Description
This traditional Greek Honey Cake is a moist and flavorful dessert featuring a tender crumb infused with cinnamon and orange zest, studded with crunchy walnuts, and drenched in a luscious honey syrup. Perfect for celebrating special occasions or enjoying a sweet treat with tea or coffee, this cake balances warmth and sweetness with a delightful texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 3/4 cup butter
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Honey Syrup Ingredients
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup honey
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch square baking pan to ensure the cake doesn’t stick.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and orange zest. Set this mixture aside for later use.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and 3/4 cup sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which will help create a tender cake texture.
- Add Eggs: Beat in the eggs one at a time into the creamed butter and sugar, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next.
- Combine Flour and Milk: Alternately add the flour mixture and milk to the wet ingredients, mixing gently just until combined to avoid overworking the batter.
- Fold in Walnuts: Gently stir in the chopped walnuts to distribute them evenly throughout the batter.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top if necessary. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Once baked, allow the cake to cool for about 15 minutes in the pan.
- Cut Into Diamond Shapes: After cooling slightly, cut the cake into diamond-shaped pieces to prepare for the honey syrup application.
- Prepare Honey Syrup: In a saucepan, combine the honey, 1 cup sugar, and water. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat and let it cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Finish Syrup: Stir in the lemon juice, bring the syrup to a boil, and cook for an additional 2 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Pour Syrup on Cake: Immediately pour the hot honey syrup evenly over the cut cake pieces, allowing the cake to soak up the syrup for maximum flavor and moisture.
Notes
- Ensure the cake is slightly warm before pouring the syrup to help it absorb better.
- The walnuts can be toasted beforehand to enhance their flavor if desired.
- The cake is best served after the syrup has fully soaked in, ideally after a few hours or the next day.
- Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- You can substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds for variation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Keywords: Greek honey cake, honey cake recipe, walnut cake, traditional Greek dessert, honey syrup cake
