Honey Sponge Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 140C/ conventional 160C/gas 3. Butter and line a 20cm round loosebottomed cake tin. Cut the butter into pieces and drop into a medium pan with the honey and sugar. Melt slowly over a low heat. When the mixture looks quite liquid, increase the heat under the pan and boil for about one minute. Leave to cool for 15-20 minutes, to prevent the eggs cooking when they are mixed in.
• Beat the eggs into the melted honey mixture using a wooden spoon. Sift the flour into a large bowl and pour in the egg and honey mixture, beating until you have a smooth, quite runny batter.
• Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 50 minutes-1 hour until the cake is well-risen, golden brown and springs back when pressed. A skewer pushed into the centre of the cake should come out clean.
• Turn the cake out on a wire rack. Warm 2 tbsp honey in a small pan and brush over the top of the cake to give a sticky glaze, then leave to cool. Keeps for 4-5 days wrapped, in an airtight tin.

Steps:

• In bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• In another bowl, beat egg whites until stiff.
• With electric mixer, beat egg yolks; gradually blend in sugar and almond powder.
• Cream mixture until smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Add honey (and almond extract).
• Mix together milk, baking soda and cooled melted butter; add to egg yolk mixture.
• Gradually add sifted flour mixture.
• When batter is thoroughly blended, quickly but gently fold in egg whites.
• Steaming: Before mixing, bring water in steamer to boil.
• Grease bottom only of 9" round flat-bottom, high-sided bowl (or tube pan, bundt pan or cupcake tins).
• Pour batter into bowl.
• Steam for 1 hour.
• Best served steaming hot, cake can always be resteamed without suffering.