Honey Cake

This recipe for honey cake is a mixture of a Greek and a Turkish recipe. I have elaborated on the similarities of the cuisines previously.

Recipe

You will need:

• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed cardamom pods
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup chopped pistachios
• 1 cup honey
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch tin.
2. Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and lemon zest. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the flour, using the milk if it needs loosening. You want a thick but silky mixture. Stir in the nuts but leave a few for the topping.
4. Pour mixture into the cake tin. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool for 15 minutes. 
5. For the Honey Syrup: In a saucepan, gently simmer honey, lemon juice and water. Cook for 5 minutes. 
6. Pour honey syrup over the cake and sprinkle the remaining nuts on the top.
7. This is delicious served with a dollop of thick yoghurt and ripe figs