Honey Bee Cake

Honey Bee Cake (from Yesterfood)

Cake:

2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, (14 Tb) at room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup honey (a trick: spray your measuring cup with cooking spray before measuring honey, it comes right out!)

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 eggs, at room temperature

1 egg yolk, at room temperature

3/4 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

Honey Caramel Drizzle:

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup natural sliced almonds, lightly toasted (for garnish)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 inch cake pan with cooking spray, line the bottom with parchment paper, and spray the paper.

In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt, then whisk to mix well.

Cream together the butter, sugar, honey, and vanilla on low speed until blended. Increase the speed to high and beat until very light and fluffy, about 7 minutes. Scrape sides of bowl frequently with a spatula. Blend in the eggs and egg yolk one at a time, adding the next one as soon as the previous one has disappeared into the batter and scarping down the bowl between each.

With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk in two parts, beginning and ending with the flour. After each addition, mix until just barely blended and scrape the sides of the bowl. Fold the last of the flour in by hand with a spatula so that you don't overbeat the batter.

Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan, and tap the pan firmly on the counter to release any air bubbles. Place the pan in the center of the oven and bake for 45 minutes. Rotate the pan about half way through. The cake is done when it is firm on top, and a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake will have a few moist crumbs attached.

Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for about an hour. Remove cake from pan, remove the parchment paper, and let it finish cooling. Serve barely warm or at room temperature, sprinkled with toasted almonds and drizzled with honey caramel.

While the cake is in the oven, you can make the drizzle. Combine the honey, brown sugar and butter in a small saucepan, bring to a full boil over medium heat, stirring very frequently. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Serve warm or at room temperature.