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Baklava Cookies

Print Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine Greek
Keyword baking, baklava, cardamom, christmas cookies, cinnamon, cloves, cookies, holiday baking, honey, pistachio
Servings 12 to16 Cookies

Ingredients

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 1 6oz bag shelled raw pistachios coarsely chopped
  • 2 ¼ cups granulated sugar divided (1/4 goes in the pistachio mixture)
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt + 1/4 tsp, divided
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
  • ¼ tsp. ground Cloves
  • ½ cup honey
  • cups 344 g all-purpose flour Using weight measurements is always more accurate
  • ½ tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. baking soda
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

Sugar topping:

  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
  • A pinch ground cloves
  • 1/2 cup sugar (remaining from above ingredients)
  • ¼ cup crushed rose petals
  • 2 Tbsp Butter, melted For brushing on cookie tops

Instructions

Directions:

  • Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 350°. Cook 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring often with a heatproof rubber spatula, until it turns light amber and foaming starts to settle, about 5 minutes. Pour into a large heatproof bowl, scraping in any browned bits stuck to bottom of pan. Let cool until warm, about 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, pulse one 6-oz. bag shelled raw pistachios
  • ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar, ½ tsp. kosher salt, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, ½ tsp. ground cardamom, and ¼ tsp. ground cloves in a food processor until nuts are finely chopped; transfer to a small bowl.
  • Stir in ½ cup honey with a clean spatula. Add 1 Tbsp. water and stir until homogenous and mixture maintains its shape. Scoop out 1 level tablespoonful portions of nut mixture; roll into smooth balls. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill in freezer 20 minutes. (Note: scoop a level tbsp or even less so that you don't run out of filling for all of the cookies)
  • Meanwhile, whisk 2½ cups (344 g) all-purpose flour, ½ tsp. baking powder, ½ tsp. baking soda, and remaining ¼ tsp. kosher salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
    Whisk 1 Tbsp. water into warm melted butter, then add 1 1/2 cups (350 g) granulated sugar and whisk until well combined, about 2 minutes. Add 1 large egg, 1 large egg yolk, and 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract; stir until smooth. TIP: Use an electric mixer to make it easier. When the mixture is well combined and has lightened in colour, it’s ready.
  • Add dry ingredients and combine fully using a rubber spatula until no dry areas remain.
    ! Cover dough with plastic wrap and allow to hydrate in the fridge for 20-30. This will produce a softer, chewier cookie.
  • Remove pistachio fillings from the freezer.
  • Scoop out 2-tablespoonful portions of dough; roll into smooth balls. (Or use a 2tbsp ice cream scoop) Working one at a time, flatten a ball of dough between your hands and place a ball of nut mixture in the center. Gently fold dough up and around to encase; smooth out dough. Divide between 2 parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing 2" apart.
  • Bake cookies, rotating baking sheets top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until mostly flat and golden around the edges, 14–16 minutes. Remove from oven and firmly tap baking sheets on counter.
  • Combine sugar & spices in a small bowl. In another small bowl, add about 1/4 cup rose petals if using. Melt 2tbsp of butter.
    Using a pastry brush, brush cookie tops lightly with butter and quickly sprinkle tops with sugar & spice mixture. Next, sprinkle on the rose petals.
    Optional, drizzle cookie tops with light whisps of honey + top with chopped pistachios.

Notes

Do Ahead: Cookies can be baked 3 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
Fridge time: Giving your dough some fridge time to hydrate is necessary for a better texture and manageability. When I didn’t refrigerate my dough, my cookies were puffier and more crumbly. “Fridge-Hydrated” dough produced a softer, flatter chewier texture, keeping centers in tact.
You can also assemble your cookies and place the cookie sheet in the fridge, covered with plastic wrap but I prefer the 1st way. 
Leftover dough: I always have leftover dough with this recipe. I just make plain sugar cookies with it.