Name: Honey Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour (360g); 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 cup unsalted butter softened (227g); 1 cup granulated sugar (200g); ½ cup honey (120ml); 2 large eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Jump to Recipe· 4.9 from 72 reviews

There’s something truly comforting about a cookie with a touch of honey — subtle sweetness, a tender crumb, and that slight chew that just keeps you reaching for more. If you’re on the hunt for that perfect treat, this Honey Cookies Recipe will absolutely become your new favorite. I’ve made these dozens of times, and they never fail to impress friends and family alike, plus they’re easier than you might expect. Stick with me here, and I’ll walk you through every step to nail these warm, honey-kissed delights!

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Why This Recipe Works

Balanced Sweetness: Honey combined with sugar adds a rich and multi-dimensional sweetness without being overpowering.
Perfect Texture: The blend of baking powder and soda creates a cookie that’s soft and tender with just a hint of chewiness.
Chilled Dough Magic: Chilling the dough prevents excess spreading, ensuring evenly shaped, perfectly thick cookies every time.
Room Temperature Ingredients: Using room temp butter and eggs makes for smooth mixing and a creamy dough that bakes up beautifully.

Honey Cookies, Honey Cookies Recipe, Easy Honey Cookies, Soft Honey Cookies, Chewy Honey Cookies - The image shows several round, light golden cookies with a soft texture placed directly on a white marbled surface. One cookie is stacked flat, while another cookie is broken in half and placed diagonally on top of the whole cookie, revealing a crumbly interior. In the background, there is a glass container of golden honey and a honey dipper resting on the surface, with some honey around it, slightly blurred. The overall scene gives a warm and cozy feeling. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The ingredients in this honey cookies recipe come together so well because each plays an important role in flavor and texture. Choosing quality honey really makes a difference, and using fresh eggs and softened butter means your dough will be easier to work with and your cookies more tender.

Honey Cookies, Honey Cookies Recipe, Easy Honey Cookies, Soft Honey Cookies, Chewy Honey Cookies - Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour, a white ceramic bowl holding a pale yellow cube of unsalted butter, a small white bowl filled with golden honey, a small white bowl of granulated sugar, two large brown eggs with clean shells, and a small white bowl containing fine baking powder and baking soda powder placed side by side, all ingredients fresh and natural, arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: The base that gives structure; be sure to measure it carefully to avoid dense cookies.
Baking powder and baking soda: These leavening agents help the cookies rise just enough for softness without puffiness.
Unsalted butter: Provides richness and moisture; use softened, not melted, for the right texture.
Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with browning, balancing out the honey’s more complex flavor.
Honey: The star ingredient! Adds floral sweetness and keeps cookies moist with a tender crumb.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors, including the honey’s natural sweetness.
Eggs: Bind everything together and add richness; room temperature ensures smooth mixing.
Vanilla extract: Boosts the overall flavor, deepening the cookie’s sweetness and warmth.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

One of the things I love about this honey cookies recipe is how easily you can make it your own. Whether you want a bit more spice, or prefer to swap out something for a dietary need, there’s room for creativity here. Don’t be afraid to experiment—your kitchen is your playground!

Variation: Adding a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or a pinch of nutmeg gives the cookies a cozy warmth I adore during fall and winter. I like to toss in some chopped nuts or even dark chocolate chips for a fun twist that keeps everyone guessing.
Diet-friendly changes: For a gluten-free version, try swapping all-purpose flour with a reliable gluten-free blend—just be sure it includes xanthan gum or something similar to keep that soft texture.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Honey Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients

Start by whisking together your all-purpose flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl. I love this little trick because it evenly distributes the leaveners and prevents any one cookie from getting a bubbly or uneven texture. Set this aside while you cream the butter and sugars.

Step 2: Cream Butter, Sugar, and Honey

Using a stand mixer or hand mixer on medium speed, beat your softened butter with granulated sugar, honey, and salt until the blend turns creamy and smooth—usually about 60 seconds. If you skip this step or don’t fully cream the ingredients, your cookies won’t develop that soft, tender crumb that’s so wonderful. Resist the urge to rush here!

Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Next, add in the eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract. Be sure to stop and scrape down the sides to ensure everything is evenly mixed. Your batter should have a silky texture, not lumpy or separated—this is exactly what makes your cookies melt-in-your-mouth.

Step 4: Incorporate the Dry Mix

Turn the mixer to low and add your flour mixture gradually, just until combined. Overmixing can develop gluten in the flour and lead to tough cookies, so keep this part short and sweet. Scrape the bowl one last time to make sure everything is well blended.

Step 5: Chill the Dough

Here’s a big key: cover your dough and refrigerate it for at least 1-2 hours or even overnight. Chilling firms up the butter, which means your cookies spread less and keep their shape beautifully. Plus, the flavors get to mingle and deepen—like magic!

Step 6: Scoop and Bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a cookie scoop (I swear by mine for consistent sizes), make 1½-tablespoon balls of dough and space them about 2 inches apart on the sheets. Bake one sheet at a time for 10 to 12 minutes. You want to catch them just as the edges begin to brown because they’ll firm up once cooled.

Step 7: Cool and Enjoy

Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them gently to a wire rack. This helps keep their soft texture while cooling. Store any extras in an airtight container at room temperature—you’ll be surprised how long they stay fresh!

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Pro Tips for Making Honey Cookies Recipe

Use a Cookie Scoop: To keep your cookies uniform in size, I rely on a trigger-scoop. This means they bake evenly and look professional—trust me, people notice!
Don’t Skip Chilling: Chilling stops your cookies from spreading too thin. I’ve learned that warm dough can be tricky and flatten cookies more than you want.
Perfect Butter Temperature: Softened butter is key, but not melted—it should still be slightly firm. This helps with creaming and texture.
Catch Them Before Overbaking: Take cookies out just as the edges get golden; they’ll firm up as they cool. Leaving them too long in the oven makes them dry.

How to Serve Honey Cookies Recipe

Honey Cookies, Honey Cookies Recipe, Easy Honey Cookies, Soft Honey Cookies, Chewy Honey Cookies - The image shows a stack of two light golden brown cookies on a white plate with small colorful flower patterns around the edges. On top of the stack is a broken cookie showing a soft, crumbly inside that is light beige. Behind this plate, there is a matching white plate with more whole cookies stacked in a slight pile. To the right, a white floral patterned cup filled with coffee with cream is visible, resting on a matching saucer. A wooden honey dipper with honey is slightly blurred in the background on the white marbled surface. A soft pink cloth is partially visible on the lower left corner. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

I love dusting these honey cookies lightly with powdered sugar or flipping a few and dipping the edges in melted dark chocolate for an elegant touch. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt right after baking adds that wonderful sweet-salty contrast. Honestly, even plain is perfect, but a tiny boost here and there can elevate the experience.

Side Dishes

These honey cookies pair wonderfully with a cup of your favorite tea or coffee. For a cozy brunch, serve alongside fresh fruit and a mild cheese platter to balance their sweetness. I’ve also enjoyed them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a simple dessert that always impresses.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I like arranging stacked honey cookies on a pretty platter with small jars of local honey and cinnamon sticks for guests to drizzle or dip. You can also sandwich two cookies together with a spread of cream cheese frosting or honey butter for an impressive twist. Trust me, these little touches make a big impact.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled completely, I store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay soft and fresh for up to a week, which is perfect for just nibbling on throughout the week. If you’ve got more than that, don’t worry—freezing works wonders.

Freezing

I’ve frozen both the dough and baked cookies with great success. For dough, scoop balls onto a tray, freeze until solid, then transfer to a zipped bag. You can pop them right into the oven from frozen, adding a minute or two. Baked cookies freeze well too—just thaw at room temp before serving to keep their softness intact.

Reheating

If you want to refresh a leftover cookie, pop it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or briefly warm in a low oven for a few minutes. This helps soften it up and brings back that fresh-from-the-oven charm.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of honey in this recipe?

Absolutely! Different honeys like wildflower, clover, or even orange blossom will subtly change the flavor profile. I recommend using what you enjoy eating as a drizzle to keep the flavor balanced and to highlight your favorite honey’s unique notes.
Why do I need to chill the cookie dough?

Chilling the dough helps solidify the butter, which prevents the cookies from spreading too thin while baking. It also lets the flavors meld, resulting in a tastier, more fragrant cookie. Skipping chilling can result in flat, tougher cookies.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

Yes! Swap the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free blend that typically contains xanthan gum or similar. The texture will still be soft and tender, but keep an eye on baking time as gluten-free flours sometimes bake faster.
What can I do if my cookies spread too much?

First, make sure your butter is softened but not melted or too warm. Also, chilling the dough before baking is critical. If you’ve measured flour correctly and still see spreading, try baking on a cooler rack or briefly chilling the baked dough balls once scooped onto the tray.
How should I store leftover honey cookies?

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature up to one week. For longer storage, freeze the baked cookies in a sealed bag or container, and thaw before eating.

Final Thoughts

This honey cookies recipe has become one of my go-to comfort bakes, especially when I want something sweet but not too sugary. The warm honey flavor combined with the soft, tender texture is something I’ve come back to repeatedly, whether for after-school snacks or a cozy evening pick-me-up. I truly hope you give it a try—you’ll love how simple and satisfying these cookies are, and your kitchen will smell like pure happiness. Grab your mixer and honey, and let’s bake some magic!