Pryaniki (Russian Spiced Honey Cookies)
Local name: Пряники
In short: Soft, cake-like Russian honey cookies spiced with ginger, cinnamon and cloves, then brushed with a sweet lemon glaze. Good with hot tea. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 1 h 20 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 275 kcal
Pryaniki are Russian spiced honey cookies that sit somewhere between a soft biscuit and a small cake. The dough is made by melting honey, sugar and butter together, then mixing in egg, sour cream and warming spices. Thick rounds are baked until just set and brushed with a thin lemon glaze while still warm. Many families make a batch for winter holidays and keep a tin for tea, since pryaniki stay soft for days.
Instructions
- Heat the honey, sugar and butter in a saucepan over low heat for about 4 minutes, stirring, until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Take it off the heat and cool for 10 minutes.
- Whisk in the egg and sour cream. Mix the flour, baking soda, spices and salt in a bowl, add them to the pan and stir until a soft dough forms.
- Wrap the dough and chill it for 1 hour. Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line two baking trays with baking paper.
- Roll the dough on a floured surface to 1 cm (3/8 inch) thick. Cut 6 cm (2 1/2 inch) rounds and reroll the scraps.
- Set the cookies on the trays 3 cm (1 inch) apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, one tray at a time, until puffed with lightly golden edges. The centers should still feel soft.
- Cool on a rack for 10 minutes. Whisk the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth, brush the glaze over the warm cookies and let it set for 20 minutes.
Tips
- Do not overbake. Pryaniki should stay soft and cakey, so take them out when the edges are set but the tops still look slightly pale.
- A mild blossom honey gives a gentler flavor than dark buckwheat honey. For a filled version, sandwich two cookies with thick jam before glazing.
Questions and answers
What are pryaniki?
Pryaniki are soft, spiced honey cookies from Russia, somewhere between a cookie and a small cake. They are often glazed and eaten with tea.
How long do pryaniki keep?
Stored airtight they keep for up to 5 days and stay soft. Unglazed cookies also freeze well for up to 2 months.
Can I use other spices in pryaniki?
Yes. Ground coriander, allspice, anise or a little black pepper are all used in Russian spice cookies. Start with small amounts, since cloves and nutmeg are strong.
How long does it take to make Pryaniki (Russian Spiced Honey Cookies)?
About 55 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pryaniki (Russian Spiced Honey Cookies)?
About 275 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 50 g of carbohydrates and 7 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 275 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 50 g |
| Fat | 7 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 28 g |
| Sodium | 140 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
