Armenian Honey Cake

Indulge in a dessert experience like no other with this exquisite Armenian-Style Layer Cake. Crafted for those truly special moments, this cake features a symphony of tender, aromatic cake layers, elegantly balanced with rich coffee whipped cream and a luxurious chocolate ganache. It’s more than just a cake; it’s a celebration in every decadent bite.

Hello, fellow food enthusiasts! This month marks a significant milestone here at The Beach House Kitchen: our blog is celebrating its 5th anniversary!

What an incredible journey it has been. Five years ago, with our sons off to college, I found myself with a new chapter opening up. The initial quietness in our home led me to seek a new passion, and thanks to the brilliant suggestion of my dear friend Rose, The Beach House Kitchen was born. It quickly transformed from a simple idea into the most fulfilling and enjoyable endeavor I’ve ever undertaken.

Over these past five years, sharing recipes and culinary adventures with you all has been an absolute joy. Twice a week, I’ve had the pleasure of bringing you dishes I’ve lovingly prepared for my own friends and family, always hoping they inspire confidence in your kitchens and bring as much delight to your tables as they do to ours. Your engagement, comments, and shared photos have truly brought this community to life, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

To commemorate this special occasion, my wonderful friends Rose, Janice, Kristen, and Michele surprised me with a lovely beachside birthday celebration for the blog. It was a truly unforgettable day filled with laughter, good company, and, of course, delicious food! They each prepared some of my signature cocktails, appetizers, a main dish, and dessert, all inspired by recipes from the blog. It was absolutely spectacular, a true testament to the spirit of friendship and shared passion that drives this culinary space.

You might also notice that The Beach House Kitchen itself has received a celebratory refresh! We’ve unveiled a brand new layout and a fresh logo, designed to enhance your browsing experience. I truly hope you enjoy the updated look and feel.

For the longest time, I struggled to find the perfect tagline for the blog—something that truly encapsulated its essence. Once again, my friend Rose came to the rescue with a phrase that resonated deeply: “where friendships are fed.” It perfectly captures the heart of what we do here, bringing people together through the love of food and shared experiences. I absolutely adore it!

In honor of this significant milestone and the wonderful friendships fostered here, I knew today’s recipe had to be nothing short of epic. So, I am thrilled to present to you this magnificent Eight-Layer Armenian-Style Layer Cake. This show-stopping dessert has been a cherished recipe in my collection for quite some time, ever since I discovered it in the 2018 Fall Baking magazine of “Food to Love.” From the moment I read through its description, I knew it was a winner, and I’m confident it will become a new favorite in your home too.

Contents

The Allure of Armenian-Style Layer Cake: A Symphony of Flavors and Textures

Before encountering this recipe, my knowledge of traditional Armenian cakes was limited. What I’ve learned, and what truly sets this cake apart, is its distinct character. Armenian cakes are generally known for being less sweet than many Western desserts, often featuring warm spices like nutmeg as a dominant flavor. This particular rendition perfectly embodies that tradition while elevating it to a truly luxurious level.

Imagine this: eight delicate, thin layers of cake, each infused with the comforting warmth of ground nutmeg. But the flavor journey doesn’t stop there. These exquisite layers are generously studded with finely chopped hazelnuts, adding a delightful crunch and a subtle nutty richness, alongside cacao nibs, which introduce an unexpected depth of unsweetened, intense chocolate flavor.

Between these remarkable cake layers, you’ll discover clouds of freshly whipped coffee cream. The hint of coffee perfectly complements the chocolate, adding a sophisticated bitterness that prevents the cake from being overly sweet. This creamy layer provides a delightful contrast to the cake’s texture and flavor profile. And finally, binding it all together, is a luscious, glossy chocolate ganache, draped over the entire creation, offering a decadent finish that will leave you wanting more.

Take it from me, and from my college girlfriends who had the pleasure of sampling this magnificent dessert, it is truly eight layers of pure deliciousness! This isn’t just a cake; it’s an experience, a masterpiece of balance between sweetness, spice, and rich indulgence. It’s a dessert that truly warrants a special occasion, though you might find yourself inventing reasons to make it again and again.

The Art of Layering: Building Your Armenian-Style Masterpiece

The beauty of this Armenian-Style Layer Cake lies not just in its exquisite taste but also in its impressive visual appeal. Creating eight perfectly thin layers might seem daunting, but with a few simple techniques, you’ll find the process incredibly rewarding. The method of spreading the batter onto parchment-lined baking sheets allows for uniform thinness, ensuring each layer bakes evenly and contributes to the cake’s delicate structure.

The contrast between the earthy nutmeg, the crunch of hazelnuts, the intense cacao nibs, the ethereal coffee cream, and the rich ganache creates a multi-dimensional flavor profile that captivates with every bite. This cake is designed to impress, making it an ideal choice for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, or any event where you want to serve something truly memorable.

Essential Tips for Baking a Perfect Layer Cake

Achieving perfection with an eight-layer cake requires attention to detail, but the results are well worth the effort. Here are some essential tips to guide you through the process:

Precision in Layering: When spreading the cake batter onto the parchment paper circles, aim for an even thickness. This ensures consistent baking and a beautifully uniform cake when assembled. Using the back of a spoon or an offset spatula works wonders.
Cooling is Key: Ensure each cake layer is completely cooled on a wire rack before attempting to remove the parchment paper or assemble the cake. Warm layers can tear easily and will cause your cream and ganache to melt.
Ganache Consistency: The ganache needs to be the right consistency – thick enough to spread without running off too quickly, but still pourable. Letting it sit at room temperature for the recommended two hours is crucial for achieving this perfect texture. If it’s too thick, gently warm it over a double boiler. If too thin, chill it slightly.
Coffee Whipped Cream: When beating the heavy cream, watch carefully for soft peaks, then stiff peaks. Over-beating can turn it grainy. The addition of instant coffee and cocoa powder enriches the flavor and slightly stabilizes the cream.
Assembling with Care: Take your time during assembly. Start with a solid base, spread the coffee whipped cream evenly, then follow with the ganache. Allowing the ganache to drip artfully over the edges adds to the cake’s appeal.
Slicing Technique: A serrated knife is your best friend for slicing through multiple cake layers cleanly. For a truly elegant presentation, consider separating each slice into two portions, offering four layers each, as suggested.
Timely Serving: While the cake is best assembled up to 3 hours before serving for optimal freshness and structural integrity, it also stores well, making it a fantastic make-ahead dessert.

This Armenian-Style Layer Cake is not merely a recipe; it’s an invitation to create something truly magnificent in your kitchen. It’s a testament to the joy of baking and the pleasure of sharing delicious food with loved ones. Enjoy the process, and savor every exquisite bite!

A Special Note from Mary Ann

To each and every one of you who has followed along here at The Beach House Kitchen, I extend my deepest, most heartfelt gratitude. There would be no Beach House Kitchen without you. Your comments, your shared photos of the dishes you’ve created from my recipes, and your unwavering support over the past five years mean the world to me. You are truly the best community a food blogger could ask for! I am so looking forward to many more delicious years ahead, filled with new recipes, shared culinary adventures, and the continued feeding of friendships. With much love, Mary Ann XO

Dive into the Recipe: Armenian-Style Layer Cake

Ready to bake this showstopper? Here’s everything you need to know to create this incredible Armenian-Style Layer Cake.

A Few Cook’s Notes for Armenian-Style Layer Cake Recipe:

Understanding Cacao Nibs: Cacao nibs are essentially crushed, roasted cocoa beans. They are raw, unsweetened chocolate in its purest form, offering an intense chocolatey flavor without any sweetness. This makes them a fantastic contrast to the cake’s other sweet components.
Where to Find Cacao Nibs: You can typically find cacao nibs in gourmet grocery stores, health food stores, or online specialty food retailers. They are becoming increasingly popular and easier to source.
Serving Suggestion: For the most elegant presentation and manageable portions of this tall cake, I recommend using a serrated knife to slice. You can then separate each generous slice into two smaller servings, each boasting four delightful layers. This makes for a perfect tasting experience.

An 8 layer Armenian layer cake on a cake plate with two glasses of champagne

Armenian-Style Layer Cake

Author: MaryAnn Dwyer

Servings: 16 servings

This Armenian Layer Cake is perfect for a special celebration! Layers of cake, coffee whipped cream and chocolate ganache make for one decadent dessert!

Prep Time: 30 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Refrigerate: 1 hr

Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins

Ingredients

Cake Layers

1 3/4 cups light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 large egg
1 cup milk
1/2 cup (one stick) butter, melted and cooled
1/3 cup hazelnuts, chopped
1/4 cup cacao nibs

Ganache

1 lb. semi-sweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces
2 cups heavy whipping cream

Coffee Whipped Cream

1 Tbsp. boiling water
2 tsp. instant coffee granules
2 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1 Tbsp. cocoa powder, sifted

Instructions

Ganache

Place chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl. Bring the heavy whipped cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Let stand for about 10 seconds and then whisk until smooth. Let ganache stand at room temperature for two hours or until it has thickened.

Cake Layers

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Draw two 7-inch circles on four large sheets of white parchment paper. Turn two of the sheets marked-side down onto two large baking sheets. You will have four circles; two on each sheet. Reserve remaining sheets of parchment for the second batch of four layers.
In a large bowl, combine sugar, flours, baking powder, baking soda and nutmeg. Make a well in the center. Whisk the egg, milk and the butter in a medium bowl. Add to the dry mixture and mix until just combined. Do not overmix. Spread 1/2 cup of the cake mixture in each circle. Sprinkle each with one tablespoon of the hazelnuts and cacao nibs.
Bake for 10 minutes, swapping the sheets halfway through, or until firm to the touch. Transfer layers, still on parchment, to wire racks to cool.
Repeat the process with the remaining paper and cake batter to make a total of eight layers. Remove the parchment from the cake rounds once cool.

Coffee Whipped Cream

Combine the hot water and coffee in a bowl. Mix and then let cool. Beat the heavy cream and the sifted confectioners’ sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add the sifted cocoa powder and the coffee mixture and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Cover and refrigerate until cake layers have cooled.
Place a cake layer on a cake stand. Spread the layer with 1/2 cup of coffee whipped cream. Spread 1/3 cup ganache over the coffee whipped cream allowing it to drip over the edges. Repeat layering, finishing with a ganache layer and then topping with a sprinkle of remaining hazelnuts and cacao nibs just before serving. Cake is best when assembled up to 3 hours before serving.

Nutrition

Keyword: cake, layer cake, dessert

Cuisine: Armenian

Course: Dessert

Before your first bite, snap a photo and share!

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see! Be sure to follow The Beach House Kitchen on Instagram and tag Mention @thebeachhousekitchen or tag #thebeachhousekitchen!

Adapted from Food to Love 2018 Fall Baking Issue.