How to Make Honey Cake:

1. Preheat the oven to a 350°F. Prepare a nonstick 9" springform pan; oil or spray with a cooking spray and wipe all over with a paper towel (make sure to get the edges nicely).

2. In a small bowl, microwave 4 tablespoons honey for 40-60 seconds until it starts bubbling and rising. As soon as you take out the honey from the microwave, sprinkle it with 1/4 tsp of baking soda and stir with a spoon until fluffy (it will rise). Set aside to cool while you prepare the next step.

3. In a large bowl, using a mixer, beat 8 eggs and 1 cup sugar on high for 8-10 mins until eggs are light in color, thick and fluffy. Beat in honey/baking soda mixture on low for 30 seconds.

4. Sift 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour in thirds into the batter, whisking gently by hand using a whisk or fork until flour is incorporated and no streaks of flour remain, scraping the bottom of the bowl to ensure you don’t have lumps of flour hiding at the bottom. Do not over-mix or you will deflate the batter and the cake will turn out hard in texture.

5. Divide batter equally into 3: 1 straight into springform pan and the remaining 2 portions in separate bowls.

6. Bake 1 layer at a time for 13-15 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

7. Once cake is baked, use a thin spatula to loosen cake from the rim of the springform pan, then remove the rim, flip cake, remove springform base, flip cake layer back and set aside to cool.

8. Pam spray the pan again and pour the second batch. Repeat the same with 3rd.

9. Let the cake cool before frosting. Do not stack the layers while they are still warm or they will lose their fluff. Cool completely before stacking and frosting.

   
   

TOAST ALMONDS: Single layer 1 cup blanched almonds onto a baking sheet. Bake in an oven at 350° F for 8-10 mins on center rack. Cool. In a food processor, crash almonds for 20-30 seconds until they turn into ground almonds. Use to decorate cake. Save remaining ground almonds in a Ziploc bag for future use.

MAKE THE FROSTING:

1. Using an electric mixer, beat 16 oz sour cream, 8 oz cool whip, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract for 10 mins on high until frosting is thick and firm. Refrigerate until ready to use, but not for prolonged time or the cream might become slightly runny.

   
   

DECORATE THE CAKE:

1. Cut out a cake diameter cardboard circle. Wrap foil around circle.

2. Spread a teaspoon of frosting onto foil before you place a first cake layer – this will keep the cake from sliding off the carton.

3. Place about 4 tablespoonful frosting between each cake layer and spread evenly (make sure to get edges).

4. Frost sides as well so you don’t really see cake layers peeking through sour cream frosting.

5. Decorate with toasted ground almonds or any other way you prefer.

6. Refrigerate cake for several hours before cutting – it needs time to absorb the frosting and become moist to make the cutting easier.

7. This cake is good in fridge for 3-4 days.