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Ancient Greek plakous honey cake

Ancient Greek Plakous Honey Cake

Ancient Greek plakous honey cake is a simple, rustic dessert made with olive oil, honey, nuts, and warm spices. The baked cake is finished with a light honey syrup that soaks into the crumb, giving it a soft texture and rich Mediterranean flavor.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: greek
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almonds
For the Honey Syrup
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Optional for serving
  • Extra chopped nuts
  • Extra honey drizzle
  • Greek yogurt

Method
 

Preheat the oven
  1. Set the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
Mix the dry ingredients
  1. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stir well so everything is evenly mixed.
Mix the wet ingredients
  1. In a larger bowl whisk olive oil, honey, eggs, Greek yogurt, vanilla extract, and orange zest until smooth.
Combine the batter
  1. Add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Stir gently until a thick batter forms. Fold in the chopped walnuts or almonds.
Transfer to the pan
  1. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake the cake
  1. Place the pan in the oven and bake for about 30–35 minutes. The top should turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.
Prepare the honey syrup
  1. While the cake is baking, combine honey, water, and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Warm on low heat for 2–3 minutes while stirring gently. Do not boil.
Add the syrup
  1. Once the cake is baked, let it cool for about 10 minutes. Use a skewer to poke small holes in the surface. Slowly pour the warm honey syrup over the cake so it soaks in.
Rest and serve
  1. Let the cake sit for at least 20–30 minutes. Slice and serve. Add extra honey or nuts on top if you like.

Notes

Use good quality honey for the best flavor. Wildflower or orange blossom honey works very well.
Pour the syrup while the cake is still warm. The cake absorbs the liquid better this way and becomes softer.
This cake tastes even better the next day because the honey has more time to soak into the crumb.
Serve with Greek yogurt or fresh fruit if you want a lighter dessert.