Spiced Honey Cake

By
Anita Schecter
Anita Schecter_BW
Anita Schecter
Professional recipe developer, food photographer, and blogger with more than a decade of experience creating Middle Eastern recipes.
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Updated on 08/13/19
Spiced honey cake
Anita Schecter
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 60 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
444 Calories
28g Fat
49g Carbs
3g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 444
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28g 35%
Saturated Fat 16g 81%
Cholesterol 117mg 39%
Sodium 500mg 22%
Total Carbohydrate 49g 18%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Protein 3g
Calcium 116mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, takes place in September with a two-day celebration which includes eating sweet foods such as apples and honey to evoke a sweet new year. Honey cakes, known as Lekach, are common treats and are typically dense loaves, sweetened with honey, filled with warm spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and frequently soaked in a honey syrup.

The cakes are easy to make and can be served for breakfast with coffee, an afternoon snack with tea or as an after dinner dessert. Canola oil can be substituted for the butter to make a dairy free ​version. Either way, these sweet cakes are delicious any time.

Ingredients

  • For the Cake:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1 stick unsalted butter (at room temperature)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • For the Glaze:
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon milk or cream
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (melted)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • Dash of salt

Steps to Make It

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 F. Butter a standard loaf pan and line it with a strip of parchment paper for easy removal of the bread after baking.

  2. In a large bowl combine the eggs, sugar, and honey. Using a stand or hand mixer, beat together until the sugar is dissolved. Add the butter, vanilla and orange zest and beat until fully incorporated.

  3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients into the wet and mix just until combined.

  4. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for approximately 40 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

  5. Make the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar, honey, milk, melted butter, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. Drizzle over the warm cake.