Description
Layered Honey Cake, known as Medena Pita in Croatia, is a traditional dessert featuring thin, tender honey-infused cake layers alternated with a creamy vanilla custard filling. This cake is beloved for its delicate sweetness and rich, moist texture enhanced by resting overnight to meld flavors perfectly.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Layers
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup milk
Filling
- 2 cups whole milk
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
For Dusting
- Powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare pans: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line the bottom of four 9×13-inch baking pans or be ready to bake in batches if using the same pan.
- Make the honey butter mixture: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter, sugar, and honey together, stirring until the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together, then stir in the cooled honey-butter mixture.
- Combine dry ingredients: In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Form the dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until soft dough forms. Divide the dough into 4 equal portions.
- Roll and bake the layers: Roll each portion into a thin rectangle matching your pan size. Transfer each to a prepared pan and bake for 7–9 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove and cool completely.
- Prepare filling base: Whisk the flour and sugar together in a saucepan. Gradually add milk, whisking to avoid lumps. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened (about 10 minutes).
- Add vanilla and cool filling: Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract, and let the mixture cool to room temperature.
- Make creamy filling: Beat softened butter until fluffy, then gradually beat in the cooled milk mixture until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the cake: Place a baked cake layer on a tray, spread an even portion of filling on top, and repeat with remaining layers, stacking them.
- Chill and serve: Cover the assembled cake and refrigerate overnight to allow layers to soften and flavors to meld. Before serving, dust the top with powdered sugar and cut into squares or rectangles.
Notes
- Best served after resting overnight for optimal texture and flavor melding.
- Can be prepared 1–2 days in advance and stored refrigerated.
- For extra richness, add 1 tablespoon of rum or citrus zest to the filling.
