German Baking: Honey Cakes (Honigkuchen)

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This German recipe for Honey Cakes (or “honigkuchen”) is from my Great Auntie Betty and it’s a cake traditionally made at Christmas time. I find the taste and texture of this cake very unique, and incredibly festive (read: spicy and flavourful)!

These are like a cross between a cake and a cookie – the batter is cake-like, but you can still press it into a pan like a very, very soft cookie.

German Baking: Honey Cakes (Honigkuchen) - The DIY Mommy

There’s a ton of honey in this cake (obviously) and that taste really shines through. There’s also a little bit of coffee, almond flavouring and spices to give it an extra kick.

These are supposed to be topped with almonds, but I ran out… gasp! I used pecans instead, and that seemed to work (and taste) well!

I just received a really fantastic early Christmas present from Hubby – a massive KitchenAid mixer (my first mixer EVER!) – so I used that on this recipe and I was really happy with the resulting texture.

German Baking: Honey Cakes (Honigkuchen) - The DIY Mommy

My Hubby and I really enjoyed these, but my little girls weren’t huge fans. I’d say this is a dessert best saved for adults or kids with adventurous pallattes! Here’s the recipe:

Honeykuchen (Honey Cakes)

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup honey or syrup (or mix 1/2 cup molasses & 1/2 cup honey)
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter/margarine (I melted my butter completely – it seemed to mix well that way)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup brewed coffee
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • 1 tsp rum extract (I used vanilla extract instead)
  • 4 cups flour
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp cloves
  • 1/2 tsp ginger
  • pinches of anise, coriander (I didn’t use these for mine)

Directions:

Beat together the honey, brown sugar, butter, salt, coffee, egg and extracts (I used my KitchenAid mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes).

Mix in the flower, baking powder and spices.

Pour and press into a greased and floured cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.

Ice with a mixture of icing sugar and milk, cut into diamond shapes, and place an almond on each diamond.

9 Comments

  1. thank you for this recipe its just like the one my mother used to make…taste perfect although I do substitute ½ a cup of flour with ground almonds addsa to the flavour.

  2. My grandmother, great grandmother are from Germany and they made this every year for Christmas. My grandmother’s recipe says and I do remember helping her make this, it takes like 14 days. From what I read from yours is that you make and bake it all in one day correct?

  3. I will have to definitely try your recipe. My dad and I were just talking about making some for Xmas and he even made a point of telling me after reading my grandmother’s recipe how it takes 14 day. He will be happy when I tell him I found your recipe and we can make and bake it all in one day.
    Thank you.

  4. Looking forward to making this.
    I am wondering what size of cookie sheet please? I have 3 different sizes 😅😊

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