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This poppy seed cake is elevated with rich honey and crunchy walnuts. Topped with cream cheese and dulce de leche frosting, you’ll have a hard time not going back for seconds (and thirds).

A honey walnut poppy seed cake on a stand

Every Ukrainian can attest to the wonders of honey cakes. From classic Russian honey cake to jam layered honey cake, we love to elevate our baking with the rich, spicy, and sweet syrup. It adds a wonderful chewiness to baked goods and boasts a higher fructose content. Why not make things a bit extra sweet?

The texture of this honey walnut poppy seed cake is as decadent as the flavor itself. The nuts and poppy seeds bring a nice crunch, while the honey cake melts in your mouth. What’s better? Despite its impressive presentation, the cake is quite simple to make.

Although the cake invokes the flavors of fall, it can be served throughout the year. Oftentimes, it makes an appearance at Easter celebrations or summer BBQs.

How to Make Honey Walnut Poppy Seed Cake

Making this cake requires just a handful of ingredients. Bonus: Most of the work is done by a hand or stand mixer!

  • Make the Cake Batter: With a stand or hand mixer, beat the eggs and sugar. Add honey and beat again until well-combined. In a separate dish, combine lemon juice and baking soda. Fold the into the egg and sugar mixture. With a baking spatula, fold the flour in by thirds, taking extra caution not to over mix.
  • Add Walnuts and Poppy Seeds: Divide the batter into two, equal parts. Roughly chop the walnuts. Add walnuts to one portion of batter and poppy seeds to the other.
  • Bake the Cakes: Place poppy seed batter and walnut batter into cake tins. Bake until a toothpick is inserted in the center and comes out clean. Slice each cake into two equal parts, creating four individual layers (two poppy seed layers and two walnut layers).

Where do I buy poppy seeds? You can find poppy seeds at most grocery stores. However, buying them in bulk online is typically much cheaper.

Eggs and sugar in a bowl
Honey added to cake liquids
Sponge cake batter in a making in a mixing bowl
cake batter in a mixing bowl
  • Soak Cake Layers in Sweet Cream: Whisk together heaving whipping cream and sweetened condensed milk. Soak each layer of cake with the sweet cream.
baked cake on a cooling rack
soaked sponge cake
  • Make the Cake Cream: Mix softened cream cheese and dulce de leche together. Pouring slowly, add extra cold whipping cream, beating just until it reaches stiff peaks.
  • Frost the Cake: Place cake cream between each layer, stacking as you go. Frost the outside of the cake with the remaining cream.
  • Let the Cake Set Overnight: Place the cake in the refrigerator overnight to set.

Invest in a Cake Container: If you love baking fancy cakes, it’s time to invest in an airtight cake storage container. Not only does this keep your cake from absorbing other smells in your fridge, it also makes sure it stays intact. It’s also wonderful for transporting.

whisked cream in a mixing bowl
A honey walnut poppy seed cake on a stand

Tips for making the Best Cake

Find some tips to help you bake the best honey walnut poppy seed cake below:

  • Use extra-cold heavy whipping cream for cake cream. When making your frosting, make sure to use extra-cold heaving whipping cream. Cold cream creates the fluffiest frosting! In a pinch, you can pop the container in the freezer for a couple of minutes to lower the temperature quickly.
  • Don’t over mix the cake cream. The more you mix the cream, the flatter it gets. Once it reaches stiff peaks, stop mixing immediately.
  • Let the cake set overnight. Refrigerating the cake overnight helps to keep it sturdy. It also enhances the flavors.
  • Invest in an icing spatula for frosting. To do a bakery-worthy frosting job, invest in an icing spatula.

Nut Chopping Hack: Instead of chopping nuts with a knife, place them into a plastic storage bag. Release any excess air. Using a meat tenderizer, pound the bag until the nuts break apart into small bits.

Storing Honey Walnut Poppy Seed Cake

  • Refrigerating: Store the cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. As mentioned above, a container specifically for leftover cake works best.
  • Freezing: Freezing an entire honey walnut poppy seed cake is not recommended. However, you can prep and freeze the sponge cake ahead of time. Do so by laying the cake on a lined baking sheet and popping it into the freezer. Once both layers are frozen, wrap them in plastic wrap and place them into a freezer-safe plastic bag. Make sure to remove all the excess air from the bag to prevent freezer burn.
A slice of honey walnut poppy seed cake

FAQ

How can I make the cake less sweet?

Make the cake less sweet by omitting the soaking cream entirely.

Can I substitute the walnuts for other nuts?

You can substitute walnuts for pecans, hazelnuts, or almonds.

How do I prevent the sponge cake from sinking in the middle?

Prevent your sponge cake from sinking in the middle by preheating your oven before baking and resisting the urge to open the oven door. Every time you open the oven door, you let a rush of cold air in and alter the temperature.

Why is my frosting runny?

Frosting turns runny due to two main reasons: over mixing and not using extra-cold heaving whipping cream.

Other Russian Cakes

Recipe

A honey walnut poppy seed cake on a stand

Honey Walnut Poppy Seed Cake

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Servings
20 servings
Prep Time 40 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Total Time 1 hr 30 mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This poppy seed cake is elevated with rich honey and crunchy walnuts, then topped with cream cheese and dulce de leche frosting. Yum!

Ingredients

Cake

Soaking Cream

  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 3 tbsp condesned milk

Cake Cream

  • 16 oz cream cheese softened at room temperature
  • 1 cn dulce de leche
  • 2 cup whipping cream very cold
US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • Beat eggs with sugar until the mixture triples in volume. Add honey and beat until combined.
    Honey being added to the beat eggs and sugar in the KitchenAid mixing bowl
  • Into a small dish, combine lemon juice and baking soda. Fold into the egg, sugar, and honey mixture.
    Lemon juice added to the baking soda
  • Using a spatula, fold in flour in thirds. Make sure not to over mix.
    Flour being added into the mixing bowl with the egg mixture
  • Chop walnuts into tiny pieces.
    Crushed walnuts in a bowl
  • Divide the dough into two equal parts. Stir poppy seeds into one part and walnuts into the other.
    2 bowls of batter to one poppy seeds are added and to another crushed walnuts are added
  • Place batter in a 9-inch cake pans. Bake each cake at 350°F for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
    Cake batter poured into a cake baking pan
  • Slice each cake into two equal parts, creating four total layers. Combine whipping cream with condensed milk. Soak each layer with the sweetened cream and set them aside.
    soaked sponge cake
  • Beat softened cream cheese with dulce de leche.
    2 packets of cream cheese and dulce de leche placed into a mixing bowl with a spatula
  • Into the cream cheese and dulce de leche mixture, add ultra-cold whipping cream and continue beating until the cream reaches stiff peaks.
    Cream mixture in a KitchenAid mixing bowl
  • Spread cream on top of each cake layer.
    Cake baking pan placed around the cake layer when the cream is being layered on top
  • Decorate the cake with remaining cream.
    A honey walnut poppy seed cake on a stand
  • Allow the cake to set in the refrigerator over night. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
    Honey Walnut Poppy Seed Cake slice on a plate
Nutrition Facts
Honey Walnut Poppy Seed Cake
Amount Per Serving
Calories 399 Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 13g65%
Cholesterol 123mg41%
Sodium 233mg10%
Potassium 133mg4%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 25g28%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 900IU18%
Vitamin C 0.6mg1%
Calcium 95mg10%
Iron 1.4mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted August 12, 2021

About Author

Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.