How to Make Spiced Medenjaci (Honey Spice Cookies)

These cookies are traditionally made at Christmas time but can be enjoyed any time of year. The Croatian version of Gingerbread cookies, the name means Honey (Med) Spice (jak, as in strong).

The island of Hvar in Croatia is especially known for its Medenjac cookie recipe. There is another version, Paprenjak (Pepper - Spice) - and yes, they are spicier!

In the old days people used to save silver foil from their chocolate bars to wrap pine cones as a Christmas tree ornament.

Similarly, medenjaci (honey spice cookies) were baked, cooled, then wrapped in cellophane then hung on the Christmas tree, which was traditionally decorated on Christmas Eve. The cookies, of course, were eaten on Christmas Day or soon after.

Cookie dough consists of

• 3/4 lb. flour, sifted
• 8 to 10 T. white sugar
• 2 - 3 T. honey
• 5 T. finely chopped walnuts
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 1 rounded teaspoon baking powder
• cinnamon, ground cloves and 1/4 t. salt

Topping:

• 2 egg whites
• 7 T. powdered sugar
• lemon juice from 1/2 lemon

Mix the dough, cutting into circular shapes (by inverting a moistened drinking glass or using a cookie cutter). Arrange on a shiny and well oiled cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes at 180 C or 325 F.

The glaze is made by mixing on a low flame the sugar and eggwhite mixture, then adding lemon juice at the end when the mixture has gotten to be thick.

While the cookies are still warm, spread the glaze on the cookies and let them dry and harden.

You may put them back in the oven at the lowest temperature to have the glaze harden evenly.

The honey - spice - lemon combination is simply out of this world.