Tags: cookery school, cooking classes, Italian cooking, learn to cook, pasta making

I came across a jar of delicious local honey while doing the weekly shop and was inspired to create this cake.

It’s based on a Danish recipe and has lovely subtle warming spice of cinnamon & cloves, combined with honey and coffee. The cake has no dairy in it, so if you leave the buttercream off it would be suitable for anyone with a dairy allergy.

The cake is so soft, springy and moist and keeps really well in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days. It’s super quick to whip up too and could be a good one for kids to bake while home for the Easter holidays. I baked it in a square tin, making it easier to cut into little squares – portion control!!! Hope you enjoy it,

Kela x

Honey and spice cakes on a plate.
Honey and spice cakes on a plate.
Ingredients:
  • 2 large free range eggs
  • 115g light soft brown sugar
  • 55g golden granulated sugar
  • 250g / 1 cup runny clear honey
  • 300g plain flour
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate soda
  • 125ml cold water
  • 125ml strong black coffee, cooled
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Buttercream:
  • 100g butter, room temperature
  • 220g icing sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cream / milk
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon honey
Method:
  1. Preheat oven to 180C reg / 170C fan. Line a square 23cm cake tin with parchment paper.
  2. Beat the eggs and soft brown sugar together in a large bowl. Next add the remaining ingredients, ONE INGREDIENT AT A TIME, and beat between the addition of each one i.e. granulated sugar, honey, flour & bicarb soda sifted, cold water, coffee and the two spices.
  3. Pour the mix into the prepared cake tin and bake on the middle shelf of the oven for approx 40 mins until golden and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
  4. Leave to cool for approx 10 minutes in the tin before removing onto a wire rack to cool completely. When cool, cut into squares. I got 16 from this cake.
  5. Make the honey cinnamon buttercream by beating all ingredients together until light and smooth. You can use an icing bag and nozzle to pipe on or spread over the top with a pallet kife.
  6. To finish place a coffee bean on top and drizzle a little more honey over each.

"A Magical West Cork Escape"

We stayed at Dunowen House for a long weekend and genuinely didn’t want to leave. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the beauty of the house and its surroundings – the views, the gardens, the quiet… it’s pure magic. The house itself is full of character and history but still feels incredibly cosy and luxurious.

We loved having our morning coffee overlooking the sea and strolling down to the nearby coves. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Clonakilty is only a few minutes away too, so we had some lovely meals out and picked up bits from the local markets.

"A Dream Wedding Come to Life"

We were blown away with the unmatched beauty of Dunowen – the set- ting, the people and all the details make it come to life. We feel so blessed to have had our wedding here and so grateful for Kela and Stephen for making this the most special day of our lives. We are leaving a piece of our hearts here so we will absolutely have to come back again. All our love

"An Unforgettable Celebration of Love"

I could not have imagined a more beautiful stay and wedding. We took a chance and put our trust in Kela and Stephen, booking Dunowen sight un- seen! What a wonderful experience to celebrate our love with the people we care about most without having to worry about the details. The flow- ers, the food and the accommodations were unforgettable. Thank you for giving us the space to create lifetime memories! Dunowen will have a piece of our heart. We hope to come back and do it again!

"A Perfect Stay"

Kela and Stephen. Thank you for our wonderful stay at Dunowen House and letting us enjoy the beauty of West Cork in your wonderful home and surroundings. We absolutely loved it.

"Another Unforgettable Stay"

Thank you Kela & Stephen for another amazing stay. When you’ve stayed in Dunowen it’s impossible to stay elsewhere. Your house is per- fection!

"A Perfect 70th Celebration"

Many thanks Kela and Stephen for a wonderful stay at Dunowen House. The house is so spacious, especially for our smallish family group who helped me celebrate my 70th birthday. Thanks for the beautiful flowers throughout and all the home baking. We loved the location.

"Surrounded by Dunowen’s Gardens and Coastal Beauty"

Thank you for a wonderful week. Everything was perfect and we loved being able to walk to the beach and sit in the beautiful gardens. Hope to come again.

"A Perfect 80th Birthday Celebration"

The end of a fabulous week celebrating my 80th birthday. It has been a brilliant stay with everything we needed. Just perfect. Thank you so much Kela & Stephen for your thought and kindness. All the best for the future and perhaps we will see you again!

The Ultimate 5-Star Escape

Bravo! You have created the perfect backdrop for a 5 star vacation. Our group of 18 could not have imagined a more comfortable and luxe week. I’ll see you on Instagram and we will all see you again in person next va- cation.

Flowers and fruits cake close up Flowers and fruits cake close up