8-Layer Honey Cake Recipe (Medovik)

User Reviews

4.9

483 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    2 hrs

  • Cook Time

    25 mins

  • Total Time

    2 hrs 25 mins

  • Servings

    12 slices

  • Calories

    514 kcal

  • Course

    Dessert

  • Cuisine

    Russian, Ukrainian

8-Layer Honey Cake Recipe (Medovik)

The 8-Layer Honey Cake (Medovik) features thin, soft honey-flavored layers stacked with creamy sour cream frosting. The dough uses honey, sugar, butter, eggs, and flour combined and rolled out warm for thin layers. The frosting blends sour cream, powdered sugar, and heavy cream to complement the sweet cake.

Description

This traditional honey cake, Medovik, is made by creating a sweet, pliable dough combining honey, sugar, butter, eggs, baking soda, and flour. The dough is divided into eight equal pieces, rolled thinly while warm, and baked to form delicate layers. The layers may bubble slightly during baking, which is smoothed before assembling.

The layers are stacked with a sour cream-based frosting made from sour cream, powdered sugar, and heavy whipping cream, giving the cake a moist, layered texture with a balanced, mildly sweet and slightly tangy flavor. Optional strawberries can be added for garnish.

Baking all layers in succession and assembling in sequence results in a multi-textured dessert with tender layers and rich cream. Reusing parchment paper is noted for convenience. This cake is a labor-intensive dessert but delivers unique layered honey flavor and creamy texture.

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Ingredients

Servings

Cake Layers Ingredients:

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

Sour Cream Frosting Ingredients:

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

For the topping:

  • 1/2 lb strawberries optional

Instructions

How to Make The Cake Layers:

  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).
  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)
  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.
  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.

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.

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.
  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!

Notes

  • Roll and bake each layer while previously baked layers cool to manage timing efficiently.
  • Small bubbles on baked layers are acceptable and can be deflated before frosting.
  • Reusing parchment paper between layers saves prep time without affecting results.
  • Baking directly on the oven rack without a baking sheet is an option if a large enough sheet is unavailable.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 514kcal (26%) Carbs 66g Protein 6g (12%) Fat 25g (38%) Saturated Fat 14g (70%) Cholesterol 112mg (37%) Sodium 190mg (8%) Potassium 202mg (4%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 41g (82%) Vitamin A 880IU (18%) Vitamin C 11.9mg (13%) Calcium 110mg (11%) Iron 1.9mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12slices

Amount Per Serving

Calories 514 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 514kcal 26%
Carbs 66g
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 25g 38%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Cholesterol 112mg 37%
Sodium 190mg 8%
Potassium 202mg 4%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 41g 82%
Vitamin A 880IU 18%
Vitamin C 11.9mg 13%
Calcium 110mg 11%
Iron 1.9mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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4.9

483 reviews
Excellent

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