Cakes

Cakes are very popular in Russia; about sixty different types are known. Russian cakes have a characteristic thick dough, with a large variety of spices added, along with nuts, honey, raisins, jam and the like. The spices generally used are cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, mint, aniseed, ginger, coriander and vanilla; also orange and lemon peel. Other basic ingredients include black or white treacle, caramelized sugar and honey. Honey is essential, whether the cake is called a honey cake or not. Jam, dried berries or marmalade can also be used, spread between the layers of the cake or mixed into the dough.