Spiced Vanilla Honey Cookies Recipe (2024)

By Mary | 6 Comments

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Spiced Vanilla Honey Cookies Recipe (1)

Lately, I've been spending quite a bit of time on the subject of what we all "should" be doing — professionally. It's a topic that Derek and I frequently discuss, and agree is a topic so many people overlook. I'm glad that society, as a whole, seems to be shifting to the conclusion that it is collectively beneficial for individuals to pursue careers in the direction that makes them happy, not necessarily in the direction they've been pushed. Why be an unhappy, mediocre data analyst when you could be a happy, brilliant artist sharing your joy with the world?

Spiced Vanilla Honey Cookies Recipe (2)

I know I've said it before, but I'm really grateful that I've been able to take the last year to plunge into what makes me happy, and what I think I really want to do (food! blogging! EATING!). It has not been easy, and I often find myself doubting if I've made the right choice: will I be able to contribute and support our family? Am I going to reach X goal and deem myself "successful" anytime soon? Am I kidding myself and should I go get a "real" job? It's a struggle for me because I like to think I'm practical. I'm very good at making "emotional" decisions unemotionally, almost too detached, rather than being rash — and this choice to be a budding food blogger seems entirely irrational and careless.

Spiced Vanilla Honey Cookies Recipe (3)

Whenever we discuss this topic, we always come back to the following question: what did you love to do as a kid? Sure, we change as we grow and discover new pursuits, but I do think our natural tendencies as children are probably in line with our current, albeit perhaps stifled, interests. I wholeheartedly believe that we should pay more attention to this, but I have a hard time figuring it out for myself. What did I like as a kid — before being persuaded by friends and society and family as to what I "should" like to do? And what does that mean for me now?

Spiced Vanilla Honey Cookies Recipe (4)

I loved climbing trees. I loved reading. I loved singing. I loved babies. I think I loved baking, but I don't have any memories as a young child as actually DOING any baking. But how does one make a career our of climbing trees, reading, singing, and loving infants? Perhaps my initial instinct, to be a kindergarden teacher, was right all along. For years I thought that was my career destination, before changing course in college. I can't even offer an explanation as to why I made that decision, anyways!

Spiced Vanilla Honey Cookies Recipe (5)

None of this is to say I'm discontent in my current occupation — in fact, it's quite the opposite. I love the freedom I have, and I enjoy doing the work. I'm still learning a LOT and know I could maximize my potential as a food blogger way better than I currently am — and I have no desire to change careers. I just bring it up as a topic to ponder in your own life. Are you doing what you love? If not, what's holding you back? What would you do, if your 7-year-old self had pre-determined your career path?

Spiced Vanilla Honey Cookies Recipe (6)

I'll leave you with a short word on these cookies, although there isn't much to say: they're phenomenal. They're sweet, and VERY soft, with a perfectly spiced blend of flavor to keep you hopelessly addicted. They could probably pass as a Christmas cookie, as they remind me a bit of drinking some GoodEarth Sweet & Spicy tea. These won't look very done when you should take them out of the oven, so be careful not to over-bake!

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Spiced Vanilla Honey Cookies Recipe (7)

Spiced Vanilla Honey Cookies

  • Author: by Mary
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 18 1x
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Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • 1 ¾ cup flour
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp all-spice
  • ⅛ tsp ground cloves
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 egg
  • 2 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp honey
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ tsp ground vanilla beans (optional)
  • 1 Tbsp milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, and the spices. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the butter with the sugar. Cream together until light and fluffy.
  4. Add the egg, and mix until fully incorporated.
  5. Mix in the vanilla and honey, then the flour mixture until just combined.
  6. Scoop the mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8-9 minutes. Cookies will not look done.
  7. Let the cookies cool a few minutes on the baking sheet before moving them to a cooling rack.
  8. Combine the powdered sugar, ground vanilla beans, and milk, then drizzle over the cookies.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vivian says

    I just made these, and although delicious, I'm just curious if the 2 tbsp of vanilla is a typo or not?

    Reply

    • Mary says

      I don't think so, but now you have me questioning it too... I'll make them again when I'm home in September and let you know!

      Reply

    • Michelle says

      I realize this is over a year and a half later, but I cut the vanilla back to one tablespoon and it came out wonderfully spiced and warm.

      Reply

      • Mary says

        Great! Thanks for sharing, Michelle! xo

        Reply

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Spiced Vanilla Honey Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does honey do to cookies? ›

Honey results in a moister, fluffier texture.

Cookies and cakes made with sugar tend to be more dry and to crumble more easily. Meanwhile, goods made with honey are deliciously moist and have a tighter crumb that does not disintegrate as easily.

Do you need vanilla extract for cookies? ›

Vanilla does offer more than just a bit of floral flavor. Sometimes it's a flavor enhancer and sometimes it's a flavor balancer. But to be honest, unless it's a vanilla cookie, it's not a true dealbreaker. Especially if you're making cookies that have lots of other flavors going on, like coconut or dark chocolate.

What is a substitute for honey in cookies? ›

Here are my go-to substitutes for honey that will add great flavors to your baked goodie:
  1. Coconut Syrup. Coconut sugar is a famous honey and sugar substitute for people on a keto diet and even for vegans and vegetarians. ...
  2. Liquid Stevia. ...
  3. Barley Malt Syrup. ...
  4. Monk Fruit Syrup.
Jun 20, 2023

What happens if I use honey instead of sugar in cookies? ›

But when it comes to using honey in a recipe instead of sugar, it's not as simple as a one-for-one swap. Honey is sweeter than sugar, so if the incorrect ratio is used, your baking will be too sweet, can have a strange chewy texture, and the cooking time will be different.

What happens if you use honey instead of sugar in baking? ›

Honey is sweeter than sugar, so you need to use less. Decrease other liquids in the recipe by 1/4 cup, because there's water in the honey too. Lower the baking temperature by 25°F. Honey makes baked goods brown faster.

What happens if you don't put vanilla extract in cookies? ›

If you don't have any on hand, you can almost always omit the vanilla without impacting the final texture of your baked goods; although the rich flavor extract—or any form of vanilla—brings will certainly be altered. Just remember one thing: flavor comes first.

What happens if I skip vanilla extract? ›

If you don't put vanilla extract in a cake without any other flavoring, it will taste of butter, of sugar and a bit like sweetened eggs. If you don't use butter it will just taste sweet and a bit eggy.

Can I use honey instead of vanilla extract in cookies? ›

Maple Syrup or Honey

Its rich and sweet flavor makes a decent vanilla bean substitute and a great vanilla extract substitute. Honey's floral and bright sweetness is delightful in recipes like blondies, muffins, quick breads, cakes, and cookies.

What is the best honey for baking cookies? ›

While clover honey will work, wildflower honey, orange blossom honey, and even lavender honey are all great options that impart their own subtle, distinct taste. Flour. All-purose flour is your best bet for today's recipe.

Can you substitute honey for vanilla? ›

Honey. Honey adds a bright, floral sweetness to desserts. Like maple syrup, it can also enhance the texture of baked goods. Use 1 tablespoon of honey to replace 1 teaspoon (tsp) of vanilla extract.

What happens if you bake with honey? ›

What Does Honey do in Baking? Honey is a 'humectant'. This means that it retains moisture- great news for baking as it helps keep biscuits and cake moist. Honey compared with traditional refined sugar, also means you gain a richer colour and fuller flavour.

What effect does honey have on dough? ›

Tenderizing: Honey can act as a dough conditioner, making the bread softer and more tender. It can improve the texture of the crumb, making it less dry and more enjoyable.

What happens to honey when you bake it? ›

“Heating up raw honey will change the makeup of the honey, and potentially weaken or destroy enzymes, vitamins, minerals, etc. … Heating the honey can damage its nutritional benefits; however, it depends on how much the honey is heated and for how long.

What brings out the flavor in cookies? ›

Spices: Experiment with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, or ginger to give your cookies a warm and aromatic quality. These spices can complement the sweetness of the dough. Extracts: Besides vanilla, consider using other extracts like almond, coconut, or maple for unique and flavorful cookies.

Does baking with honey destroy nutrients? ›

Honey should not be heated rapidly, over direct heat. Basically, the hotter you heat it, the more potential for reducing nutritional value. Excessive heat can have detrimental effects on the nutritional value of honey. Heating up to 37°C (98.6 F) causes loss of nearly 200 components, part of which are antibacterial.

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