Preheat the oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking.
Mix the base: In a large mixing bowl, cream together 0.5 cups softened unsalted butter and 0.5 cups granulated sugar until the mixture is fluffy and light in color. This should take about 3-5 minutes with an electric mixer. Gradually blend in 0.25 cups honey until combined.
Prepare the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1.5 cups all-purpose flour, 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon, 0.25 tsp ground cardamom, and 0.25 tsp salt. This ensures that the spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour.
Combine mixtures: Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the butter and sugar mixture, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in tough cookies. Gently fold in 0.25 cups chopped pistachios and 0.25 cups chopped walnuts until evenly distributed.
Shape the cookies: Using your hands or a small cookie scoop, shape the dough into small balls (about 1 inch in diameter) and slightly flatten them. Place them onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie as they will spread while baking.
Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until they are golden brown around the edges. Keep an eye on them to ensure they don’t overbake, as you want them soft and chewy in the center.
Prepare the filling: While the cookies are cooling, prepare the cream cheese filling by beating together 0.25 cups softened cream cheese and 0.25 cups powdered sugar in a bowl until smooth and creamy.
Assemble the cookies: Once the cookies have cooled completely, spread a generous amount of the cream cheese filling between two cookies to create a sandwich. Repeat the process until all cookies are paired.
Drizzle and garnish: Finally, drizzle caramel sauce over the assembled cookies and sprinkle with additional chopped nuts for garnish. This not only enhances their flavor but also adds a beautiful presentation.