The Best Honey Cake

The Best Honey Cake: Decadent. Satisfying. Just The Right Amount Of Gooeyness.

You might need to hide it once it’s baked, though. This honey cake is that good.

Does anybody out there also get sentimental about honey cake? Or am I alone in this?

The Best Honey Cake Why is honey cake up there in the top 5 of my most favorite comfort foods ever? Is it because my mother and probably every other respectable Jewish mama out there that owns an apron and a well-stained recipe book only prepared it for Rosh Hashana? Perhaps.

I mean, until I was a fully grown woman with 3 children of my own it didn’t dawn on me that you are actually allowed to bake a honey cake in March as well. It’s not against halacha. I checked.

But it tastes better, and feels right, to reserve it for Elul. So Elul is here, honey is on sale everywhere, and my kids are sporting a school uniform and a fading tan. It seems right to bake honey cake.

The Best Honey Cake
There are hundreds of versions of honey cake out there. Some have coffee in them. Others nutmeg. Or cloves. Some cooled tea. They are all pretty much the same, but, this one, is simply exceptional. So so soooooo good. The type of good that I will bake it and then freeze it only to pull it out of my freezer a second before I go to shul on Rosh Hashanah because it might not be safe to be around it unless it’s rock hard frozen.

Try it. But please, don’t complain if you find yourself snatching another sliver every few minutes while nobody is looking. I warned you. You’re supposed to freeze it, or at least, ask someone to hide it.


Mix just until combined. the key is not to overmix the batter. A few lumps in the batter are fine.


Over mixing might cause for the batter to spill over while baking.


Divide batter into two loaf pans.


Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted comes out dry but with some moist crumbs.

3.7 from 3 reviews
The Best Honey Cake
 
Note that this recipe does NOT double well.
Serves: 2 loaves
Ingredients
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 1 cup oil
  • 1 cup honey
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 ½ cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup prepared and cooled tea
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
  2. In a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix the eggs with the sugar, then add the oil, mixing until just combined. Continue with the honey, mix until just incorporated. In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder and baking soda. Alternate adding the flour mixture and the tea mixture. Scrape the bowl and mix just until combined. the key is not to overmix the batter. A few lumps in the batter are fine.
  3. Divide batter into two loaf pans. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted comes out dry but with some moist crumbs.
Edited to add: do not over mix batter, just mix until combined. Over mixing might cause for the batter to spill over while baking.

Renee Muller

Renee is a sought-after food and lifestyle stylist and the author of two cookbooks. With dishes and linens as her paint palette, it’s her artistry that weaves a beautiful story in the photos on this site.

26 responses to “The Best Honey Cake: Decadent. Satisfying. Just The Right Amount Of Gooeyness.”

  1. Rivka shenker Avatar
    Rivka shenker

    What size pans?

    1. Renee Muller Avatar
      Renee Muller

      Loaf pans are a pretty standard size, but I measured the ones I usually use and they are 11 by 5,5 inches. Height is close to 3 inches.
      A friend of mine tried it today in a bundt pan and in a tube pan (she’s a good friend and a big fan of BCP 🙂 and she said both came out amazing. Maybe tube pan a bit easier to release from pan, but otherwise, I think this batter should work with many sizes.

  2. Bella Siver Avatar
    Bella Siver

    why tea? what does the tea do to the taste / texture?

    1. Renee Muller Avatar
      Renee Muller

      Tea adds a nice depth and flavor to the cake. Try it! You will see….

  3. YL Avatar
    YL

    What flavor tea?

    1. Renee Muller Avatar
      Renee Muller

      I like to use Earl Grey black tea (basic tea).

  4. LR Avatar
    LR

    I’m looking for the heavyish type of honey cake like the bakery makes and is often served at Rosh Hashana kiddushes. This one looks yummy but lighter. Am I correct that this will not fit the bill for my very traditional husband?

    1. Aura Avatar
      Aura

      after doing a honey cake bake-off i found this one to
      1. Rise a lot. Only fill pans half way max
      2. Not gooey, not a strong honey taste. Kinda like a typical cake with a honey taste

      My families favorite honey cake is from smitten kitchen

  5. EK Avatar
    EK

    The house smelled divine! But when I opened the oven door most of the batter ran over the tube and muffin pans I used, and the rest was a flat and mushy mess on the bottom of the pans. Where did I go wrong?!

    1. Leah Schapira Avatar
      Leah Schapira

      It’s possible you ovemixed the batter. Or measured too much baking soda and powder.

      1. Reizy weingarten Avatar
        Reizy weingarten

        Hi pls note: this cake needs 2 large loaf pans 5lb size. I mixed regularly till smooth And baked nice for 1hour. NOT medium size -3lb. I also substituted 1 cup coffee (1 cup water with 1 tsp instant coffee) instead of the tea. It gave it a rich color and decadent flavor.Thanku!

  6. Chaya Suri Avatar
    Chaya Suri

    Best honey cake! Not sure why someone mentioned not gooey or honey taste, I beg to differ 🙂 family absolutely loves this recipe!!

  7. SARA Avatar
    SARA

    ABSOULUTELY DELICIOUS!!!

  8. Leah Avatar
    Leah

    can i use 2 9 x5 (typical loaf pan) for this cake

    1. Renee Muller Avatar
      Renee Muller

      yes, but you might need 3. Don’t over fill

  9. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    What happened that mine were a big overspilled mushy mess and burned on sides , disaster:((( I did not ever mix either!! Ugh. Gotta start over , and had doubled. Disappointing!

    1. Renee Muller Avatar
      Renee Muller

      I am so sorry to hear that! Thats disappointing! This recipe is not meant to be doubled

  10. Katz Avatar
    Katz

    Can I use Spelt Flour?

    1. Renee Muller Avatar
      Renee Muller

      Sure!

  11. Batsheva Avatar
    Batsheva

    great recipe! made it a couple o years running now!
    made 3 half loaf tins
    brushed honey on it straight after it came out the oven and spread it with a pastry brush makes the top nice and sticky
    thank you so much Between Carpools!

  12. sara Avatar
    sara

    Can I mix by hand?

  13. Katz Avatar
    Katz

    Thanks! I made it came out delicious!!

  14. AV Avatar
    AV

    Can I make this recipe as honey cupcakes?

    1. gold Avatar
      gold

      I would also like to know about making those cupcakes.

  15. B L Avatar
    B L

    can i make this with a regular mixer?

  16. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    Do you know where I can get an acrylic pan with lid for my loaf pan cakes?

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