Honey cakes and spice cakes seem to be very common to european and eastern european cultures. This cake, a traditional Dutch Jewish recipe, is a well loved favorite in Naomi’s family and memories of honey cake and tea or coffee and long hours of conversation reach back many generations. Our version, developed by Naomi’s Aunt Esther, uses real coffee instead of instant and more spices than usual. We have found these changes taste closest to commercially available authentic Dutch Zoete Koek. You can add up to 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts, chopped dates, or any other ‘add ins’ that you prefer to alter it if you wish.

6 Tbsp extra strong freshly brewed coffee, cooled completely
1 1/2 c (6 ounces or 170g) Better Batter Gluten Free Flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 large eggs OR 1/2 cup flax or chia gel
1/2 cup raw sugar (you may use regular in a pinch)
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup shortening (Crisco or palm shortening are both fine), melted and cooled
1/2 cup mix-ins if desired (chopped walnuts, dates, etc)

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour an 8×4 inch loaf pan.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.

In another bowl, beat together eggs or egg replacement gel (made of flax or chia), sugars, and honey. Beat until very very smooth and color lightens. Very slowly, with the mixer running, pour in the melted, cooled shortening and beat until completely incorporated.

Alternately in two batches each, add the flour mixture and the cooled coffee. You should expect the batter to foam a little when the first batch of coffee is added to the mixture. As you stir it, it will stop foaming and become smooth.

Stir in any mix-ins you desire.

Pour the batter into prepared pan and cook for 50 to 55 minutes. A perfect oven will cook this at 55 minutes exactly. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Wrap tightly.

Wrapped, this cake will keep for up to one week, if it lasts that long!