Looking for a great honey cake recipe? You've come to the right spot! This honey cake with apples and walnuts is simple to make and loaded with flavor!
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Every year I make honey cakes.
Every year I always think it can be improved upon. BUT NOT THIS YEAR!
Maybe that’s a sign that this year, will be a good year.
The Jewish Honey Cake is more than a dessert; it's a piece of history lovingly passed down through generations.
As Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, approaches, this cake takes center stage, symbolizing a sweet and prosperous year ahead.
The combination of honey, apples, and warm spices pays homage to the flavors that define this holiday.
Unlike the Russian honey cake with all of its layers, this simple loaf cake isn't just for special occasions.
And if you want a version with chocolate, this chocolate honey cake is rich and divine.
And this one with toasted pecans and whiskey also knocks it out of the park!
Why I Love this Honey Cake Recipe
The Jewish Honey Cake is more than the sum of its ingredients; it's a connection to the past, a celebration of the present, and a hope for the future.
Take a moment to appreciate the stories it holds and the joy it brings to your table.
This is not just a cake; it's a reminder that some recipes are made of memories, and every bite is a taste of tradition.
Substitutions and Ingredients for this Honey Cake Recipe
Though there are many versions of this simple honey cake recipe, I love that this one contains not a cup of coffee, but almost a cup of tea.
I love the flavor that the tea gives and I think it makes this cake just a bit more delicate.
And if you don't want bourbon, feel free to use more tea, apple juice or orange juice.
I’m sure pumpkin spice would taste great if you don't want to track down cinnamon, cloves and allspice.
Honey lovers can make many versions of the cake by switching up the flavor of the honey.
Wildflower honey or clover honey is quite common, but imagine using orange honey and incorporating some orange zest into the cake.
Or macadamia honey along with macadamia nuts instead of walnuts.
You get the idea, right?
Want to jazz up the top of the honey cake recipe?
I often see it sprinkled with sliced, almonds and that's OK, too.
The final product is a very moist cake that makes a sweet treat for the new year.
With its golden brown color, this is the best honey cake recipe I know of.
Honey cake is moist and homey.
Perfect for Fall. Great toasted and slathered with butter; just be careful it doesn’t fall apart.
How To Make this Honey Cake Recipe
In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, consisting of all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, allspice, ground cinnamon and cloves.
In another bowl, whisk the wet ingredients together.
Canola or sunflower oil combined with honey, sugar, and dark brown sugar, 3 large eggs at room temperature, vanilla extract, Earl Grey tea and bourbon not only provide flavor, but also provide everything needed to make a very moist honey cake.
With a wooden spoon, stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
To the batter, add a grated Granny Smith apple—an homage to the harvest season and a nod to the tradition of dipping apples in honey for a sweet new year.
The toasted walnuts, with their earthy crunch, provide a great contrast to the tender crumb of the cake.
The cake batter needs to sit for an hour before baking so that the flour mixture hydrates well.
Grease two full size loaf pans with non-stick spray and do not fill more than halfway.
Using a rubber spatula, scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pans.
Bake about 45 minutes until the cake is pulling away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out fairly clean.
Cool on a wire rack.
The end result should be the perfect honey cake recipe.
And if you want the perfect fall cake, not just a cake for Rosh Hashana, this one, complete with Fall spices, should more than suffice.
Lots of honey flavor in this cake and if you want, feel free to drizzle a little more honey over the top.
This delicious honey cake recipe keeps well covered with plastic wrap and it also freezes well.
Personally I never liked honey cake as a child, but I think it is because my mother used a boxed mix.
Had she made this,I think she may have had better results!
(Below is the original post from Unfortunately, I just received news that this same person just had another stroke. She pulled throught this last one and I am hopeful, this will happen again.)
However, it could have started with better news. I just heard from a dear friend of mine (who is really family) that she had a stroke.
She doesn’t live in this country, so I am feeling totally helpless about what to do.
It is painful just sitting here, wishing I could be there to help.
She sounds good on the phone, but I know she will have a lot of recovery to do.
I could become philosophical, but I will spare you. Let’s all appreciate what we have and be grateful.
Life can change at the drop of a hat.
For better or for worse though, life does have a way of moving on.
Sometimes it may seem that it is standing still, but that’s when the joke is on us.
I’m grateful that I’ve reached this season and I hope you are too. And I said I’d spare you!
As a child, honey cake was never my favorite.
In fact, the only way I remember honey cake was from a Manischewitz boxed mix and baked in a foil pan.
I didn’t like it. My mom always made teiglach.
Now that was my favorite. I used to make it when the kids were young, but they didn’t like that.
So what is teiglach you may ask?
Teiglach are baked cookie dough pieces that after baking, are then cooked in a mixture of honey and ginger.
My mom always made hers like strudel. She’d roll the dough out thin and then sprinkle raisin and nuts on top.
Then it would be rolled up jelly roll style, sliced, pinched together and then baked.
After that it would be cooked in a honey and ginger syrup.
Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
I really must make these again, but the problem is that I know I will be the one eating them all.
But back to this honey cake recipe.
FAQ's
What is a honey cake?
It isn’t a rich cake. I bake mine in a loaf pan, but it could also be baked in a rectangular pan.
It is not meant to be frosted.
Honey cake is made with vegetable oil instead of butter.
If one does keep kosher, it means you can eat this with either a dairy or a meat meal.
It is made to be served with coffee or tea and coffee or tea can be used interchangeably in the recipe.
You could add raisins or chocolate chips. This year I added apples.
What does honey do to cake?
So, apples and honey, that may sound funny, but they will make the new year, sweet and sunny. OK.
That was a kid’s song we used to sing, and I guess I still do. Every frickin’ year!
This really is the best honey cake recipe I’ve made.
It is full of flavor and improves with age.
It makes a great snack and makes 2-3 loaf cakes, so one can always be waiting in the freezer.
This is so much better than the honey cake of my youth.
But it sure doesn’t beat teiglach!
L’Shana Tova to all my friends and family. Happy New Year and may this year be for a blessing.
Other Apple Desserts
Jewish Apple Cake with Walnuts
Recipe Card
PrintRecipe
Honey Cake with Apples and Toasted Walnuts
- Prep Time: 30 Minutes
- Cook Time: 40 Minutes
- Total Time: 70 Minutes
- Yield: 2 Loaves and 1 Small Laf 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Jewish
Description
This honey cake with Earl Grey tea and apples is just a delicious and moist honey cake.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
3 ½ c flour
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
½ t salt
4 t cinnamon
½ t ground cloves
½ t ground allspice
Wet Ingredients:
½ c canola or sunflower oil
1 ½ c honey (your favorite flavor)
1 c sugar
½ c dark brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 t vanilla
¾ c strongly brewed Earl Grey tea, cooled or cooled coffee
¼ c bourbon, orange or apple juice
1 Granny Smith apple grated
1 c toasted walnuts, chopped (I place nuts in a pie tin and then bake them for about 10-15 minutes at 350, until you smell them. That means they are getting close to toasted, so watch carefully!)
Instructions
Combine dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
Whisk oil, honey, sugars, eggs, vanilla, tea and bourbon together. Slowly stir into dry ingredients. Mix well.
Stir in grated apple and nuts. Let batter sit about 1 hour before filling pans.
Preheat oven to 350. Grease your loaf pans well. Fill greased loaf pans about ½ way. Bake for about 40-45 minutes. A toothpick inserted into center of cake should come out fairly clean and cake should be pulling away from sides. Let cool on rack. Run knife around edges and turn out onto serving plate. Drizzle with more honey and serve with apple wedges. Have a sweet year!
Anna and Liz Recipes says
This looks and sounds delish! Hope you had a great holiday Abbe!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
We have a road trip planned tomorrow and I might just have to make this cake to snack on. 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder says
I love road trips, Pamela! Especially with good road food. Have fun!
Beth says
Your honey cake sounds delicious - a perfect fall dessert!
Abbe Odenwalder says
It is Beth and a fun new cake for a lot of people. It would be great with a bourbon glaze, also!
Claudia Brick says
Ooh I have never made honey cake but it sounds amazing! So perfect for autumn with the apples and walnuts - I love how grated apple is added into the batter too <3
Abbe Odenwalder says
The apple keeps it really moist. And the spices make it delish! Thanks Claudia for stopping by!
Cheri Savory Spoon says
Beautiful cake Abbe, looks very moist. So sorry about your friend.....
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Cheri. I appreciate your thoughts.
Mary Frances | LOVE the secret ingredient says
Interesting idea to add tea, how sweet!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Next time I'm going to try adding an entire tea bag. I love the flavor of Earl Grey.Thanks for stopping by!
Joanne says
I've never had a legit honey cake, but I have no doubt that I would love it! Sounds absolutely delicious. And so sorry to hear about your friend..wishing her a speedy recovery!
Abbe Odenwalder says
And you live in New York? Thanks for the wishes, Joanne.
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Wow! This honey apple cake looks divine. And toasted walnut and apple on top looks adorably delish. Lovely share Abbe! 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder says
The walnuts toasted really highlight the cake. Well, I think walnuts should always be toasted. They are so good that way!
Chris Scheuer says
You're so right, life is so short and we have to appreciate every minute and every person. So sorry to hear of your friend, that had to be a shock. Your honey cake looks and sounds amazing - so wishing I had a slice to enjoy right now!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks for the kind words, Chris. This goes perfect with tea! Or bourbon!
Tricia Buice says
I think I deleted my last comment - if this is a duplicate please delete - anyway - the cake looks wonderful - I think it sounds great without the chocolate chips, and I can't believe I wrote that. Love the grated apple and honey is always a favorite of mine. It looks very moist and delicious. Beautiful photos too! Hope your friend recovers well and fast. Have a wonderful week.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Tricia. She is, but it will take time. This is a great quick bread, cake, whatever! Coming from you that my photos are good is a real compliment!
Nagi@RecipeTinEats says
I can't believe I've never heard of Honey Cake! Time to change THAT! 🙂 This looks absolutely delightful - Nagi @RecipeTin Eats
Abbe Odenwalder says
I for see change in your life Nagi! This is so good!
La Table De Nana says
L'Shana Tova~
Abbe some people recover perfectly from strokes..I wish it for your dear friend..
Have you read My Stroke Of Insight?
It is an excellent book..Dr Jill Bolte Taylor..you can hear her speak on YouTube also..
You are so right in saying life can change in one moment..we have examples everywhere..personalities to just us..
Carpe Diem.
Enjoy that honey cake..enjoy baking it♥
Looks great!
Abbe Odenwalder says
She is doing well, but it will take some time. I'm going to check out that YouTube and thanks you SO much, Monique.
SavoringTime in the Kitchen says
You can tell my looking at the photos that it's moist! This is just the kind of sweet bread that I love.
Abbe Odenwalder says
It is very moist! Thanks Susan. Enjoy!
Cathleen says
I love all these apple recipes coming out now 🙂 Gotta love apple season! This honey cake looks delicious!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Cathleen. Perfect for Fall!
Kaylene @ The Links Site says
I'm not a tea or coffee drinker but I would love to make this because it looks so good. Are you able to taste the tea much?
Abbe Odenwalder says
You really don't taste the tea. It is subtle but gives some depth, I think. Feel free to use apple or orange juice.
Barb | Creative Culinary says
Um, this sounds divine Abbe. I've been sick all week and need some comfort food...which means easy too. Might just have to whip up a loaf just for me!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Nice to hear from you Barb! Hope you feel better soon. The weather is so gorgeous, it is not good if you don't feel good.
Angie Schneider says
This is a perfect Fall dessert, Abbe. The cake has a really moist and perfect crumb.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Very moist, Angie! Perfect crumb! Thanks Angie!
Liz Berg says
Ooh, I want a slice of your honey cake AND your mom's taiglach! YUM! Happy New Year, Abbe.
Abbe Odenwalder says
I'll have to work on that taiglach, Liz! Thanks for the wishes!