… i’ve rediscovered the joy of making cakes by hand, by which I mean without the use of a mixer or whisk… just me.. a bowl… and a wooden spoon… I’m not advocating it for every cake, its just for these simple ones where the butter is soft or if i’m using margarine I find it quite satisfying and so easy… and clearly there’s quite a bit less washing up… and the results have been so exemplary that I really can’t find a reason not to keep doing it this way…
… this cake was going to be my entry for we should cocoa as the theme this month is almonds but it was only as I was slamming the cake into the oven that I realised I hadn’t put any chocolate into it… so i’m entering it into the alphabakes, hosted this month by Caroline from Caroline Makes. The lucky letter is ‘H’ and so the honey cake is a perfect fit…
…and if I don’t say so myself this cake is bloody amazing… so deeply layered with floral scent and flavours is the fabulous honey i’ve used that both The Viking and our weekend guests asked if there was ginger or golden syrup in it… I guess the honey has caramelised whilst baking and it really is superb… I picked it up from my recent visit to The Skidbrooke Cyder Company… Guy and Kate quickly realised they needed bees to pollinate the 800 apple trees they have and so installed 5 of their own bee hives… and a delicious side-line in honey, beeswax and meade are the results!
honey, almond and orange cake
115g butter or margarine
80g golden caster sugar
80g lincolnshire honey
grated zest of 1 orange
2 eggs
165g plain flour
60g ground almonds
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
75 ml milk
a handful of almond slivers
for the syrup
2 tablespoons honey
juice of 1 orange
– pre-heat the oven to 160C
– grease and line a 20cm loose-bottomed cake tin
– place the butter, sugar, honey and orange zest in a large bowl and beat with a spoon until light and fluffy
– in a separate bowl mix the flour, baking powder, bicarb, cinnamon and ground almonds together
– break one of the eggs into the butter mix and beat in, next add a little of the flour mix and beat again, then add the second egg and beat it in followed by a little more flour and beat in.
– next alternate between a little of the flour mix and a little milk until its all used up and mixed in.
– pour the batter into the cake tin, smooth the top and sprinkle with almond slivers..
– bake for 40 minutes or until golden and risen
– take it out of the oven and prick all over with a skewer
– place the honey and orange juice in a jug and heat it gently in a microwave and then pour it all over the cake…
eat and of course, enjoy!
I'm just looking around the kitchen for something to eat for breakfast and I can't get this cake out of my mind. It's fun when an ingredient surprises you, now I'm inspired to go find some good honey to bake with.
This sounds delicious. I need to buy an orange so I can give it a go. Would go well with some yoghurt I think as a pudding.
Mhhhh what a great combination!!
Have a nice Sunday
Dom, that cake looks so utterly amazing, I'm glad you forgot the chocolate. Think that might have overwhelmed your fabulous honey. Honey is a great H. I've only discovered the letter today. I think I might be a bit of a dinosaur, but I make most everything by hand. I recently invested in a hand held whisk, but it's such a faff to get out and then wash and put away, I only use it if I'm desperate.
That is one beautiful looking cake!
I love making cakes by hand, same for whipping cream with a balloon whisk! Takes longer, but more satisfying, plus I don't like the sound of the electric whisk!
I cannot think why I did not think of honey? It is so so obvious. I used Heritage wheat instead!
Cake looks great! I do not think my wrist would hold up to mkxing by hand sadly.
In Spain at the moment and happened to buy some amazing local honey (made from the flowers of the avocado tree) and I've been looking for a recipe to make the most of it. This could be it… Also surrounded by orange trees and could easily get some almonds. I can't get baking powder anywhere though so I'll risk a go without. Bit scary. Let you know how it goes!! If it goes well I will post it with a link if you wouldn't mind?? Rachel (wellwornwhisk.blogspot.co.uk)
Hi Rachel… Its so little baking powder it probably wont matter… also, I was counting my eggs today and noticed I had one more egg than I should have had (sounds anal but I do know how many eggs I have…) and this can only mean that I was distracted whilst making the cake and only put one egg in… it worked really well, so the extra egg would probably do the job of the baking powder any way…
I'm glad you forgot the chocolate too and entered this to AlphaBakes! I love honey and this cake sounds delicious!! I occasionally make cakes by hand – I think they turn out better 🙂
It looks gorgeous Dom – really moist and delicious. I do love honey cakes, the honey really seems to add something special.
lovely cake as always 😉 would go great with my cuppa right now
Your cake looks lovely and moist and I can almost smell the honey from here.
Dom, your cake looks delicious and moist! One of my co-workers keeps bees, I traded my “spiced wild Maine blueberry jam” for her honey! Yum!
It definitely sounds like a moist and delicious cake Dom.
Gorgeous! (but ugh, three instances of the “m” word in the past three comments, giving me the shivers. wouldn't you just make a dry cake now and again Dom? 😉
Dom so glad you have enjoyed returning to truly made by hand cakes. I sometimes think it is quicker than getting everything out and the washing up it makes me feel good too making cakes like my mother and grandmother and saving on electricity. Love the Honey cake!
Gosh this looks so deliciously moist and wonderful!! I love baking with honey – I love that you can subtly change the flavour by using different honeys.
Ooh looks yummy, thanks for entering it into ALphabakes!
What a delicious looking cake…you can't go wrong with honey! I'm still pondering my 'H' for Alphabakes! 🙂
Lovely-looking honey cake. I know what you mean about making cakes by hand – it is very pleasing – but I seem to use a lot of beaten egg whites and I'd need a lie down after that.
So, true to my word: http://wellwornwhisk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/honey-almond-and-orange-cake-la-miel.html
Great recipe, a favourite cake that I will definitely be making again. Mwah!
There is something very satisfying baking a truely truely homemade cake- and does that mean you get an extra slice for all the hand work whisking?! Lovely entry for Alphabakes Dom!
I was taught to make cakes by hand by my mum…..beating with a wooden spoon! LOVELY alphabakes entry!
OK I won't say “moist” (otherwise little macaron will throw a fit)..how about wettish????M sorry but I so badly want to say “Your cake looks super moist”..my vocabulary is really limited..sorry Dom.
Great cake and m bookmarking it for future.
Anuja
Oh and also m your new follower 😀
This cake looks so delicious! I want a slice right now!