How to Make a Delicious Honeybell Cake with Fresh Citrus Curd

Hello, Good News! Welcome to another article where we share with you the best recipes for your sweet tooth. Today, we are going to show you how to make a honeybell cake, a moist and fluffy cake with a tangy and creamy honeybell curd topping. Honeybells are a type of citrus fruit that are also known as Minneola tangelos. They are a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine, and they have a distinctive bell shape and a bright orange color. Honeybells are very juicy and sweet, with a hint of tartness. They are perfect for making desserts, especially cakes and pies.

If you have never tried a honeybell cake before, you are in for a treat. This cake is easy to make and uses simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. The cake batter is flavored with honeybell juice and zest, which gives it a fresh and citrusy taste. The cake is baked in a 9×13 inch pan, which makes it ideal for serving a crowd or for having leftovers. The honeybell curd is made by cooking honeybell juice, zest, sugar, eggs, butter, and lemon juice in a saucepan until thickened. The curd is then folded into whipped cream and spread over the cooled cake. The result is a light and airy frosting that complements the cake perfectly.

Why You Should Make a Honeybell Cake

Honeybells are Seasonal and Limited

One of the reasons why you should make a honeybell cake is because honeybells are not available all year round. In fact, they have a very short harvest season that lasts only from January to February. This means that you have to act fast if you want to enjoy these delicious fruits while they are fresh. Honeybells are also limited in supply, as they are grown only in certain regions of Florida and California. They are also delicate and prone to damage from frost or temperature changes. Therefore, they have to be hand-picked and hand-packed with care.

If you miss the opportunity to buy fresh honeybells, you can still order them online from reputable citrus growers who ship them directly to your door. However, this can be expensive and you may not get the same quality as buying them locally. Alternatively, you can use frozen or canned honeybell juice or zest, but they may not have the same flavor or aroma as fresh ones. That’s why we recommend making a honeybell cake when you have access to fresh honeybells, as this will give you the best results.

Honeybells are Nutritious and Delicious

Another reason why you should make a honeybell cake is because honeybells are nutritious and delicious. Honeybells are rich in vitamin C, which helps boost your immune system and protect your cells from damage. They also contain fiber, which aids digestion and lowers cholesterol levels. Honeybells are low in calories and fat, making them a healthy snack or dessert option. Honeybells have a unique flavor that combines the sweetness of tangerines with the tartness of grapefruits. They have a thin peel that is easy to remove and a juicy flesh that bursts with flavor.

Honeybells are great for eating fresh or for making juices, salads, jams, sauces, and desserts. They add a refreshing and zesty touch to any dish. Honeybells pair well with other fruits, such as berries, bananas, apples, pears, and melons. They also go well with nuts, chocolate, cream cheese, yogurt, and whipped cream. Honeybells can enhance the flavor of cakes, pies, muffins, cookies, cheesecakes, puddings, ice creams, sorbets, and more. One of our favorite ways to use honeybells is to make a honeybell cake with honeybell curd frosting.

Honeybell Cake is Easy and Fun to Make

The third reason why you should make a honeybell cake is because it is easy and fun to make. You don’t need any special equipment or skills to make this cake. All you need are some basic ingredients and tools that you probably already have in your kitchen. You will need flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, butter, sugar, eggs, yogurt, vanilla extract, honeybells (or honeybell juice and zest), lemon juice (or lemon juice concentrate), heavy cream (or whipping cream), orange extract (optional), and sugar (or powdered sugar).

To make the cake batter, you simply mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another bowl. Then you combine the two mixtures and pour them into a greased baking pan. You bake the cake for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. To make the honeybell curd, you whisk together the honeybell juice, zest, sugar, eggs, butter, and lemon juice in a saucepan. You cook the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon. You let the curd cool slightly and then refrigerate it until chilled. To make the whipped cream, you beat the heavy cream, orange extract, and sugar in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. You fold in the honeybell curd and spread it over the cooled cake. You can decorate the cake with more honeybell zest or slices if you like.

Honeybell Cake Recipe

Now that you know why you should make a honeybell cake, let’s get to the recipe. Here are the ingredients and directions for making a honeybell cake with honeybell curd frosting.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease a 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) glass baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer or a whisk, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
4. Add 1/2 cup of honeybell juice, 1 tablespoon of honeybell zest, yogurt, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
5. Add the flour mixture and mix until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly with a spatula.
7. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
9. To make the honeybell curd, in a small saucepan over low heat, whisk together 1/2 cup of honeybell juice, 1 tablespoon of honeybell zest, lemon juice, sugar, eggs, egg yolk, butter, andsalt. Whisk constantly until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 10 to 15 minutes. Do not let the mixture boil or it will curdle.
10. Strain the curd through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the curd to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours or overnight.
11. To make the whipped cream, in a large bowl, using an electric mixer or a whisk, beat the heavy cream, orange extract, and sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold in the yogurt and 1 cup of the honeybell curd. Reserve the remaining curd for another use or serve it on the side.
12. To assemble the cake, spread the whipped cream evenly over the top of the cake. Sprinkle with more honeybell zest or garnish with honeybell slices if desired. Cut into pieces and serve or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Enjoy your honeybell cake with honeybell curd frosting! This cake is best eaten within 2 days of making it. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

FAQs about Honeybell Cake

What are honeybells?

Honeybells are a type of citrus fruit that are also known as Minneola tangelos. They are a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine, and they have a distinctive bell shape and a bright orange color. Honeybells are very juicy and sweet, with a hint of tartness. They are perfect for making desserts, especially cakes and pies.

Where can I buy honeybells?

Honeybells are not available all year round. They have a very short harvest season that lasts only from January to February. You can buy fresh honeybells at some farmers’ markets, specialty stores, or online from reputable citrus growers who ship them directly to your door. You can also use frozen or canned honeybell juice or zest, but they may not have the same flavor or aroma as fresh ones.

How do I juice and zest honeybells?

To juice honeybells, you need to cut them in half and squeeze them by hand or with a juicer. You can also use a reamer or a fork to extract more juice from the pulp. To zest honeybells, you need to wash them well and dry them with a paper towel. Then you can use a microplane grater, a zester tool, or a sharp knife to scrape off the outer layer of the peel. Avoid getting any of the white pith, as it is bitter and will ruin the flavor of your cake.

How do I make honeybell curd?

To make honeybell curd, you need to whisk together honeybell juice, zest, sugar, eggs, butter, and lemon juice in a saucepan over low heat. You need to cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Then you need to strain the curd through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl and refrigerate it until chilled.

How do I make whipped cream?

To make whipped cream, you need to beat heavy cream, orange extract, and sugar in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. You can use an electric mixer or a whisk for this task. Then you need to fold in yogurt and honeybell curd to make it lighter and more flavorful.

How do I store honeybell cake?

You need to store honeybell cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This cake is best eaten within 2 days of making it. If you want to freeze it, you can wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze it for up to 3 months. To thaw it, you need to let it sit in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Can I substitute other citrus fruits for honeybells?

You can substitute other citrus fruits for honeybells, but you may not get the same results. Honeybells have a unique flavor that combines the sweetness of tangerines with the tartness of grapefruits. They also have a thin peel that is easy to remove and a juicy flesh that bursts with flavor. Other citrus fruits may have different levels of acidity, sweetness, bitterness, or juiciness that will affect the taste and texture of your cake. Some possible substitutes are oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, mandarins, clementines, or tangelos.

Can I make this cake gluten-free?

You can make this cake gluten-free by using a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend instead of regular all-purpose flour. You may also need to add a teaspoon of xanthan gum to help the cake hold together. You can also use almond flour, coconut flour, or oat flour, but you may need to adjust the amount of liquid and leavening agents accordingly.

Can I make this cake vegan?

You can make this cake vegan by using vegan butter, sugar, yogurt, and cream instead of regular butter, sugar, yogurt, and cream. You can also use flax eggs or chia eggs instead of regular eggs. To make a flax egg, you need to mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water and let it sit for 15 minutes. To make a chia egg, you need to mix 1 tablespoon of chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of water and let it sit for 15 minutes. You can also use a commercial egg replacer or aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) instead of eggs.

Can I make this cake sugar-free?

You can make this cake sugar-free by using a natural or artificial sweetener instead of sugar. You can use honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, stevia, erythritol, xylitol, or monk fruit as sweeteners. However, you may need to adjust the amount of liquid and leavening agents accordingly. You may also need to use a sugar-free honeybell juice or zest, as honeybells contain natural sugars.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this article on how to make a honeybell cake with honeybell curd frosting. This cake is easy and fun to make and uses fresh and seasonal honeybells that are nutritious and delicious. This cake is perfect for any occasion, whether it is a birthday, a party, or a family gathering. Try making this cake today and share it with your loved ones. You will love the moist and fluffy cake with the tangy and creamy honeybell curd topping.

If you liked this article, please check out our other articles on how to make other amazing cakes and desserts. We have recipes for chocolate cake, carrot cake, cheesecake, apple pie, brownies, cookies, and more. You will find something for everyone’s taste and preference. Thank you for reading and happy baking!