Russian Honey Layer Cake (Medovik)
Shilpa
This Russian honey cake (Medovik) is made with soft, honey-kissed layers and a light, tangy whipped cream frosting. Each bite melts in your mouth, bursting with cozy honey flavor and creamy richness. A beautiful make-ahead dessert that gets even better with time!
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Chilling time 1 day d
Total Time 1 day d 1 hour hr
Course Dessert
Cuisine Russian
Dough Layers:
- 110 g Butter (unsalted) ½ cup
- 90 g Sugar ⅓ cup + 1 tbsp
- 90 g Honey ¼ cup
- 3 Eggs (room temperature) room temperature
- 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- 500 g All-purpose flour 4 cups (approx)
Cream Filling:
- 300 g Whipping Cream (chilled) chilled – 1¼ cups
- 30 g powdered sugar – 1/4 cup ¼ cup
- 260 g Sour cream 1 cup
- 50 g Honey 2 tbsp
Prepare the Honey Dough
In a heat-proof bowl, add butter, sugar, and honey.
Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water. Let it sit for a few seconds.
In a separate bowl, whisk eggs with vanilla.
Stir the honey-butter mixture until melted and smooth.
Slowly whisk in the eggs, bit by bit, to avoid scrambling.
Add baking soda. Mix until combined.
Take the bowl off the heat. Sift in flour in parts. Mix into a soft dough.
Divide into 12 equal portions (~78g each), and cover with a damp towel.
Roll and Bake the Layers
Preheat your oven to 180°C / 350°F.
Flour your surface and roll each dough ball into a 1mm-thick sheet.
Use a cake ring or bowl to cut a 15cm circle.
Transfer to baking paper, prick all over with a fork.
Bake each for 5–7 minutes or until lightly golden.
Cool on a wire rack.
Honeycomb Decoration (optional)
On one dough disc, score hexagon shapes lightly with a knife before baking.
Bake any leftover scraps until golden and dry.
Grind them into crumbs for decorating the sides later.
Assemble the Cake
Stack the layers, spreading 2 spoonfuls of cream between each.
Frost the top and sides.
Press the powdered crumbs onto the sides.
Arrange baked hexagons on top like a honeycomb.
Refrigerate overnight for best flavor and texture.
Storage:
-
Room temperature: Not ideal due to the cream—keep it chilled.
-
Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Tastes better from Day 2 onwards!
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Freezer: Freeze individual slices or the whole cake (well wrapped) for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Keyword cakes, honey, layer cake, layers