Honey cake is a must for a sweet new year, but where can you get the best one?
Obviously your mother/bubba/Auntie's is the only one to eat — or maybe you make your own?
Good honey cake should be packed with spices, full of flavour and matured to moist perfection over the days after it is baked. But shop-bought versions have in the past been dry and dull — giving the whole genre a bad rep. Have things changed?
My tasting team and I dug our forks into a few of the options available — there are many more so this is far from an exhaustive list:
This talented Bushey-based baker started offering his own recipe last year. (Pictured above) It went down so well he has ramped up the numbers this year and I’m sure he’ll sell out. His version is light and tender and incorporates no less than five spices — ginger, coriander, nutmeg, clove and cinnamon. It comes in a single loaf for £10.95 or box of six cute mini loaves for £12.50.
We loved: the lightness, full-on spicy flavour and gift-worthy wrapping.
Fress Bagelry and Delicatessen:
This new Jewish deli and bagel bakery that has replaced Radlett local favourite, Yummies, has a great pedigree. New owner, Martin Ment, has a long history in catering including the Delisserie; Hudson’s and most recently, Essex bakery, Shalom. He has used his own family recipe for a cake that’s baked on-site and is rich in cinnamon and nutmeg. (Enquire directly for price)
We loved: the moist texture and haimish flavour.
Bagels and Schmear honey cakes
Photo: VP
Bagels + Schmear:
Another independent baker is sharing her recipe for a second year. In her first year of trading, Francesca Goldhill baked up a recipe passed down from her Great Grandma, Mamie, who grew up in East London. Last year, it was sold as muffins as they hadn’t time to source any other cake cases. They sold hundreds of the cinnamon, ginger and mixed spice-filled treats, so they’re back this year in large loaves (£12 each) or mini versions for £2 each.
We loved: The punchy ginger flavour and eco-friendly (and cute) wrapping as well as the collab with local florist on a flower and honey cake package.
This (not pictured) was the only kosher bake in our selection. It was pleasingly moist and much darker than the others we tasted. With heavy nutmeg notes it was one taster’s favourite for its interesting depth of flavour. The bakery told me they've been using this family recipe since 1986 - so more than 35 years.
Loaf cakes are £8.95 and if you're feeding a crowd — or catering kiddush — they can bake you up a huge tray for 40pp for £45.00. A small tray to give 20pp a sweet new year is £30.00.
We loved: the strong spicing really makes it stand out from other recipes.
Photo: VP
This round cake comes in its own, prettily branded tin which is perfect for keeping your cake fresh right through from First Night Rosh Hashanah through to finishing your fast. That’s IF you keep it that long. It’s worth noting that our cake (which retails for £25) became moister and more delicious over the few days since our first tasting. It’s lighter in colour than some of the other cakes we tasted and definitely one for ginger lovers as it packs a fiery punch. They’ll also post the cake nationally but you need to order by September 13!
We loved: the gingery notes and cute tin, which we’ll be keeping for other bakes or for gifting.
There are many more honey cakes out there. Contact me at food@thejc.com if you have any winners to add to my list.
If you fancy giving your own a go then this recipe is a winner.
