1. Warm the honey, orange blossom water, and orange juice in a small saucepan over low heat until thin and pourable, about 1 minute.
  2. Brush the glaze over the warm cookies while they're still on the rack.
  3. Let the glaze set for 15 minutes before serving or storing.

Notes

  • Chill dough 30 minutes minimum, longer chilling makes rolling easier
  • Don't overbake, pull at 12 minutes for soft centers
  • Brush glaze on while cookies are still warm from the oven
  • Use a light hand with orange blossom water, it turns bitter fast