Honey Cake
A delightful dessert filled with the rich flavor of honey, perfect for any occasion. Enjoy it warm or cool, plain or with toppings like ice cream or toasted almonds.
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1 cup plain flour Note 1
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- 0.5 tsp cooking salt (kosher salt)
- 225 g unsalted butter, at room temperature Note 2
- 2/3 cup honey
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature Note 3
- 3 tbsp milk, preferably full-fat, slightly warmed
- 1 pinch orange zest, optional brings out honey flavor
- 1/3 cup almond flakes
For the honey syrup
- 2/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup water
- 3/4 tsp lemon juice recommended but optional
For serving
- Vanilla ice cream, cream, lightly toasted almond flakes or slivered almonds
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan).
- Butter and line a 20cm/8" round pan or springform pan with baking paper (base and sides).
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.
- In a separate bowl, cream the butter and honey for 3 minutes until smooth and fluffy.
- Add one egg, mix until mostly incorporated, and then add 1/4 of the flour. Repeat until all eggs are used.
- Stir in the milk and orange zest until the batter is almost smooth.
Baking
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the surface, and sprinkle with almonds.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 30 minutes.
- Boil honey and water for 5 minutes; add lemon juice and boil for 2 more minutes.
- Poke holes in the cake and pour warm syrup over it multiple times, allowing it to soak in.
- Enjoy warm, either directly from the pan or remove the sides of the springform.
Notes
To store honey cake, keep it in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3-4 days. For longer freshness, refrigerate or freeze slices wrapped in cling film. Ensure butter is at room temperature for easy mixing and mix gently to avoid overworking the batter. Adjust sweetness by adding more or less honey to the syrup. Spices like cinnamon or nutmeg can be added for a warm flavor, or nuts other than almonds can be used for a different crunch.