Getting the 2012 Cookie Challenge back on track, the kitchens of Full Moon Cuisine looked across the Atlantic and back into history for some inspiration. One of the first sweeteners used in cooking and baking was honey. A seemingly simple ingredient with a long, rich history in food. And what's more, the floral taste can vary depending on what type of honey you have. So, to help celebrate this wonderful ingredient, a cookie that was simple to make, and easy to enjoy was called for. With a little bit of time, you'll have a great treat for your diners. Here's what you'll need:

- 2 sticks of butter (at room temp)
- 1 1/4 cups honey (I had orange blossom on hand, but you can use whatever honey you like)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs (at room temp)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp baking soda
- Pinch of salt

Note: This recipe will make approximately 3 dozen cookies.

To begin, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

In a saucepan over low heat, combine the butter, sugar, and honey. Stir until the ingredients have melted together into a light, golden mixture. Pour into a bowl and set aside to cool. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, nutmeg, ginger, and salt together. The four cups of flour may seem like too much, but trust me, you'll need each one! In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the eggs with the vanilla. Once cooled, pour in your honey mixture into your egg and vanilla combination, mixing to combine. Afterward, start to combine your dry ingredients into your wet. Given how much dry you have, combine them in quarters.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and using a tbsp cookie scoop, portion out the dough, leaving 2 inches between each ball. You should be able to fit four rows of four on a sheet. Place in your preheated oven and bake for 11 minutes, turning halfway through. When you remove them from the oven, the cookies will be quite soft, so let them rest on the baking sheet for a few extra minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool. As they cool, they will firm and crisp up a bit more.

Honey is a great ingredient to experiment with. The sweetness, the floral notes can really be quite enjoyable. These cookies have a soft texture and a mild taste, which will go perfectly with your favorite cup of tea or coffee. So take to the kitchen and make some great, simple treats for your guests. To help make sure there's more than enough to go around, the kitchen will be staying open late. Care to place an order?

Want to know what this challenge is all about? Check out my journal and feel free to send in recipes for cookies! http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3096204/