Does lekach (honey cake) always taste this disappointing?

[ILoveAFullFridge]

I've tried Claudia Roden and Rose Elliot, but year after year my lekach is always dry and vaguely bland - even with loads of spices added - the strongest taste is the bicarb. It never really tastes particularly of honey - even with 2/3 of a jar in the mix.

Am I going wrong somewhere?

Have you tried Evelyn Rose's honey cake? Also what honey are you using? If you use a cheap bland honey you will get a bland honey cake. A little bit of ginger or cinnamon helps boost the flavour too.

Evelyn roses's One. The first on in her new international Jewish book, the red one. Perfect every time. I find claudia's recipes, though beautiful, often do not work.

I always mix up Evelyn Rose and Rose Elliot! I meant Evelyn Rose. I have her New Complete International Jewish Cookbook, and TBH I use it more for inspiration than recipes as nothing I bake from it ever comes out well. Claudia Roden OTOH generally comes out perfect.

The blue book, not very new - I've had it a few years.

I think the blue one is an older edition. Isn't it funny how our experiences with the same recipes varies so much. I'll look up the recipe in a bit.

Some of the recipes are slightly updated with each edition. My SIL has the white and gold one, I have the blue one, my mum has the red one and a really old falling apart 70s one. I think they are made a bit healthier (less schmaltz more marg sort of thing) and I bet that makes a difference.

Not convinced that shmaltz is any less healthy than marge. Definitely tastier!