{"url":"https://sundaystack.substack.com/p/20-layer-honey-cake?open=false#§honey-cake-layers","title":"20-layer medovik honey cake recipe","domain":"sundaystack.substack.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/3302491/pexels-photo-3302491.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"20layer honey cake","category":"Lifestyle","language":"en","slug":"b419ec83","id":"b419ec83-5f97-4c4f-99f6-46dfb5de1c7b","description":"Katie shares her recipe for medovik, a classic Eastern European 20-layer honey cake from her childhood.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Katie shares her recipe for medovik, a classic Eastern European 20-layer honey cake from her childhood.\n- Layers use **3/4 cup (~200g)** caramelized honey, **1/2 cup (120g)** butter, and **1/2 cup + 2 tbsp (120g)** sugar for a 7-8 inch cake.[[1]](https://sundaystack.substack.com/p/20-layer-honey-cake)\n- Layers soften in sour cream frosting overnight, pairing well with black tea for a festive treat.[[1]](https://sundaystack.substack.com/p/20-layer-honey-cake)\n\n## The story at a glance\nKatie's paid Substack post details a towering **20-layer medovik** (honey cake), an Eastern European classic she grew up loving alongside napoleon cake. It makes one **7-8 inch** cake with thin honey layers, sour cream frosting, and an optional Earl Grey-citrus infusion. Published December 21, 2025, as part of holiday recipes, it highlights nostalgic family baking. Medovik layers famously soften after an overnight fridge rest.[[1]](https://sundaystack.substack.com/p/20-layer-honey-cake)\n\n## Key points\n- Eastern European medovik: perfectly sweet, multi-layered cake that softens from cream overnight and pairs with black tea.[[1]](https://sundaystack.substack.com/p/20-layer-honey-cake)\n- **Honey cake layers** start with **3/4 cup (~200g) caramelized honey**, **1/2 cup (120g) unsalted butter** (room temp), **1/2 cup + 2 tbsp (120g)** sugar; yields 20 thin layers baked individually then rolled out.[[1]](https://sundaystack.substack.com/p/20-layer-honey-cake)\n- **Sour cream frosting**: **2 cups (480g)** sour cream base with optional Earl Grey + citrus infusion for tea-like flavor.[[1]](https://sundaystack.substack.com/p/20-layer-honey-cake)\n- Assembly: stack layers with frosting, coat sides/top with crumbs from trimmed edges; requires overnight chill.\n- Author notes: read instructions fully first, not challenging but detail-oriented; feels festive stacked tall.[[1]](https://sundaystack.substack.com/p/20-layer-honey-cake)\n\n## Details and context\nThe post is paywalled beyond intro and partial ingredients, but snippets reveal a hands-on recipe suited for holidays. Katie expresses \"my love for a *many layered* cake knows no bounds\" and ties it to childhood memories in Russian households.[[1]](https://sundaystack.substack.com/p/20-layer-honey-cake)\n\nThin layers bake quickly, roll easily, and absorb cream to create the signature soft texture—key to medovik's appeal over quicker cakes.\n\nOptional infusion adds modern twist, evoking tea; skip for traditional version.\n\n## Key quotes\n> \"growing up, this was a top cake alongside napoleon. they both are perfectly sweet enough, have lots of layers that soften from the cream overnight, and of course - pair excellently with a cup of black tea.\"[[1]](https://sundaystack.substack.com/p/20-layer-honey-cake)\n\n> \"my love for a *many layered* cake knows no bounds. coincidentally, I also love a cake that requires an overnight sit in the fridge.\"[[1]](https://sundaystack.substack.com/p/20-layer-honey-cake)\n\n## Why it matters\nMedovik revives Eastern European baking traditions with impressive height and subtle honey depth, standing out at gatherings. Home bakers get a tested recipe yielding soft, tea-friendly layers that improve with time, saving trial-and-error. Watch for Katie's future holiday spins like napoleon, though full details need Substack paid access.","hashtags":["#baking","#recipe","#medovik","#honeycake","#easterneurope","#foodblog"],"sources":[{"url":"https://sundaystack.substack.com/p/20-layer-honey-cake?open=false#§honey-cake-layers","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://sundaystack.substack.com/p/20-layer-honey-cake","title":""}],"viewCount":4,"publishedAt":"2026-04-08T15:36:57.665Z"}