Long post alert ! There are a zillion memories of eating this at the various Bangalore Bakeries that dot the city, however there were only a few bakeries which made the cut with its freshness and bang-on light sweety-syrupy cake that was relished till the last bite.
I remember one birthday, both my parents were busy with my dad being hospitalised, and I was rather bitter-sad that I couldn’t have the home party with close friends as usual. I was 8 something, and even refused to visit my dad at the hospital as something inside kept pulling me back.
At around 8pm after I came back playing with my friends, my grand parents (whom I lived with for a long time, and cherished every moment) brought me a single slice of this honey Cake with a small candle and asked me to blow the cake. And to note, both of them didn’t eat anything from the bakery due to their religious / dietary restrictions. I don’t know if my sis is reading this post and /or remembers that episode , but its clearly etched in my memory.
That year, I learnt something - that love transcends every single emotion in this world, including any heart breaks 🙂 Of course, I loved the cake and kept licking the box too that it was brought in {Don’t remember if I even shared it with my sis , lol !!}
There’s something about honey cake that evokes true and unconditional love, and that’s what food is all about, right ?
Lets make some memories again, and get to this recipe.
Adapted from here .
Prep time - 20 mins,
Bake time - 24~26 mins (varies from oven to oven) ;
Makes - 6~8 slices
Ingredients:
Maida / All purpose flour - 1.25 cups + 1 Tbsp
Milk - ¾ cup (adjust this to thickness)**
Neutral Oil - ½ cup
Salt - ⅛ tsp
Orange Juice - ½ cup + 2TBSP
Powdered Sugar - ⅔ Cup (adjust this to taste)
Baking Powder - 1 tsp
Baking Soda - ½ tsp
Orange Zest - ½ T
Vanilla Essence - ½ tsp
** Original recipe uses Condensed milk and lesser sugar, I didn't want to use Condensed milk as my kid is allergic to it, so swapped with plain milk and added extra sugar.
Syrup:
Water - ½ cup
Sugar - 1 TBSP
Honey - 2 TBSP
Topping:
Mixed Fruit Jam - 3TBSP
Dessicated Coconut - 3 teaspoon (or as required)
How to:
Stage 1:
Grease and line a 8.5x4.5 inch loaf pan. Pre-heat oven to 170 C.
In a bowl, sieve the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder.
In another bowl, mix together the oil, milk ,essence, powdered sugar and orange juice with a whisk.
Slowly add the flour (dry mix) to the wet ingredients. Gently fold into a pouring consistency without any dry streaks of flour. Pour into lined baking pan. Bake for 25-30 mins or till the skewer comes clean. Cool completely and then gently unmould onto a flat plate.
Stage 2:
Make sugar syrup boiling sugar and water together. Switch off and add honey. Make thin incisions in the cooled cake with a thin tooth pick and pour syrup all over it. Let the cake soak the syrup thoroughly. chill if required for 30 mins (preferred step)
Stage 3:
Microwave the jam for a few seconds till slightly melted and runny. Spoon it all over the soaked cake and drizzle the dessicated coconut. Wait no longer, slice and enjoy the nostalgia 🙂
Check out the other bloggers doing this Bake-a-thon
Priya Suresh says
Ah, that so sweet of your grandparents, indeed this cake makes me nostalgic always. Honey cake is something i can have more than one slice. All time favourite.
Nalini's Kitchen says
One of my all time favorite and I have lot memories associated with this cake.This is one the hit cake in my home and every time it comes out so good.
Srivalli says
I have this on my to do list for a while and could've get around baking it. Nice reading your memories about this.
Rafeeda AR says
Such a bittersweet story to this lovely cake... I have been having this cake on my to-do ever since I started blogging... hehe... Have never tried them, but I must keep in my mind that next time I go to Bangalore, I try this, only thing is I don't know when I will go... hmm... before that, I will bake at home some day...
vaishali sabnani says
I love this cake and remember making it for one of the Mega Marathons , it is so spongy , and the jam adds on to its taste .
Beautifully made cake , with some nostalgic memories !
Gayathri Kumar says
That was such a unforgettable moment for sure. Foods have the tendancy to create memories in life. The cake looks beautiful Kalyani.
Unknown says
This Honey Cake is just awesome. I am carving for it right away. It reminds me of my School days, I used to have it at least once a week.
Suma Gandlur says
Your cake looks fabulous and this post made me nostalgic too. I remember that this is the only cake I used to love to buy when living in India. I used to love the super moist cake but I haven't seen them made in the same way anymore. The honey cakes sold now have no resemblance to the old days, as far as my experience in India.
Varada's Kitchen says
Memories made around food always stay with us. I have never heard of this cake but loved reading your memories associated with it.
Pavani says
Loved reading the post Kalyani. Some memories are etched permanently and most of them are connected to food. That honey cake sounds divine.
Chef Mireille says
cake looks so soft and moist and love the anecdote - such a sweet post to remember these nostalgic times
cookwithrenu says
Iyengar style bakery was coming up a lot a few years back in mumbai and I wondered what is it. when I tasted the cake, I got it. Your honey cake looks simply divine. I am bookmarking this.
Swati says
Childhood memories and those related to food are always special and stay with us forever... these take you back into the time.. the cake looks moist and tempting and sure your kids too have enjoyed it!!
Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen says
It is in my to do list kalyani, yet to try!! Cake looks very inviting, want to grab that piece from the pic!
www.annapurnaz.in says
This cake is simply irresistible, soft & moist with that jam on the top that I want to lick off 😀
veena says
My all time favourite. Diet or no diet, I cannot resist this. Love this cake. Looks irresistible