Russian St. Nicholas Cake

Ingredients

4 oz butter
4 large eggs
14 oz honey
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp powdered ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp powered cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder

Procedure

1. Cream the butter and separate the eggs.
2. Add room temperature yolks, one at a time, to the butter, and beat well.
3. Mix in the honey.
4. Thoroughly mis flour, baking powder, and spices and add to the butter mixture.
5. Whip the egg whites until stiff.
6. Fold a little of the egg whites into the batter, then add the rest of them, folding them gently into the batter.
7. Pour the batter into a greased and floured loaf pan I used an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan; would use a 9 x 5-inch again).
8. Bake in a preheated 350 Degrees F. oven until firm on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
9. Cool, in the pan, for 10 minutes, then remove and finish cooling on a wire rack.
10. May serve with whipped cream.

From George Aquaro, Prosphora Stamp Central. Used by permission.