The Wheel turns once more, and with it comes a whisper of sweetness on the breeze. Whether you’re gathering for Beltane, Lammas, or simply honouring the golden gifts of the Earth, this honey cake is a deliciously simple way to bring a little magic into your kitchen.
Honey has long been treasured by witches and wise folk alike—not only for its healing properties but for its deep symbolism of abundance, love, and the sacred dance between bees and blooms. In this recipe, we blend this golden nectar with butter, dark sugar, and flour to create a honey cake that is humble, rich, and spellbinding in its warmth.
Magical Correspondences:
Honey – Love, prosperity, wisdom, connection to the divine feminine
Butter – Nurturing, home magic, transformation
Muscovado Sugar – Grounding energy, earth connection
Eggs – Fertility, new beginnings, life force
Flour – Sustenance, community, harvest magic
Ingredients:
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250g clear honey, plus 2 tbsp extra for glazing
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225g unsalted butter
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100g dark muscovado sugar
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3 large eggs, beaten
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300g self-raising flour
Method:
1. Prepare Your Space (and Tin):
Preheat your oven to fan 140°C / conventional 160°C / gas mark 3. Butter and line a 20cm round loose-bottomed cake tin.
As you prepare, consider lighting a candle and speaking a simple blessing:
“May this cake nourish body, heart, and hearth.”
2. Create the Golden Elixir:
Cut the butter into pieces and gently melt it with the honey and muscovado sugar in a medium pan. Stir slowly over low heat. Once the mixture becomes liquid, bring it to a gentle boil for about one minute, then remove from the heat and allow it to cool for 15–20 minutes. This pause protects the eggs and offers space to reflect on your intention.
3. Mix with Purpose:
Beat the eggs into the cooled honey mixture using a wooden spoon. Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl, then pour in the honey-egg blend. Stir clockwise, focusing on what you wish to invite—joy, abundance, celebration—until the batter is smooth and pourable.
4. Bake Your Spell:
Pour the golden mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until the cake is risen, golden, and springs back when lightly pressed. A skewer inserted into the centre should come out clean.
5. Glaze with Gratitude:
Turn the cake out onto a wire rack. Warm 2 tablespoons of honey in a small pan and gently brush it over the top of the cake for a sticky, glossy finish. As the scent rises, give thanks for the bees, the blooms, and the sweetness of life.
Serving & Storing:
This honey cake improves with time, its flavours deepening overnight. It keeps beautifully for 4–5 days when wrapped and stored in an airtight tin. Serve with a mug of herbal tea, shared in good company or in quiet reflection.
Final Thoughts:
In the ways of old, we honour the turning seasons not only with ritual but through nourishment. A simple honey cake, baked with intention and shared with love, becomes a quiet spell in itself. May each slice bring warmth to your table and light to your hearth.
