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Holiday Polish Piernik Honey Spice Cake

A warm and inviting honey spice cake filled with jam and topped with a rich chocolate glaze, perfect for holiday dinners and gatherings.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 9 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: Holiday, Polish
Calories: 4030
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the cake
  • 1 cup honey Use a good quality honey for the best flavor.
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup milk Can substitute with oat milk or almond milk.
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter Replace with salted butter if needed, reducing salt elsewhere.
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest Can substitute with lemon zest for a sharper flavor.
For the filling
  • 1 cup apricot or plum jam Marmalade can be used for a citrus note.
For the glaze
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 3 ounces dark chocolate Semisweet chocolate can be used for a sweeter glaze.
  • 1 teaspoon grain coffee Optional for a deeper flavor.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9x13-inch pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a saucepan, combine honey, sugar, milk, and butter. Warm over medium heat until melted and smooth, then let cool slightly.
Mixing
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, cardamom, and orange zest.
  2. Pour the warm honey mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Beat in eggs one at a time until the batter is smooth and thick.
Baking
  1. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick; it should come out clean.
  2. Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack.
Filling
  1. Once the cake is cool, slice it into two layers with a serrated knife. Spread jam over the bottom layer and place the top layer back on.
Glazing
  1. Bring heavy cream to a simmer, remove from heat and mix in chopped dark chocolate and optional grain coffee. Let it cool slightly until spreadable, then glaze the top of the cake.
Resting
  1. Wrap the cake and let it rest overnight for the best flavors. Slice with a serrated knife before serving.

Notes

The flavors deepen after resting overnight, making it ideal for planning ahead. Pairs well with coffee or tea and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.