Decorated medovníky, Slovak spiced honey cookies. (source: TASR)
Medovníky is often translated as gingerbread, but they are very different cookies, at least in my opinion.
Medovníky are sweetened with honey and a blend of spices - what exactly is in the spice mix differs according to brand but cinnamon, anise, and cloves are essential. Gingerbread contain molasses, and also a blend of spices, but cinnamon and ginger are the essential spices. The texture of medovníky tends to be drier and they aren't quite as sweet or dark as gingerbread.
Both cookies will fill your kitchen with the aroma of spices and caramelizing sugars. They are the perfect antidote to long nights and dreary days.
Medovníky are ideal for Christmas baking because ideally they should be made at least a week in advance. Stored in an airtight container, often with a slice of apple added, the cookies will soften over a few days.
If you live in Slovakia, you can buy a ready made spice mix called perníkové korenie. Each brand tastes a little different. If you don't live in Slovakia, a quick and easy mix is 3 teaspoons cinnamon, 1.5 teaspoons anise, and 1/2 teaspoons cloves. You can find a more complex mix here.
Ingredients
Active preparation: 45 minutes
Total cooking time: 3 hours
Servings: 5 cookie sheets worth
½ cup (125 g) butter (salted or unsalted)
½ cup + 1 Tbsp (180 g) honey
1¾ cup (220 g) icing sugar
3 eggs
1½ tsp baking soda
3 tsp medovniky spice mix (see note above)
5 cups (600 g) all purpose flour (hladká múka if in Slovakia)
1 egg for brushing
Preparation
Step 1
Heat butter, honey, and sugar in a small pot until just melted, stirring constantly. While the mixture is warm but not too hot, add the eggs and mix. If it is too hot, the eggs will cook in the pot.
Step 2
In a bowl mix dry ingredients and pour in the warm mixture. Mix the dough until the flour is incorporated. The dough will be somewhat sticky.
Step 3
Cover and store in a cool place (the fridge, a winter balcony) for a few hours to overnight.
Step 4
Roll out the dough about 4mm (1/64 inch) thick, using only enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to the countertop. Cut out with desired cookie cutters. Transfer to a greased or parchment-paper lined cookie sheet.
Step 5
Beat an egg and brush the cookies with the egg with a pastry brush.
Bake at 180C (355F) for about 10 min, or until golden. Take out of the oven and allow to cool, ideally on a cooling rack.
Step 6
When cool, store in an airtight container for a few days with a slice of apple to allow them to soften.
Leave plain or decorate with royal icing. Classic medovníky are often decorated only in white, with lots of curls and dots. Enjoy!
