Make Ahead

Grandma Goldberg's Honey Cake

by:
October  6, 2015
3.7
3 Ratings
Grandma Goldberg's Honey Cake
Photo by Andy Ryan
  • Makes 2 loaves (9 slices per loaf)
Author Notes

This recipe from the 1930s comes from Hilary Finkel Buxton, a friend from our days at WGBH, the Public Television Station in Boston, and her sister, Sandy Hyman-Mehaffey. Their grandma Celia Goldberg admitted to 101 before she died. She was beloved by the family who treasured the cryptic notes she bequeathed to them for her Honey Cake, Mandlebread, and Noodle Pudding. This recipe originally appeared in Baking with the Brass Sisters, out this October. —Marilynn Brass

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 teaspoons instant coffee or instant espresso
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 3 large eggs, separated
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 tablespoons warm water
  • 1/2 cup neutral oil
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced almonds, toasted
Directions
  1. Set the oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Prepare the two loaf pans: Coat two 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pans with vegetable oil spray. Line the bottom and ends of the pans with a single strip of wax paper and coat with vegetable oil spray. Dust the pans with flour and tap to remove the excess.
  2. Add the instant coffee to the hot water and mix until the coffee has dissolved. Allow to cool (place in the refrigerator to hasten the cooling).
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, cinnamon, and ginger to a large bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.
  4. Add the egg whites to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whip the whites until they form firm peaks. Transfer the egg whites to another bowl and set aside. (The honey cakes come together quickly so the beaten egg whites will not have time to deflate.)
  5. Add the sugar and egg yolks to the bowl of the stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat to combine. Turn off the mixer and, using a rubber spatula, scrape down the mixture from the sides and bottom of the bowl. Turn the mixer on and continue to beat and combine with the rest of the mixture.
  6. Add the baking soda to the warm water and stir to combine. Set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, honey, and cooled coffee. Add the baking soda mixture, and continue to whisk until combined.
  7. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the honey and coffee mixture alternately with the liquid ingredients. Remove the bowl from the stand and fold in the beaten egg whites in three additions. Pour the batter into the prepared pans (the batter will be very loose). Sprinkle the almonds on top of the loaves and bake for 30 minutes. Tent each cake with aluminum foil and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes, or until a metal tester inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean. Transfer the cakes to a wire rack and cool for at least 20 minutes. Go around the edges of each cake with a butter knife and turn out onto a second wire rack. Invert the cakes onto the first rack and continue to cool. Grandma Goldberg's Honey Cake should be wrapped in wax paper and stored at room temperature for up to three days.
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  • Guinnevere Muir
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  • Marilynn Brass
    Marilynn Brass
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    Deborah
  • Kate
    Kate
Marilynn Brass
Marilynn and Sheila Brass are on a mission to bring old-fashioned American home baking back to everyone's kitchen. Their newest cookbook, Baking with the Brass Sisters, published by St. Martin’s Griffin, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, embodies that philosophy.

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8 Reviews

Deborah
Deborah January 14, 2018
This cake reminds me of my grandmother’s honey cake, which i’ve been trying to reproduce for countless years! I simplified these steps by combining things dry, combining things wet, then just mixed them together. Like a pancake batter. Everything came out just fine :)
 
Guinnevere M.
Guinnevere M. October 20, 2015
I have read and re read this recipe and i am confused. When do the egg yolks and sugar get added to the rest of the batter? when it states to combine with the rest of the mixture, WHICH mixture is that? After step #5 I don't find the egg yolks and sugar referred to again.
 
Kate
Kate October 19, 2015
Can this be made in a bundt pan? Has anyone tried or dare I try it first?
 
Emilye
Emilye October 14, 2015
In step 7, do the wet ingredients refer to the egg yolk & sugar mixture? Or should the dry ingredients be added to the egg yolk & sugar mixture, with the liquid ingredients being the honey & coffee?
 
Marilynn B.
Marilynn B. October 14, 2015
The wet ingredients are the honey, coffee, and baking soda mixture.
 
Andy
Andy October 12, 2015
Why not use a cup of good brewed coffee instead of instant?
 
Marilynn B.
Marilynn B. October 14, 2015
We suggested instant coffee or espresso because that was the way our mother and Grandma Goldberg made their Honey Cakes. Nothing wrong with a cup of good brewed coffee instead off instant.
 
alaparc
alaparc October 12, 2015
I tried this recipe. I lowered time in the oven because I saw at the halfway point that the cake was getting done. After I put in the foil I left for 17 minutes and the sides were burnt and the cake was dry. Thoughts? My oven does not run hot and I used the right size pans.