Dairy Free Honey Cake

dairy free honey cake title

This super easy and super moist dairy free honey cake smells as delicious as it tastes!

Honey Cake is traditionally made at Jewish New Year as honey is a symbol of hope for the new year. I don’t know about you but I could certainly do with some hope and it goes without saying that I can always do with some cake!

This is not my first foray into honey cake making, I’ve got a couple of honey bundts up my sleeve with this Melt and Mix Honey Cake and for the chocolate lover in your life, there’s this Choc Chip Honey Cake. Yumbo!

dairy free honey cake

I’m Jewish but totally non-practising although I do like to partake in the Jewish holidays by making and of course, eating some of the traditional food.

Now that we’re in lockdown, every day feels the same and I lost track of time so much that Rosh Hashanah nearly passed me by.

Lucky this cake is so quick and easy that even though I was a bit late to the party, we were still able to celebrate the new year with cake. And a year that starts with cake is sure to be good, no?

slice of dairy free honey cake

This cake is so easy and needs just a handful of pantry ingredients. I adapted the original recipe from an old school (not to be confused with old skool) fundraising recipe book. The original recipe called for golden syrup instead of honey but is it a honey cake if you don’t even use honey?!

As it was, I made the cake with honey on Rosh Hashanah and it was so yummy that I made it again and again and again that week, sometimes with honey and sometimes with golden syrup. I shared the cake with my pals and asked them to do a secret taste test labelling each cake A and B.

inside dairy free honey cake 2

And the verdict? After extensive sampling, the taste testers said they loved both cakes and could hardly taste the difference so whether you use honey or golden syrup, you’re in for a total treat.

Even Teddy Roosevelt got in on the action. He totally looked the part in his custom made kippah (made by my kind and clever friend Nancy) and would have had a slice all to himself given half the chance. It should be noted though that he was not given any chances!

cavapoo wearing a kippah and sniffing honey cake

Another great thing about this cake is that not only is it freezer friendly but it can be made ahead. Simply wrap it in foil and let it “mature” for three days. Nom, nom!

This honey cake is so yummy, it’s too delicious to only be enjoyed on the first day of the year, it can and should be enjoyed on any day after that!

What’s your favourite culinary holiday tradition? Have you ever done a secret taste test?

slice of honey cake on white plate with small cake fork

Serves 8

Ingredients

170g self-raising flour

1/2 teaspoon mixed spice

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1/2 cup olive oil (not extra virgin)

1/2 cup caster sugar

1/2 cup honey OR golden syrup

1/2 cup water

1 egg

1 tablespoon flaked almonds (optional)

side view of dairy free honey cake

How to – Traditional

  1. Preheat oven to 180C. Grease and line the base of a deep 20cm tin.
  2. Place the oil, sugar, honey and water in a large bowl and whisk together.
  3. Sieve in the flour and spices.
  4. Add the beaten egg and bicarb.
  5. Mix well to form a batter, it will be quite runny.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared tin, sprinkle over the flaked almonds if using and bake for about 40 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
  7. Allow to cool in the tin before serving.
inside dairy free honey cake

How to – Thermomix

  1. Preheat oven to 180C. Grease and line the base of a deep 20cm tin.
  2. Add the flour, spices and bicarb to TM bowl and mix for 5 seconds on speed 5. Set aside.
  3. Add the oil, sugar, honey, water and egg to the TM bowl and mix for 5 seconds on speed 5.
  4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and combine for 10 seconds on speed 4 or until just combined. The batter will be quite runny.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared tin, sprinkle over the flaked almonds if using and bake for about 40 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the centre of the cake should come out clean.
  6. Allow to cool in the tin before serving.
slice of dairy free honey cake with cake fork