Medivnyk (Traditional Honey Bread)

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Servings: 10 Difficulty: Advanced
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A dense, moist Ukrainian holiday cake sweetened with honey and spiced with cinnamon
Medivnyk (Traditional Honey Bread recipe image
Medivnyk (Traditional Honey Bread recipe image
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Medivnyk (Traditional Honey Bread)

Author: chefs-mate Cooking Method: , Cuisine: Courses:
Difficulty: Advanced
Servings: 10 Calories: 310.0

Description

Medivnyk is a traditional Ukrainian honey bread that serves as both a dessert and a festive centerpiece. Unlike typical airy cakes, this dense, moist loaf relies on a rich blend of honey, coffee, and sour cream for its unique flavor profile. The addition of orange zest brightens the deep sweetness of the honey, while walnuts or filberts add a satisfying crunch. It is incredibly fragrant and improves in flavor as it sits, making it perfect for holiday gatherings or gift-giving. Wrapped tightly, it keeps well in the refrigerator, becoming even more tender with each passing day.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325&# 194;°F (165ðC). Butter and flour two loaf pans.
  2. In a saucepan, heat the honey to boiling, then remove from heat and allow it to cool to room temperature.
  3. In a large bowl, beat the room-temperature egg yolks with the softened butter until light and fluffy.
  4. Add the cooled honey to the yolk mixture and beat until well blended.
  5. Add the sugar and blend well until the mixture is smooth.
  6. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Sift again to ensure no lumps remain.
  7. Add the dry ingredients to the honey mixture and mix until just combined.
  8. Stir in the orange zest, orange juice, strong coffee, and sour cream until no dry flour remains.
  9. In a clean bowl, whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
  10. Gently fold a small portion of the egg whites into the batter to lighten it, then fold in the remaining whites carefully to maintain airiness.
  11. Stir in the chopped walnuts or filberts if using.
  12. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pans and tap them gently on the counter to even the batter and remove air bubbles.
  13. Bake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour. Do not open the oven door during the first 30 minutes.
  14. When done, let the loaves cool in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.
  15. Turn out the loaves onto the racks to finish cooling completely.
  16. Wrap tightly in heavy-duty aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 10

Amount Per Serving
Calories 310.0kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 22.0g34%
Saturated Fat 6.6g33%
Cholesterol 746.0mg249%
Sodium 248.0mg11%
Total Carbohydrate 2.2g1%
Dietary Fiber 0.0g0%
Sugars 2.2g
Protein 26.0g52%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: medivnyk, honey bread, ukrainian cake, holiday baking, christmas dessert, traditional recipe, honey cake, walnut cake, moist cake, spiced bread, coffee cake, orange zest, east european, gift recipe, keep well
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