Recipe(tried): UKRAINIAN Christmas Honey Cake

Ukrainian Christmas Honey Cake:

Few people can resist the haunting beauty of the Carol of the Bells, which takes its tune from the wonderful Ukrainian carol of Shchedryk, Shchedryk, Shchedrivochka.

Ukrainians are known for producing rich, complex lyrics embodied by ancient melodies in the Ukrainian tradition. These wonderful carols are a blend of voices that have become a sacred and cherished sound of the holidays in the Ukraine. This recipe is a product of simple ingredients blended into a beautifully harmonic dessert!

Medivnyk Honey Cake
(Serves 10 to 12)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Butter
1 cup Granulated Sugar
4 large Eggs, separated
1 cup Honey
1 cup Sour Cream
3 cups Cake and Pastry Flour, sifted
2 tsp. Baking Soda
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground Nutmeg
1/4 tsp. Salt
1 cup Raisins
1 cup Walnuts, chopped

Pre-heat the oven to 300-F degrees. Generously grease and lightly flour two loaf pans, and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, prepare the batter: Cream the butter and sugar together with a hand-held mixer until light and creamy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, and continue to beat the mixture after each additional yolk is incorporated. Add the honey and sour cream and mix again.

Beat the eggs whites in a small mixing bowl until stiff peaks form. Sift together the cake flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Fold the flour mixture and the egg whites, alternating each mixture, into the cake batter. Fold in the raisins and walnuts.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Remove the cakes from the pans and place on a wire rack to cool. Slice and serve slightly warm.