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8-Layer Honey Cake Recipe (Medovik)

This honey cake is so soft and fantastic. The honey baked into the cake layers pairs perfectly with the simple sour cream frosting. 

This honey cake is so soft and fantastic. The honey baked into the cake layers pairs perfectly with the simple sour cream frosting. It will WOW your crowd!

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For my own safety, I’ve been delivering quarters of this goodness to various family members and I’ve received rave reviews across the board. It stays amazing in the fridge for a several days (the longest we’ve tested was 4 days), so this is also a great make-ahead cake. Woot!

It’s definitely a special occasion cake and will WOW your crowd, but it’s easier to make than typical Russian honey cakes that require a double boiler. This one’s not that sensitive, making it more attainable for everyone. Woot! Woot!

Honey Cake Layers Ingredients:

4 Tbsp (1/4 cup)  honey
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
3 large eggs, room temperature, beaten with a fork
1 tsp baking soda
3 cups all-purpose flour (I used unbleached, organic) *measured correctly

Honey Cake Recipe @NatashasKitchen_

Sour Cream Frosting Ingredients:

32 oz sour cream
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup heavy whipping cream

For the topping:

1/2 lb Fresh Berries, optional

Honey Cake Recipe @NatashasKitchen_-3

How to Make a Honey Cake:

1. Add 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup honey and 2 Tbsp unsalted butter to a medium sauce pan and melt them together over medium/low heat, whisking occasionally until sugar is melted (5-7 mins). Don’t put them over high heat or they may scorch to the bottom.

2. As soon as the sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and while it’s still hot, add in your beaten eggs in a slow steady stream while whisking vigorously until all of your eggs are incorporated (whisk constantly so you don’t end up with scrambled eggs).

3. Whisk in the baking soda until no lumps remain, then fold in your 3 cups flour 1/2 cup at a time with a spatula until the dough reaches a clay consistency and doesn’t stick to your hands. Mine took exactly 3 cups flour (measured precisely, scraping off the top of the cup). Watch our easy video tutorial on how to measure correctly!

Honey Cake

4. Cut the dough into 8 equal pieces and move on to the next step right away (these roll out best when the dough is still warm)

Honey Cake Recipe @NatashasKitchen3

5. On a well-floured surface, roll each piece out into a thin 9″ circle (about 1/8″ thick). You can sprinkle the top with a little flour too to keep dough from sticking to your rolling pin.

Place a 9″ plate or base from a springform mold over your rolled dough and trace around it with a pizza cutter to get a perfect circle. Keep the scraps for later.

Transfer the dough to a large sheet of parchment paper and bake 2 at a time at 350˚F for 4-5 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before stacking. Repeat with remaining layers

Honey Cake Recipe @NatashasKitchen_-2

6. Finally bake the scraps separated evenly on a re-used sheet of parchment.Once the scraps are baked, cooled and firm, you can crush them with a rolling pin or pulse them in a food processor until you have fine crumbs.

Honey Cake Recipe @NatashasKitchen1

Honey Cake Recipe @NatashasKitchen_-4

Tips for Success:

Roll out the next layers while the first ones are in the oven and total combined baking time shouldn’t take more than 25-ish minutes. Some of mine bubbled up a little on top which is fine since after it’s frosted, it won’t make a difference. I deflated any real whopping bubbles after they came out of the oven. Oh and I re-used my parchment paper (because I’m frugal that way).

If you don’t have a baking sheet large enough to place the parchment paper on,  just bake directly on the rack (that’s what I did!)

How to make the frosting:

1. Beat 1 cup heavy cream until fluffy and stiff peaks form (1-2 min on high speed).

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together 32 oz sour cream with 2 cups powdered sugar. Fold the whipped cream into the sour cream and you have your frosting. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Honey Cake Recipe @NatashasKitchen2

Assembling your Cake:

1. Spread about 1/3 cup frosting on each cake layer (don’t skimp on it since the cake needs to absorb some of the cream to become ultra soft. Press the cake layers down gently as you go to keep the layers from having air gaps. Frost the top and sides with the remaining frosting

Honey Cake Recipe @NatashasKitchen_-5

Honey Cake Recipe @NatashasKitchen_-7

Honey Cake Recipe @NatashasKitchen_-6

2. Dust the top and sides with your breadcrumbs, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. This cake needs time to absorb some of the cream and soften, so be patient. It’s worth the wait!

Master this amazingly soft Honey Cake with simple frosting (step-by-step photo tutorial!) @NatashasKitchen

Master this amazingly soft Honey Cake with simple frosting (step-by-step photo tutorial!) @NatashasKitchen

Here’s the Print-friendly for your recipe books:

8-Layer Honey Cake Recipe (Medovik)

4.90 from 277 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 12 slices

Cake Layers Ingredients:

  • 4 Tbsp honey, (1/4 cup)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature, beaten with a fork
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour, I used unbleached, organic

Sour Cream Frosting Ingredients:

For the topping:

  • 1/2 lb strawberries, optional

Instructions

How to Make The Cake Layers:

  • Add 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup honey and 2 Tbsp unsalted butter to a medium sauce pan and melt them together over medium/low heat, whisking occasionally until sugar is melted (5-7 mins). Don't put them over high heat or they may scorch to the bottom.
  • As soon as the sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and while it's still hot, add in your beaten eggs in a slow steady stream while whisking vigorously until all of your eggs are incorporated (whisk constantly so you don't end up with scrambled eggs).
  • Whisk in the baking soda until no lumps remain, then fold in your 3 cups flour 1/2 cup at a time with a spatula until the dough reaches a clay consistency and doesn't stick to your hands. Mine took exactly 3 cups flour (measured precisely, scraping off the top of the cup).
  • Cut the dough into 8 equal pieces and move on to the next step right away (these roll out best when the dough is still warm)
  • On a well-floured surface, roll each piece out into a thin 9" circle (about 1/8" thick). You can sprinkle the top with a little flour too to keep dough from sticking to your rolling pin. Place a 9" plate or base from a springform mold over your rolled dough and trace around it with a pizza cutter to get a perfect circle. Keep the scraps for later. Transfer the dough to a large sheet of parchment paper and bake 2 at a time at 350˚F for 4-5 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before stacking. Repeat with remaining layers.
  • Finally bake the scraps separated evenly on a re-used sheet of parchment. Once the scraps are baked, cooled and firm, you can crush them with a rolling pin or pulse them in a food processor until you have fine crumbs.

How to make the frosting:

  • Beat 1 cup heavy cream until fluffy and stiff peaks form (1-2 min on high speed).
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together 32 oz sour cream with 2 cups powdered sugar. Fold the whipped cream into the sour cream and you have your frosting. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Assembling your Cake:

  • Spread about 1/3 cup frosting on each cake layer (don't skimp on it since the cake needs to absorb some of the cream to become ultra soft. Press the cake layers down gently as you go to keep the layers from having air gaps. Frost the top and sides with the remaining frosting.
  • Dust the top and sides with your breadcrumbs, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. This cake needs time to absorb some of the cream and soften, so be patient. It's worth the wait!

Notes

Tips for Success: Roll out the next layers while the first ones are in the oven and total combined baking time shouldn't take more than 25-ish minutes. Some of mine bubbled up a little on top which is fine since after it's frosted, it won't make a difference. I deflated any real whopping bubbles after they came out of the oven. Oh and I re-used my parchment paper (because I'm frugal that way).
If you don't have a baking sheet large enough to place the parchment paper on, just bake directly on the rack (that's what I did!)

Nutrition Per Serving

514kcal Calories66g Carbs6g Protein25g Fat14g Saturated Fat112mg Cholesterol190mg Sodium202mg Potassium1g Fiber41g Sugar880IU Vitamin A11.9mg Vitamin C110mg Calcium1.9mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
8-Layer Honey Cake Recipe (Medovik)
Amount per Serving
Calories
514
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
25
g
38
%
Saturated Fat
 
14
g
88
%
Cholesterol
 
112
mg
37
%
Sodium
 
190
mg
8
%
Potassium
 
202
mg
6
%
Carbohydrates
 
66
g
22
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
41
g
46
%
Protein
 
6
g
12
%
Vitamin A
 
880
IU
18
%
Vitamin C
 
11.9
mg
14
%
Calcium
 
110
mg
11
%
Iron
 
1.9
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian
Keyword: 8-Layer Honey Cake, Medovik
Skill Level: Medium
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 514
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

 

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(And the Pinterest friendly). Thanks so much for sharing this recipe with your friends and family. Good things are meant to be shared 😉

Master this amazingly soft Honey Cake with simple frosting (step-by-step photo tutorial!) @NatashasKitchen

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the creator behind Natasha's Kitchen (established in 2009), and I share family-friendly, authentic recipes. I am a New York Times Best-Selling cookbook author and a trusted video personality in the culinary world. My husband, Vadim, and I run this blog together, ensuring every recipe we share is thoroughly tested and approved. Our mission is to provide you with delicious, reliable recipes you can count on. Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy you are here.

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4.90 from 277 votes (93 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  • Mindy McEntire
    September 13, 2024

    I found this recipe on Pinterest after reading The Briar Club and was surprised to find it’s exactly as it’s read in the book. I’m looking forward to trying this out. What a nice surprise.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 13, 2024

      Let us know how it turns out for you!

      Reply

  • Bill Snyder
    August 22, 2024

    WOW! I made this for an event at work that involved a dessert competition. I thought I ruined it because the frosting was very runny. It turns out that I inadvertently picked up something labeled WHIPPING CREAM (alternative) that was non-dairy. I also used gluten-free flour. Still, I won! Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 22, 2024

      I’m so glad to hear it still worked out! Congratulations on winning, Bill! That’s so great!

      Reply

  • Prairie Girl
    May 19, 2024

    Natasha, just baked this cake and it’s absolutely delicious! What I love is that it’s soft but not to the point when it’s falling apart. Not too sweet, flavourful, really easy to make and scrumptious! Your recipes are truly amazing!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      May 20, 2024

      Thank you for your kind words and great feedback. It means a lot to me!

      Reply

  • Chris
    April 12, 2024

    You have much better hands than I do. It still turned out pretty good though. Flavor is great but mine looks derpy.

    Reply

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