Ukrainian Honey Cake

The famous Ukrainian myod, “honey,” lends its name to this excellent cake, rich with dates and nuts, a native specialty. Medivnyk is traditional for Christmas but is baked throughout the year because it’s so popular. Hawkers set up their rickety stands in the streets of Kiev, selling slices of medivnyk by the gram. In the summer the stands are often surrounded by swarms of honeybees, bewitched by the heavy smell of honey in the air, but the hawkers are expert at selling their luscious cake