This easy Paleo Honey Cake recipe is fan-favorite made with healthy low-carb almond flour. I love turning classic desserts into wholesome gluten-free versions that everyone can eat.
What is Honey Cake?
Honey Cake, a traditional Jewish dessert eaten during Rosh Hashanah, is referred to as Lebkuchen in Yiddish. I love serving it at our High Holiday table whether for Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur break fast. We’ve been breaking our fast with warming, comforting foods since my Ayurvedic training in the early 1990’s. This lightly sweetened Jewish dessert, spiced with cinnamon fits that bill perfectly.
What is Rosh Hashanah?
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and the start of the High Holidays for Jews. Traditionally, we eat honey during this time as the ritual sets the tone for a sweet year to come. The custom of dipping apples in honey at the Rosh Hashanah meal has been one of the boys’ favorite since they were very little!
SCD Paleo Honey Cake
Most honey cake recipes include coffee. I left it out of this one to simplify the recipe and make it even easier. My husband, who has no dietary restrictions, loves this cake! As you can see from the photo above, a large piece has been devoured. One of our friends said this was the best honey cake she had ever eaten, gluten-free or not!
Paleo Honey Cake
Ingredients
- 2½ cups blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
- ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup palm shortening
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup raisins
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves
- In a separate bowl, combine honey, shortening, and eggs
- Mix wet ingredients into dry, then stir in raisins
- Grease and flour an 8 inch springform pan
- Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes
- Remove from oven and cool for 1 hour
- Serve
Gluten-Free Rosh Hashanah Dessert Recipes
Here are some additional paleo dessert recipes for you!
Your Favorite Rosh Hashanah Recipes?
What are your favorite recipes for Rosh Hashanah? Are they family traditions that have been passed down from your Bubby? Or are they new dishes that you’ve adopted to create your own tradition?
This recipe is an oldie but goodie from the archives. I first published it in 2012.
Tracey Mullin says
I love this cake! I’ve made it several times for various occasions and it’s always a hit! Thank you!!
Elana says
Tracey, thanks for letting me know this cake is always a hit!
Christi Hamburger says
Thank you Elana! I have been wanting this one!!! :)
Yvonne Hertzberger says
Definitely going to try this one. Thanks.
Beth @ Tasty Yummies says
This sounds amazing and so perfect! Another beautiful recipe, as always :) Thanks Elana.
Olivia@ OmNom Love says
Yum! I’ve never had honey cake before, but it sounds delish!
Suzan says
Hello from the Netherlands,
I am very happy with this website as in Holland we are not so very familiar with paleo recepies.
So please can you tell me what does vegan palm oil shortening do in the backingproces or where does it stand for?
grtz. Suzan
Louise says
Susan, I believe this is the “fat” part.
I’m in the UK, and wondering what I could put in instead of it, because I don’t know where to get palm oil from, but I *think* you could substitute coconut oil, or maybe even butter..?
I think I will try using coconut oil. I also think I might sub some of the cinnamon for nutmeg and ginger for a really nice rounded spice taste.
Maria says
I use the same product as Elana, I think, and it’s really just a basic non-hydrogenated vegetable oil shortening. It’s a reasonable substitute for butter for those who don’t eat dairy.
Suzan says
Hello Louise,
Thanks for the answer, I go and try cocnutoil.;-)
Kalyn says
Does anyone know how to make this wonderful recipe with the addition of the coffee? I think it would be well worth the extra steps and time! Thank you, Elana, for another gem!
Marci F. says
Yes, I would love to know how to make this *with* the coffee addition, please!
Judy says
Go to the recipe section and the one with coffee is there.
Elana says
Here you go!
https://elanaspantry.com/honey-cake/
Enjoy!
Elana
Michele says
I was just thinking I needed to find a recipe for honey cake! I meant to make one for this years holiday but got distracted. Next year!
Robyn says
Sounds wonderful … just wondering though, as we do not eat raisins, could I substitute chopped dates instead? Would this work as well?
Judy says
Robyn, I have substituted different dried fruits is Elana’s other Honey Cake recipe and they turned out wonderful. The different dried fruits impart a slight difference in flavor to the cake, so just think about weather or not the coffee, cinnamon, and cloves would be something you would pair with that dried fruit and change the spicing to suit the fruit.
Robyn says
Thanks Judy … I’ll try experimenting and see what works for me.
Cheers
Robyn
Wanda says
Thank you for being so willing to share your recipes. My husband has gluten intolerance and his diet is rigid to extreme as he celiac ataxia n celiac cardiomyopathy. So when a tested n tried recipe is shared I truly appreciate it.
Elana says
Wanda, you’re welcome! I’m so happy to help :-)