Lavender Honeycomb Cake: A Symphony of Floral and Sweet

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 tbsp dried culinary lavender

For the Honeycomb:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup light corn syrup
• ¼ cup water
• 1 tbsp baking soda

For the Lavender Honey Buttercream:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• ¼ cup honey
• 2 tbsp heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp dried culinary lavender (finely ground)

Preparation:

This cake is a multi-step process, but the result is well worth the effort! Follow these steps to create your Lavender Honeycomb Cake.

Step 1: Prepare the Lavender Infused Cake Batter

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This ensures that the leavening agents are evenly distributed throughout the dry ingredients, leading to a consistent rise. Stir in the dried culinary lavender, making sure it’s well incorporated. The lavender will infuse its delicate floral aroma into the cake, creating a unique and delightful flavor profile.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This process incorporates air into the mixture, which is essential for a tender cake texture. Use an electric mixer for best results, and scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure that all the ingredients are evenly combined.

Step 3: Incorporate the Wet Ingredients

Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring that each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Add the vanilla extract and mix well. In a separate measuring cup, combine the buttermilk. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, alternating between the flour mixture and the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. This ensures that the batter doesn’t become overmixed, which can result in a tough cake. Mix until just combined.

Step 4: Bake the Cake Layers

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 5: Craft the Honeycomb Candy

While the cake layers are baking, prepare the honeycomb. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved. Once the sugar is dissolved, stop stirring and continue cooking until the mixture turns an amber color. This typically takes around 8-10 minutes.

Step 6: Create the Honeycomb Structure

Remove the saucepan from the heat and immediately whisk in the baking soda. Be careful, as the mixture will foam up rapidly. Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and let it cool completely. Once cooled, break the honeycomb into irregular pieces.

Step 7: Prepare the Lavender Honey Buttercream

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add the honey, heavy cream, and vanilla extract and mix well. Finely grind the dried culinary lavender using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder. Add the ground lavender to the buttercream and mix until evenly distributed. The lavender will impart a delicate floral flavor and aroma to the buttercream.

Step 8: Assemble the Cake

Once the cake layers have cooled completely, level them using a serrated knife if necessary. Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand. Spread a generous layer of lavender honey buttercream over the top. Place the second cake layer on top of the buttercream. Frost the entire cake with the remaining buttercream.

Step 9: Decorate with Honeycomb

Arrange the pieces of honeycomb around the top edge of the cake, creating a visually stunning and delicious decoration. You can also crush some of the honeycomb and sprinkle it over the top of the cake for added texture and flavor.

Step 10: Serve and Enjoy!

Slice the Lavender Honeycomb Cake and serve. The combination of the delicate lavender-infused cake, the sweet and crunchy honeycomb, and the floral lavender honey buttercream creates a truly unforgettable dessert experience. This cake is perfect for special occasions or simply as a treat for yourself. Enjoy!