Medenjaci (Croatian Honey Spice Cookies)

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup demerara sugar
• 3/4 cup honey
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups cake flour
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 3 eggs, lightly whisked
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 12 whole walnuts, divided into quarters

Directions

Stir butter, sugar, and honey together in a large saucepan over low heat until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. Cool for 10 minutes.

Mix all-purpose flour, cake flour, whole wheat flour, cinnamon, baking soda, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger together in a bowl.

Beat flour mixture and eggs into cooled butter mixture until a smooth, soft dough forms. Cover the saucepan with aluminum foil and set in a cool place to ferment, 1 to 3 days.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

Divide dough into long ropes about 2/3-inch in diameter. Cut ropes into 1 1/2-inch sections. Roll each piece of dough into a walnut-size ball. Place balls 1 1/2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Press a walnut piece halfway into the top of each cookie.

Bake cookies in the preheated oven until slightly golden, 10 to 12 minutes.