We all know I’m an Italian girl through and through, but today and tomorrow I’m featuring a couple of traditional Jewish recipes in honor of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, which began last night at sundown, and concludes tomorrow at sundown.

I’ve become increasingly interested in Jewish cuisine over the last year or so, and actually purchased the cookbook Jewish Home Cooking: Yiddish Recipes Revisited a few months ago. I read it cover to cover and thoroughly enjoyed learning about the background behind so many of the recipes.

So I was excited when my husband suggested putting together a traditional Jewish meal for Rosh Hashanah since we are here in Florida and his grandfather (who happens to live down here) is indeed Jewish. This honey cake was our dessert (and might be breakfast for a couple of days too!).

Our menu for the Rosh Hashanah dinner was:

Apple slices with honey for dipping (traditional and symbolic of a “sweet” new year)
Challah Bread
Matzo Ball Soup
Apricot Chicken (recipe from Simply Recipes)
Noodle Kugel
Honey Cake

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This honey cake is the epitome of moist, and absolutely bursting with flavor. It is perfectly spiced, and the honey flavor is balanced with the combination of coffee, orange juice, and… whiskey! (Woo for boozy baking! If, for whatever reason, you prefer not to bake with alcohol, you can add an extra two tablespoons each of coffee and orange juice.) Basically, this is an amazing honey spice cake and would be perfect to serve to guests any day of the week. Or, treat yourself to a special Sunday dinner dessert – no guests required!

Everyone enjoyed the meal, and it was awesome to experience new and traditional foods. I definitely plan on making a number of these again!

Quick note: Since I made a bundt-style cake, I sprinkled the slivered almonds onto the bottom of the pan and then poured the batter on top. When I unmolded the cake, the almonds were baked nicely into the top and sides of the cake. I decided to sprinkle on a few more for decoration so you could see them. When the cake comes out of the pan it’s still warm and super-moist, so the extra almonds stuck right to it!

Want to try a different dessert for Rosh Hashanah? Give my Jewish Apple Cake a try!

Honey Bundt cake on a silver serving platter.

Honey Cake

Yield: 14 to 16 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
A delicious traditional recipe for Honey Cake
5 (4 ratings)
Print Pin Rate

Ingredients

  • 3½ cups (437.5 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) kosher salt
  • 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) ground allspice
  • 1 cup (218 ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 cup (339 ml) honey
  • 1½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (110 g) light brown sugar
  • 3 eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (237 ml) brewed coffee, warm
  • ½ cup (124 ml) orange juice
  • ¼ cup (59 ml) whiskey
  • ½ cup (54 g) slivered or sliced almonds, optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease pan(s) with non-stick cooking spray. Even if your pan is non-stick, still spray!
  • In a large bowl (or in the bowl of an electric mixer), whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Make a well in the center and add the oil, honey, white sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, coffee, orange juice and whiskey, if using.
  • Using a strong wire whisk or with an electric mixer on slow speed, stir together until all ingredients are well-blended, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl, making sure that no ingredients are stuck to the bottom.
  • Spoon batter into prepared pan(s). Sprinkle top of cake(s) evenly with almonds, if using. (If you are using a bundt pan, sprinkle the almonds into the bottom of the pan before pouring the batter in). Place cake pan(s) on two baking sheets, stacked together (this will ensure the cakes bake properly with the bottom baking faster than the cake interior and top).
  • Bake until the cake springs back when you gently touch the cake center and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, almost clean. For tube and bundt pans, this will take 60 to 75 minutes, loaf cakes, about 45 to 55 minutes. For sheet style cakes, baking time is 40 to 45 minutes.
  • Let cake stand fifteen minutes before removing from pan. Serve warm or at room temperature. Leftover cake can be stored at room temperature, covered tightly.

Notes

This recipe can be made in three standard loaf pans, two 9-inch square or round cake pans, one 9- or 10-inch tube or bundt cake pan, or one 9×13-inch sheet cake. I made mine in a 9-cup bundt pan (a bit smaller than standard) and baked the leftover in an 8-inch loaf pan.
Calories: 367kcal, Carbohydrates: 75g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 35mg, Sodium: 180mg, Potassium: 209mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 49g, Vitamin A: 70IU, Vitamin C: 4.5mg, Calcium: 72mg, Iron: 2.1mg

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!

Author: Michelle Lettrich
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

(Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen)