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Lekach
Honey cake
Lekach (לעקאח): dark, moist honey cake with coffee and cinnamon for Rosh Hashanah
Every Ashkenazi family in Israel seems to have its own lekach, and in the days before Rosh Hashanah the smell of honey and spice drifts out of kitchens all over Kfar Saba and Jerusalem. It is a dark loaf of honey, brown sugar, strong coffee, cinnamon and cloves, made with oil so it stays dairy free for the festive meat meal. It tastes even better after two days wrapped, when the crumb turns sticky and deep. Slice it thinly and eat it with tea, wishing for a sweet new year. The common mistake is an oven that is too hot: honey burns quickly, so the outside darkens before the middle sets. Chef's tip: bake low and slow, and tent with foil once the top is mahogany.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 eggs
- 5 ½ oz soft brown sugar
- 9 oz honey
- ½ cup sunflower oil
- ¾ cup strong black coffeecooled
- 1 tsp orange zestfinely grated
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 325°F (275°F fan). Oil a 23 x 13 cm loaf tin and line with baking paper.
Step 2: Sift 10 ½ oz plain flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda, 2 tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground cloves, ½ tsp ground ginger and ¼ tsp salt into a bowl.
Step 3: In another bowl whisk 3 eggs and 5 ½ oz soft brown sugar until thick, then whisk in 9 oz honey, ½ cup sunflower oil, ¾ cup strong black coffee and 1 tsp orange zest.
3 minStep 4: Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ones until just smooth; the batter will be thin.
Step 5: Pour into the tin and bake for 55–65 minutes, until a skewer in the centre comes out clean and the top springs back. Cover with foil after 40 minutes if it darkens fast.
60 minStep 6: Cool in the tin, then wrap well and keep for a day before slicing for the best flavour.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 300 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 48 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does lekach take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 60 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of baking powder?
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar per 1 tsp.
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