Ukrainian Christmas Medivnyk

[Olga Drozd]

Ukrainian Christmas Medivnyk

Ukraine was a great honey producing center in the days before sugar became the universal sweetener.  Through the years honey has remained a popular ingredient in Ukrainian cakes and pastries, especially those served during the Christmas and New Year's season.  The Medivnyk, which takes it name from the Ukrainian word med, meaning honey, is the traditional Christmas honey cake.

1 cup buckwheat honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
4 large eggs, separated
4 cups all purpose flour, sifted - divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup raisins
1/2 cup currants
1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
1 cup chopped walnuts

Grease 2 loaf pans (9 by 5 by 3 inch) loaf pan with butter and line with parchment paper and butter paper also. Place oven rack in the centre of the oven.  Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Heat honey to boiling and add spices and baking soda.  Allow mixture to cool.

Cream butter with brown sugar and beat in egg yolks one at a time until mixture is light.  Add honey mixture and mix well.

Re-sift 3 3/4 cups flour with salt and baking powder. Mix into honey mixture.  Mix fruits and nuts with remaining 1/4 cup flour and add to batter.  Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into batter.

Pour into 2 loaf pans lined with buttered parchment paper.  Bake in a preheated 300 degrees F. oven for about 2 hours or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool on rack.  Age cakes a few days before serving.