Makes 1½ dozen large cookies
Start a day ahead.
1 cup honey
2 tablespoons butter
½ cup light brown sugar
2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg yolk, beaten
¼ cup buttermilk
Heat the honey until very hot, but not boiling. Add the butter and sugar, and stir until sugar is dissolved. Cool for 10 minutes.
In a large bowl sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Add the honey mixture to the beaten egg yolk, and then to the dry ingredients. Add the buttermilk and mix well. Chill overnight.
Roll out dough onto floured board to ⅓ inch thickness. Cut out cookies with a 3-inch round cutter, or a glass. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
Adapted from The Art of Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking by Edna Eby Heller, 1968.