Chocolate Honey Cake Recipes

CHOCOLATE HONEY CAKE - SPARTAK RECIPE

Steps:

• Sift the dry: In a large bowl sift together 2.5 cups, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/4 cups cocoa powder. Set aside.
• Cook the wet: Set a saucepan with 1-2 inches of water over high heat. Meanwhile in a heatproof bowl combine 4 oz butter (use melted butter to speed up the process if you wish), 1/4 cup honey, and 2/3 cup sugar. When the water in the saucepan starts to simmer, turn the heat down to a gentle simmer and set the bowl with the wet ingredients over it ensuring that the water doesn't touch the bowl. Cook stirring occasionally until the sugar is dissolved (~5-10 min). Now add 2 eggs and continue to whisk constantly until well mixed in. Next, add the 1 tsp of baking soda and cook for about 1-2 minutes whisking constantly.
• Combine the dry & the wet: Pour the wet (hot) ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a sturdy wooden spoon until a dough forms. (Do not discard the saucepot with water, we'll use the water bath later in the recipe). The dough will be very sticky, but will become not sticky as it cools. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and keep covered as you're working with them one at a time.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F degrees as you roll the cake layers. Roll each chocolate dough piece between two layers of parchment paper to a slightly larger than an 8 inch circle. Poke with a fork about every 1 inch and bake for about 5-7 minutes. Do not let the edges burn or brown. Remove from the oven and place an 8-inch round template (salad plate or an 8-inch round baking pan) and cut around it, removing the scraps to a bowl. Repeat with the remaining dough. Crush the crumbs: Once all the scraps are cool, crumble them into fine crumbs by pulsing in a blender, crushing them with your fingers, or by adding into a ziplock bag and rolling with a rolling pin.
• Whip Butter: In a separate bowl whip room temperature butter for about 5-7 minutes or until it is pale in color and fluffy, stopping several times to scrape down the sides and bottom. Set aside.
• Cook Sour Cream Custard: In a heatproof bowl combine 3/4 cups sugar, 2 tbsp cornstarch, and 2 eggs, then add 1 tsp vanilla, 2 cups sour cream, set over the saucepot with simmering water and stir until smooth. Cook, constantly stirring with a whisk until the cream is thickened or until it's about 160F°, about 25 minutes. The cream will start out thick, then thin down as it heats and thicken back up again when the cornstarch and the eggs thicken it again. Allow to cool completely (to room temperature, not colder). You can place the bowl into some iced water to quicken the process.
• Combine: Add the cooled sour cream custard into the whipped butter in thirds or fourths, whipping well after each addition until you have fluffy and beautiful sour cream custard. Set aside.
• Combine 2 tbsp boiling hot heavy cream with 2 tbsp dark chocolate chips and allow to sit for 1 minute. Stir until smooth.
• Add a dab of cream to the middle of the serving platter or a cake board. Top with the chocolate cake layer and press to adhere. Now layer the cake with 2 scoops of cream between each layer, covering the outside with cream as well. Pour the ganache over the top of the cake and even it out over the top with an offset spatula. Press the crushed cake crumbs against the sides of the cake, going slightly over the edge of the top creating a border with crumbs. Cover the cake and leave at room temp for about 5-6 hours, then refrigerate overnight before serving. The cake is best when it's served at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE-GLAZED HONEY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease two 8x3-inch loaf pans.
• Mix 4 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, honey, eggs, oil, coffee, jam, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, and baking soda together in a bowl until smooth; spread evenly into the prepared loaf pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Remove cake from pans and cool on a wire rack.
• Mix 1/2 cup sugar, cocoa powder, water, and 1 teaspoon flour together, stirring constantly, in a saucepan over low heat until mixture is smooth and thick, about 8 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and add margarine and brandy; whisk until glaze is thickened. Refrigerate glaze until cooled, at least 15 minutes.
• Spread glaze over cooled cakes.

HEALTHY CHOCOLATE CAKE (WHOLE WHEAT, GLUTEN-FREE, VEGAN OPTIONS)

Steps:

• If using honey, preheat your oven to 325 °F (167 °C). If not using honey (which bakes quicker than sugar, hence the lower temperature), preheat to 350 °F (175 °C).
• Line 2 round 8" cake pans with parchment paper on the bottom and then grease the sides of the pans.
• In a large bowl, stir together the sugar (if using honey, don't add it yet), flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• Add eggs, milk, honey (if using), olive oil and vanilla. Mix for 2 minutes on medium and then stir in the boiling water. The batter will be almost as thin as water. If you taste it, it will NOT taste good! But don't worry. It tastes great after baking.
• Divide the batter between the two pans.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with some moist crumbs, but no uncooked liquid. The bake time will vary widely depending on what combination of sugar / eggs / flour you use. The whole wheat / egg / honey version is on the longer side. The gluten-free / chia egg / honey version is on the shorter side.
• Let cool completely before frosting.

CHOCOLATE-HONEY GANACHE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F.
• Spray two 10-inch round cake pans (with at least 2-inch sides) with cooking spray and line the bottom of each with parchment.
• Sift both cocoa powders into a medium bowl. Whisk in the coffee and then the honey. Let cool completely.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed. Gradually add the oil, beating until combined. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar. Raise the mixer speed to high and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well on medium-high speed after each addition. Add the sour cream and vanilla, beating just until combined. With the mixer on low, alternately add the flour mixture in three additions and the cocoa mixture in two additions, beginning and ending with the flour (scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary). Beat just until combined. Divide the batter between the two pans, using an offset spatula to spread it evenly. Tap the pans once or twice on the counter to settle the batter.
• Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until a wooden skewer inserted in the center of each cake comes out with only a few moist crumbs clinging to it, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool the cakes in their pans on a rack for 10 to 15 minutes. Run a knife along the sides of the pans, invert the cakes onto the rack, and remove the pans and the parchment. Let cool completely.
• Put the chocolate in a large heatproof bowl.
• Combine the heavy cream and honey in a 2-quart saucepan. Stir with a silicone spatula over medium-high heat until the honey dissolves into the cream, about 30 seconds. Just as the cream comes to a simmer, remove it from the heat and pour it over the chocolate. Let stand about 1 minute; then whisk until smooth. Whisk in the butter, rum (if using), and vanilla until the butter is melted and the mixture is glossy. Cool the ganache at room temperature for at least 8 hours. It will thicken as it cools. (The ganache can sit, covered, at room temperature for up to 24 hours.)
• Set one of the cake layers on a serving plate. Spread about 1 cup ganache over the surface of the cake. Top with the second cake layer and spread a very thin layer of ganache over the top and sides of the cake to seal in any crumbs. Refrigerate for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the crumb coat to set. Spread the remaining ganache evenly over the top and sides of the cake.
• To decorate the cake with chocolate curls, if using, soften the chocolate in the microwave on high power for 30 to 50 seconds. Scrape a vegetable peeler firmly down one side of the chocolate block to form thick curls. Put the curls on a plate and refrigerate until they're firm enough to handle. Scatter over the top of the frosted cake.

EASIEST EVER CHOCOLATE HONEY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 inch springform pan and line the bottom.
• In a large microwave-safe bowl combine the chocolate and butter and microwave until in 30 second bursts (stirring every time in between) until melted. This should take about 90 - 120 seconds.
• Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, until fully combined. Add the honey, milk and sugar and whisk well. Sift in the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and baking soda and stir until just combined.
• Pour into the prepared baking pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. The cake will rise quite a bit but it should NOT overflow. Once the baking time is up it will still feel very soft and it will also lose some height, especially in the center. But don't worry - it will be completely fine. Let it cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing the sides and allowing the cake to cool completely on a wire rack.
• Once the cake has cooled, level the top with a sharp knife. You shouldn't need to slice off too much and small differences in height can be made up for with ganache as well.
• Make the ganache by combining the chocolate and cream in a small saucepan. Gently heat over medium-low heat while stirring with a spatula or wooden spoon. Once the chocolate has completely melted and the mass is smooth, cool to room temperature before coating the cake. Allow the ganache to settle before slicing.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. If you have a flour sifter, sift all dry ingredients.
• In mixing bowl, beat oil, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla for 1 minute. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir until combined. Pour in hot water and mix together. The batter will be liquidy but that's a good thing -- it will create a moist cake.
• Spray two 9-inch cake pans with non-stick cooking spray. You can also use three 8-inch cake pans for this recipe. Pour batter evenly into each pan. Bake at 22-27 minutes. Place toothpick or cake tester in the center of the cake to check if it comes out clean.
• Let cool before frosting.

CHOCOLATE HONEY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease a baking pan holding 8 cups.
• Melt chocolate in double boiler, set aside.
• Sieve flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon, set aside.
• In large bowl, beat eggs, apple sauce and honey.
• Add brown sugar and melted chocolate.
• Alternately mix in the dry ingredients and the orange juice.
• Stir in chocolate chips (optional).
• Pour the batter in the prepared pan.
• Bake (on lower rack) for 40 minutes.
• When done, an inserted skewer should come out clean.
• Let cool for 15 minutes.
• Remove from pan.

CHOCOLATE, ORANGE AND HONEY CAKE

Steps:

• For Cake:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350°F. Line bottom of 10-inch-diameter springform pan with foil; brush foil with oil. Cut cardboard into 9-inch round. Wrap with foil.
• Using electric mixer, beat egg whites and salt in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar and beat until stiff glossy peaks form. In another large bowl, beat egg yolks, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, vegetable oil, orange juice concentrate, orange peel and lemon juice until blended. Sift cake meal and potato starch over yolk mixture and beat at low speed just until blended. Gently fold whites into yolk mixture in 2 additions.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and let stand at room temperature.)
• For Glaze:
• Melt margarine in heavy large saucepan over low heat. Add chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Mix in orange juice concentrate and honey. Let cool until thickened but still spreadable, about 2 hours.
• Cut around pan sides to loosen cake. Release sides. Cut cake in half horizontally, leaving cake bottom on pan bottom. Place top half of cake, top side down, on foil-wrapped cardboard round. Spread 1 1/3 cups chocolate glaze over. Place bottom half of cake, pan side up, onto glaze. Remove pan bottom; peel off foil. Spread 1 cup chocolate glaze in thin layer over entire cake, anchoring crumbs. Refrigerate cake 30 minutes.
• Rewarm remaining chocolate glaze over very low heat until just pourable. Place rack on baking sheet; place cake on rack. Pour glaze over cake, coating entirely and smoothing sides with metal spatula. Chill cake on rack until glaze is firm. Transfer to platter. (Reserve glaze on sheet for another use.) (Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before servings.)
• Garnish cake with flowers and orange peel strips if desired.