Honey cinnamon cut out cookies are my new go-to holiday treat. A take on classic gingerbread but with a lighter flavor. They pack a festive punch.
• • • AS SEEN ON FOOD NETWORK CHRISTMAS COOKIE CHALLENGE • • •
Roll and cut cookies are the stuff of delicious holidays. Sugar cookies and gingerbread take the cake, or cookie! I wanted something in between. With a touch of honey and a little spice, these soft sugar cookies are the perfect mix, and a new holiday favorite.
I get all sorts of excited over the prospect of fresh, cut out and iced cookies at the holiday. My favorite thing to do it bite the legs, arms and heads off those gingerbread men. And don’t get me started on sugar cookies with fluffy frosting. I could live on those during the month of December.
Here is a recipe for something just in between. I took one of my classic gingerbread cookie recipes that stays soft and holds its shape when cut and baked. Swapped the molasses for honey (a lighter flavor, but still a liquid sugar), and cut back on the spices so just the cinnamon gets to shine.
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This was one of the recipes I used as a contestant on the Food Network Christmas Cookie Challenge show I competed on! Let me tell you, the judges loved it. Couldn’t get enough!
Royal icing makes these cookies some of the most beautiful treats you’ll make. It’s sweet and simple, and with some sanding sugar, gives a good crunch in your mouth. But try these slathered (or piped) with fluffy cream cheese frosting, and you’ve got something, my friend!
Making treats shine like these Honey Cinnamon Cut Out Cookies is easy with the right bling in your decorating tool kit!
You’ll want to stock up on sanding sugar, sprinkles and glittery goodness before you start baking. That’s what makes these cookies even more special.
Gold sugar makes these ornaments amazing. And white crystal sugar is classic. I love this sparkly mix as well.
Cut these cookies into any shape you want. You could even make your “gingerbread house” out of this dough! I love this set of holiday cookie cutters. And these snowflake cutters. Here are some ornaments like mine!
- 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 5 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup honey
- 1 recipe Royal Icing
- Gold and white crystal sugar
- White Sprinkles
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Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda; set aside.
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In an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until fluffy, 3 min. Beat in the egg, vanilla and honey. Add the flour mixture and mix until dough forms. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl to completely incorporate. Halve dough, wrap in plastic wrap and chill 2 hr or overnight.
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Heat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment.
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On a lightly floured surface roll dough to just under ¼ inch thickness. Using 2- to 3-inch ornament cutters, cut shapes. Transfer to baking sheets and bake until cookies are just done, 7 to 9 min. While cookies are hot use a bamboo skewer to make holes in the top of each ornament for hanging (if desired). Cool on pans.
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Fit a pastry bag with a #3 plain tip and fill with Royal Icing. Decorate cookies with icing, crystal sugar and sprinkles. Allow icing to set about 3 hours before storing. Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Honey and ground cinnamon add cozy flavor to a classic roll-out cookie dough.
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Recipe by Tara Bench and Hilary Merzbacher. Photographs Kang Kim. Prop Stylist Raina Kattleson. Originally published LHJ Dec/Jan 2014.
Mary Bench says
July 16, 2018 at 5:57 pmWhat a great idea! Love these!
Brittany Smart says
July 19, 2018 at 1:57 pmThese are gorgeous! Who knew cookies could sparkle!!
Barb says
December 8, 2018 at 11:34 pmI am looking for a recipe for cut out cookies that bakes dark enough for the 3-D rolling pin, that will not have any icing or frosting. Will these be darker than regular cut out cookies? I see the rolling pins advertised with a darker cookie, but the ads don’t include recipes. Thanks.
Tara says
December 19, 2018 at 2:11 pmHi Barb, Sounds like you are looking for a Springerle cookie recipe! Try this one! https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/springerle-shortbread-recipe. It’s not so much the darker cookie, but the structure of the cookie and how it holds the shape and mold of the rolling pin. All the best!
Alana says
February 17, 2019 at 9:29 pmThe flavor is great. However, I’m a bit disappointed that while baking they puffed and spread more than I like for cleanly decorated cut-out cookies. Next time I will try omitting the baking soda.
Tara says
February 26, 2019 at 7:22 pmAh sorry they weren’t as expected. You can see from the images the cookies do puff a bit. I like a softer cookie most of the time, so the leavening helps create that soft loftiness. If you’d like a cleaner cookie that doesn’t spread, try my sugar cookie used in my Santa Cookies!
Lison says
October 22, 2019 at 11:40 amGreat recipe. I used whole wheat flour and omitted the baking soda. The taste is perfect for fall.
Tara Teaspoon says
October 23, 2019 at 12:38 pmLison, great substitution! I love it when readers modify my recipes for their own tastes and dietary needs. Thanks for letting me know!