A Sweet New Year

Do you have any recipes in your family that when you hear them mentioned you can see, smell and taste them? Luckily for me, I have many such memories associated with Mimi's cooking, but one in particular is in my mind this time of year. Yes, her matzah ball soup and brisket and chopped liver all come to mind, but none as vividly and almost tangibly as her honey cake. Y'all may think that it's hard to make or you have a better recipe, but don't judge until you make this one, and then come back and tell me I was right-hers is the best (again!)

I hope you try this cake to serve at your holiday table or make it to bring as a hostess gift. It will be gooey and rich and sticky and chewy and sweet, and with all of those adjectives will come simply a wonderful, sweet New Year.  Enjoy!

Dahlia’s Honey Cake

Dry ingredients:

2 cups flour                                                      

1 scant cup sugar                                             

1 teaspoon cinnamon                                            

½ teaspoon nutmeg                                            

¼ teaspoon ginger

pinch cloves

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder                                            

Wet ingredients:

¼ cup vegetable/canola oil                                                      

3 large eggs                                                      

1 tsp. vanilla

8-10 ounces strong, cooled coffee

1 1/2 cup honey

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl.  
• Mix wet ingredients in a separate bowl.  
• Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients.  
• Mix.  
• Pour into 9x13 inch pan, which has been greased and lined with parchment paper (or line an equivalent-sized disposable tinfoil pan with parchment paper).  
• Bake for 1 hour.  
• DO NOT OPEN OVEN DURING BAKING!! 

Enjoy!