Pryaniki (Russian Honey Spice Cookies)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cookies bars Easy

Pryaniki are soft, chewy Russian honey spice cookies, glazed in white icing. Cardamom, ginger and a little black pepper give them their warm character. Makes 24 cookies in about 2 hr.

Prep 30 min

Cook 30 min

Cooling 1 hr

Total 2 hr

Yield 24 cookies

Ingredients

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½ cup (115 g)unsalted butter
½ cup (100 g)granulated sugar
¾ cup (255 g)honey
¼ cup (60 ml)water, for the dough
1 (50 g)egg
3 cups (375 g)all-purpose flour
½ tsp (3 g)baking soda
½ tsp (3 ml)white vinegar
¾ tsp (3 g)baking powder
1 ¼ tsp (3 g)ground cinnamon
¾ tsp (2 g)ground ginger
¾ tsp (2 g)ground cardamom
½ tsp (1 g)ground nutmeg
½ tsp (1 g)ground cloves
½ tsp (1 g)ground black pepper
2 cups (245 g)powdered sugar
1 tbsp (15 ml)light corn syrup
2 ½ tbsp (35 ml)water, for the glaze

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Instructions

Melt the butter with the sugar, honey and water in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Cool until just warm, about 20 minutes.
Whisk in the egg. Dissolve the baking soda in the vinegar and stir that in.
Whisk the flour, baking powder and all the spices. Stir into the honey mixture until a soft, sticky dough forms.
Cover and chill the dough 1 hour so it firms enough to scoop.
Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C). Line two baking sheets with parchment.
Scoop level tablespoons of dough, roll into balls and place 2 inches apart. Bake 14 to 16 minutes, until puffed and set. Do not overbake or they harden.
Whisk the powdered sugar, corn syrup and water into a thick glaze. Dip the tops of the warm cookies and let them set on a rack about 30 minutes.

Tips

Chill the dough, it is very sticky at first.
Underbake slightly for a soft, chewy center.
Add the pepper in a small amount; it supports the spices without tasting hot.
Good with black tea.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make pryaniki (russian honey spice cookies)?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour to chill. The recipe makes 24 cookies.

How should I store pryaniki (russian honey spice cookies)?

Store airtight at room temperature up to 5 days. They soften and improve on day two.

Can I make pryaniki (russian honey spice cookies) ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Pryaniki are Russian spiced honey cookies; the stamped version from Tula goes back to at least the 17th century, and many are covered in white icing. Serve it with black tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 24 servings this recipe makes.

186 Calories / serving

4.3g Fat

35.9g Carbs

1.9g Protein

23.2g Sugar

Whole recipe (24 servings): ~4464 cal · 103g fat · 862g carbs · 46g protein · 557g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.