Sunday 8 September 2013

Spiced honey loaf



This cake marks my 6th anniversary of blogging and, amazingly, my ‘to bake’ list is perhaps longer today than it’s ever been.  Baking really is a never-ending hobby of loveliness!




Tempted though I was to pick something extravagant and fancy, I was very short of time this weekend and decided to pick something truer to what I consider my baking ethos.  I have always been drawn to the homely, simple and rustic cakes (not that I don’t love a bit of fancy patisserie as well – I am all-embracing where cake is concerned!) and this is a perfect example.




This loaf has a close, dense texture and is perfect to have with a cup of tea.  Being honest, if you were having it sans tea I would be tempted to butter it as it is on the dryer side of cake. The first flavour to hit is the cinnamon before the warm honey cuts in – it leave a lovely taste and makes you want the second bite!




The glaze adds a little texture to the top of the cake.  Putting honey in the glaze enhances the flavour and while the cake is perhaps a plain Jane in terms of looks, it definitely isn’t in terms of taste.




When I think back to my early days of blogging I started with no thought for the future – it wouldn’t have surprised me if I’d quit by Christmas as something shinier caught my attention.  But here I am still, six years on – and there aren’t many weeks I’ve missed a post.  I’d be lying if I said my baking mojo didn’t dip occasionally – I’m going through a bit of a lull at the moment.  My blog is a labour of love but whenever I get a lovely email from a reader telling me about a recipe they made from the site, or asking about how they could adapt a recipe to make their daughter’s wedding cake I get little goosebumps and enjoy a renewed love for the power of baking and sharing recipes – after all, that’s what it’s all about.  I hope you’ve enjoyed my first six years!





Ingredients

For the cake:
225g unsalted butter, at room temperature
115g light muscovado sugar
6 tablespoons runny clear honey
4 eggs
450g plain flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the glaze:
115g icing sugar
1 tablespoon runny clear honey
1-2 tablespoons hot water


Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan oven 160°C/350°F/gas mark 4.

Line a 900g (2lb) loaf tin with baking paper.

Beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy – don’t skimp on this stage.

Beat in the honey.  My honey was very runny so I beat it straight in, if yours is firmer set warm it slightly first.

Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a little of the flour if it looks like it might curdle.

Stir in the flour, baking powder and cinnamon.

Spoon into the prepared tin and level the surface.

Bake for 40 minutes before checking that the top is not browning too much.  If it isn’t bake for a further 15-20 minutes or until a skewer comes out the cake clean.  If the cake is browning too much after 40 minutes reduce the oven to 160°C/fan oven 140°C/325°F/gas mark 3 and cover the brown crust with foil before continuing to bake.

Leave to cool in the tin for 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack and leaving to cool completely.

Now make the glaze: place the icing sugar, honey and 1 tablespoon of water into a bowl and beat together.  Add a further tablespoon of water if necessary – you’re aiming for a thick, runny – but not watery – glaze.

Spoon over the cake and let run down the sides.  Any of the glaze that runs down the cake and pools around it can be spooned back over the cake (like basting a piece of meat!).

Let the icing set.

Cut into thick slices – butter if you wish – and enjoy with a big mug of tea.

Bask in the glory of the wonderful thing you have created.


Eat.

27 comments:

Cher My Cakes said...

Another delicious offering. Happy 6th anniversary :-)

Izzy said...

I love your blog and all the cakes look delicious and I always like the writing as well, so happy 6th blogging anniversary!! Izzy xx

Mikey said...

congratulations on hitting 6 years! People at work still ooh & ah about the Ginger & cinnamon cupcake recipe I've been using for the last 4 years from you site :)
Not to mention one of the greatest cheesecakes in the history of cheesecakes!
I do wonder sometimes where you have the space in your kitchen for all the various cake tins?!!

The Caked Crusader said...

Hi Mikey

Much as I long for tardis-style cupboards that are bigger on the inside alas they don't exist. My tins have spread into the spare room and we also have a storage unit. Crazy, I know!

Happy baking

Choclette said...

Yay, congratulations CC and I hope you don't lose your baking and blogging mojo for many years to come. You have a great blog and have certainly inspired me to bake things I'd never have thought of. Your honey spice cake, being all about taste, is a perfect way to celebrate.

Hello said...

Congratulations on achieving 6 years! Your cake looks lovely x

Janine said...

Congrats on your blogiversary! Six years is certainly an impressive feat.

Lisa Shannon said...

Congratulations CC!

Your blog is where I always go to in order to recover my baking mojo!!! Happy Anniversary inspritational CC and long may you continue xx

Lisa Shannon said...

*inspirational - doh!! it has been a tough weekend!

Hettie said...

Mnnnnn. This sounds like my kinda cake specialy being a bee keepers wide! I shall have to make one soon. Happy blogaversary to you :-)
Xx

Anne said...

Yyikes I feel old, saw you mention 'you' were 6 years old, checked mine as couldn't quite remember and mine has been a little over 6, where does the time go! I know what you mean about mojo, and have come close to quitting a few times but its the odd random email or comment that reassures me its worthwhile!

I really like your cake, have made honey cake before but never thought of cinnamon, sounds delicious!

Jo said...

Congratulations! 6 years is an impressive blogging milestone. Here's to many more years of happy and delicious baking! What better way to celebrate than with a proper rustic cake. Lovely looking texture.

Katie said...

Congratulations on 6 years - heres to many more!
I always love your cakes and bakes. This one too looks delicious. I enjoy the dense textures to loaf cakes like this and keep meaning to try a honey loaf myself.

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

Oh yum that looks wonderful I love the icing on top.

Happy Anniversary x

Soo said...

Congrats on 6 delicious years!!!!

Kezia said...

Happy Blog Anniversary! The flavours in this cake look to die for, and I love the generous quantities of butter you've spread over it as well, I'm literally salivating! Here is to 6 more years of cake from the Caked Crusader!

Anonymous said...

wow 6 years is a long time to blog about cakes.................. amazing!! Cheers for posting all the recipes.............. Nikki

Cakelaw said...

Congrats on your 6 years! This cake looks marvellous - it would certainly hit the spot.

Maggie said...

6 years of cake is quite something and a lot of bakes to make and eat too:)
Here's to the next 6 years CC!

Chocolate Shavings said...

Yum -- that glaze looks heavenly!

Snowy said...

6 years of great recipes - congratulations.This is my kind of cake - looks delicious.

Gloria Baker said...

Congrats by your anniversary, always enjoyed with your récipes, and this Loaf look delicious!!!
xo

Lucy said...

Happy blogoversary! I always enjoy your posts and I look forward to many more.

Jean said...

Congratulations on six years, that's quite an achievement.

Your recipes have given me lots of inspiration for baking, some I have made and some I have saved for another day. So I look forward to reading your blog every time, even if I don't always leave a comment.

sensibilia said...

Congrats, CC, and may you continue with happy baking for many more moons!

This week, after returning from a holiday in Nice, I was feeling down, as one would after a hot sunny break. Then I find that winter has mysteriously arrived during my absence.

I fetched out of the freezer a large slice of your rhubarb and almond cake, and it SO overcame the problem. I felt better instantly and the good feeling lasted all day, so I did the same thing the next day as well!

Your posts always cheer me up, even if I don't actually make the cake!

Ruth999 said...

Thanks for your blog. I love reading it. And - even more important - I trust your recipes to work... not like some others I find on the internet.

So - keep blogging!

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