Mykolaichyk or Mikolajczyk

Ukrainian Molded Cookies

These traditional Ukrainian honey cookies are made in a mold that is deeper than most molded cookie molds. The cookie puffs up a bit and is soft, not crisp. These lovely molds are hand-carved by Vladimir Markar'yan in Poltava, Ukraine. They are available on Etsy.

Mykolaichyk or Mikolajaczyk

5¼ cups flour
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ cup regular margarine (Imperial makes a nice, easy to handle dough)
2 eggs + 2 yolks
½ cup liquid honey
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons sour cream

Combine dry ingredients; add margarine, mix. Add eggs and yolks, sour cream, honey and sugar. Mix until dough forms. Chill overnight.

Lightly grease cookie sheets. Generously flour mold; knock excess flour out. Dough will be sticky, handle it with floured hands. Spoon out a piece of dough, about 1/3 to ½ cup. Press into mold, working up from the bottom. Bang one end of the the mold sharply on the cookie sheet where you want the cookie to be. It will drop out nicely—the weight of the cookie will pull the last part out. Thoroughly flour mold again before shaping each cookie. Bake 350° 15 - 17 minutes or until golden brown.

Glaze

1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons water
½ teaspoon lemon juice

Mix glaze ingredients until smooth. Spread on cooled cookies with flat pastry brush. Leave on wire rack until glaze is set.

Recipe adapted from one by Ukrainian cookbook author Daria Tsvek.