I love this simple honey cake at any day of the week. It is quick, moist, budget-friendly, and has that warm, comforting flavor that reminds me of home.
This honey cake has soft, moist crumb, and a comforting flavor. It is the perfect easy dessert for any occasion. You can add frosting or chocolate glaze on top, or simply serve it as it is. This cakes makes an east dessert and also a tasty snack to enjoy with a cup of tea of coffee.
Growing up, we did not buy sweet treats often, but my mom always baked something sweet for us. This cake with honey was often one of them. My mom passed away long time ago, so I had to call my aunt (who still lives in Ukraine) to ask about the recipe. She gave me an approximate version, measured by eye. So I had to adjust it and test it quite a few times to get it right. But after a couples of tries, I nailed it. My son always is my favorite recipe taste tester, and he definitely approved this one. He even asked to drizzle a little honey on top. And I loved that idea.
A lot of similar cakes out there use only honey as a sweeter, but I think it can be too overpowering and can get quite expensive. My recipe uses a smart mix of honey and sugar, giving you the same honey flavor while keeping it affordable and perfectly sweet. there is no need to add a whole jar of honey because it can be pricey.
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What you need
Below are the recommended ingredients and tips to help you make the best honey cake. You can find the quantities in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Eggs: you will need two large eggs, cold or room temperature works.
- Kefir: Whole milk or low-fat plain kefir makes the cake soft, moist and it also activates the baking soda. You can also use buttermilk instead.
- Honey: I used clover honey. Use any honey you have at home. Choose less expensive one for the cake batter.
- Oil: I made it with olive oil or vegetable oil. Both work. You will need just a little but of oil to make the cake moist and not dry.
- Flour: I used all-purpose unbleached flour. You can also use your favorite gluten-free flour.
- Sugar: granulated sugar will add sweet taste in addition to honey, so you do not have to use a whole jar of honey.
- Baking soda: this recipe used baking soda as the kefir will activate it and make the cake tall and soft.
- Cinnamon: It is my personal addition to the cake. I think it adds a nice warm flavor to the cake. You can easily skip it.
How to make honey cake
Make the batter. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar on high speed for about 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add honey and oil and mix again just to combine. Pour the kefir and add baking soda right on top of it before mixing it again with the mixer on low speed. You will see tiny bubbles appear on top, which means that kefir activated the baking soda. Now, add cinnamon and flour. Mix it on lower speed for a minute until you have a smooth cake batter. It will pourable and not very thick.
Pour the cake into the baking pan. Line the bottom of the square 9x9 pan with parchment paper. Grease the sides with a little bit of butter or oil. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan, spreading the batter evenly on top.
Bake honey cake. Place the pan in the preheated to 350F degrees oven on the middle rack. Bake it for about 27-30 minutes or until golden on top and the tooth pick comes out clean. Let the cake cool down for 10 minutes, then remove it from the pan. You can slice it and enjoy it warm right away. You can let it cool down and dust it with sugar, or add some chocolate glaze on top.
More Easy Cakes Recipes
- Chocolate cranberry loaf
- Easy chocolate snack cake
- Pumpkin cake with fresh pumpkin
- Apple sponge cake
- Ukrainian zebra cake
Total recipe cost: ~$6.20
Cost per serving: ~ $0.69
📖 Recipe
Easy Honey Cake
Equipment
- 1 large bowl
- 1 electric mixer
- 1 9x9 inch baking pan
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs ($1.34)
- ¾ cup (150 grams) sugar ($0.34)
- ⅓ cup (115 grams) honey ($1.55)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil ($0.93)
- ¾ cup kefir or buttermilk ($1.22)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda ($0.01)
- 1¾ cup (210 grams) all-purpose flour ($1.34)
- 1 teaspoon (optional) cinnamon ($0.73)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Line the bottom of the square 9x9 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Grease the sides with oil or butter.
- In a large bowl, add eggs and sugar. Beat them with electric mixer on high speed for 2-3 minutes, until they are light and fluffy. Add honey and oil. Mix again on lower speed to combine. Pour kefir and add baking soda right on top of it. Mix again on low speed to combine. Add flour and cinnamon. Mix again on low speed until you have a smooth pourable batter. Do not over mix it,
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, making sure it is evenly distributed on top. You can use a spatula or a spoon to even it out.
- Bake honey cake in the preheated to 350℉ oven for about 27-30 minutes. The cake is ready, when the toothpick comes out clean and the top is golden-brown. Let the cake cool down for 10 minutes before removing it from the pan. You can enjoy it warm or cold. You can drizzle a little bit of fresh honey on top before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently asked questions
You can use any honey you have at home. I do not recommend using any expensive types of honey. Clover or wild flour unfiltered honey are both great choice.
For a classic warm flavor, you can add cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of ground ginger. For fresh and bright notes, try adding lemon or orange zest and vanilla. Stick to small amount of spices not to overpower the taste of honey.
Beverages: tea, coffee, milk. Try it Ukrainian way with a fruity drink such as cold kompot or warm uzvar.
Toppings: dusted sugar, chocolate glaze, cream cheese frosting.
Add-ins: Whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, sour cream or Greek yogurt, fresh berries, nuts.
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