In the oven now . . .
Spice Cake with Golden Raisins and Honey Glaze
(from the Williams-Sonoma Book, Cake, which has become an indispensable favorite of mine.)
Ingredients:
* 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
* 3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
* 3/4 cup whole milk, room temperature
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
* 1 cup dark brown sugar
* 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
* 2 eggs, room temperature, slightly beaten
* 1/2 cup golden raisins
* 1/4 cup honey
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350º F and line the bottom of a 9 x 3 round cake pan. Sift the flour, baking powder, coriander, allspice, salt, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper onto wax paper and set it aside. Combine the milk and vanilla in a bowl. Cream 3/4 cup of butter and add the brown sugar and 1/2 cup of sugar and beat. Drizzle in the eggs, beating after each addition. Add the dry ingredients in 3 additions alternately with the milk mixture. Beat until combined. Fold in the raisins. Pour it into the pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on wax paper on a wire rack. Combine 2 tablespoons sugar, the honey, and 1 tablespoon of butter in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour on the cake. Smooth with a frosting spatula.