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American·Dessert

Wildflower Honey Cake

An old-fashioned, rustic cake made with wildflower honey instead of sugar, featuring a unique mixing method to ensure a perfectly textured batter and topped with a deep, toasted honey syrup.

Prep

15m

Cook

40m

Total

55m

Serves

8

Method

  1. 01

    Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed; set aside.

    Step 1
    Watch · 0:33
  2. 02

    In a large mixing bowl, combine the room-temperature butter and wildflower honey. Use a whisk or electric mixer to blend the mixture until it is light and fluffy.

    Step 2
    Watch · 1:27
  3. 03

    Add your choice of dairy (yogurt, milk, or sour cream), vanilla extract, and two of the eggs. Mix in about one-third of the flour mixture and blend until fluffy. This 'Chef John method' helps prevent the batter from breaking.

    Step 3
    Watch · 2:05
  4. 04

    Add the remaining two eggs and the rest of the dry ingredients. Mix just until the flour disappears, then stop immediately and scrape down the sides with a spatula to incorporate any remaining flour.

    Step 4
    Watch · 2:40
  5. 05

    Transfer the batter into a buttered cake pan lined with a parchment circle. Smooth the top and strategically scatter sliced almonds over the surface. Tap the pan on the counter to settle the batter and bake for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

    Step 5
    Watch · 3:05
  6. 06

    While the cake bakes, place more honey in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until it turns a dark, toasted amber and smells fragrant. Turn off the heat and carefully stir in cold water to create a syrup; set aside to cool.

    Step 6
    Watch · 4:38
  7. 07

    Let the cake cool in the pan for 20 minutes before inverting it onto a cooling rack and then back onto a serving plate. Spoon the toasted honey syrup evenly over the warm cake. Allow the cake to cool completely before serving with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

    Step 7
    Watch · 5:43

From Chef John

  • “Which bee would you rather be: the one that gets to drink nectar from a variety of different flowers, or the one that has to get nectar from the same flower every day?”
  • “Give this the old tapa tapa to settle that batter down.”
  • “If we're going to make a honey cake, let's make a honey cake.”