Honeycake

Honeycake is one of Don's favorite things. When he was growing up, his parents often had it at their home. The company where they bought it, The Holland Honeycake Co. in Grand Rapids, Michigan, went out of business about ten years ago. They have since tried honeycake from another company, but sadly the report is that it wasn't as good as the old Holland Honeycake.

So, I got this idea of doing it ourselves... Thanks to the internet, I compiled a bunch of recipes and tested them out on Don and the kids. I think we have one that is pretty close - even grandma and grandpa agree.

Honey and rye are the main ingredients in honeycake.  Interestingly, the recipes I found for Dutch honeycake (honingkoek) which called for rye were Jewish, except for the French pain d'épices  (spice bread) from Alsace, and it may too be of Jewish ancestry.

Dutch Honeycake

2 C rye flour

½ C sugar

½ tsp. baking soda

2 t baking powder
1 t. cinnamon
½ t cloves  -  optional**
½ t. allspice
1/3 C honey
¾ C water
1/2 C raisins and chopped dates - optional
or
1/2 C chocolate chips - optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Oil loaf pan and measuring cup.

Mix honey, water and sugar in mixer. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl and gradually add to the mixer. Bake in water bath for an hour. 

I tripled this recipe, it's just about the same amount of work to do so.  Honeycake keeps well in the freezer.

** Don says that this recipe with the cloves tastes like the Spice Honeycake variety.

Don't forget to spray or coat your measuring cup with oil, the honey will flow out quickly without sticking to the sides of the cup.

Once you have your ingredients measured, it's just a matter of minutes before you are done.

Boil water on stove, enough to use for the water bath. The level should rise about halfway up the sides of the loaf pan.

After an hour, test for doneness.  Do not remove the honeycake from the oven until you know it is done.  It's been known to cave in a bit in the middle otherwise.  When done, allow to rest for five minutes, then unmold unto a wire rack, allow to cool (if you can), and enjoy!

I am happy to be linking with Verde Farm's new linky party - Farm Friend Friday.