Description
A moist, dark, and spiced honey cake that is a traditional break-fast dessert for Yom Kippur, finished with a bright orange zest glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup dark honey (buckwheat or wildflower)
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 medium fresh orange (for zest)
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh orange juice (for glaze)
- 1 teaspoon orange zest (for glaze)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan and dust lightly with flour.
- In a large bowl, whisk together honey, vegetable oil, and brown sugar until smooth and glossy.
- Add eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition to ensure full incorporation.
- Zest the orange directly into the wet mixture, avoiding the bitter white pith. Whisk to combine.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and allspice.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let cake cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While cake cools, whisk powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest to make a thick but pourable glaze.
- Drizzle glaze over completely cooled cake and let set for 15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
The cake stays moist for days and tastes better on the third day. It can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Ensure eggs are at room temperature for better emulsification. Do not overmix the batter to avoid a tough texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Jewish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 38
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
Keywords: honey cake, yom kippur, break-fast, orange glaze, jewish holiday, traditional recipe, moist cake, spiced cake