The weekend is approaching, and what better way to slow down and savor it than with a recipe that is both timeless and extraordinary? Today, we invite you to rediscover a classic dessert with a Rareuma twist: Brazilian Honey Cakes made with Jataí Gold Honey.
The Story
Known in Brazil as Pão de Mel, this delicacy combines the warmth of spices, the richness of cocoa, and the rare tangy sweetness of Jataí stingless bee honey. In Brazil, it is a beloved treat often enjoyed during special gatherings. For the first time, you can bring this cultural treasure to your own kitchen, elevated with one of the rarest honeys in the world.
The Recipe
Brazilian Honey Cake (Pão de Mel) with Jataí Honey
Recipe by Pastry Chef Bruno Mariano – Terraço Jardins
Yield: Varies depending on mold size
Ingredients
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450 g all-purpose flour (~3 ½ cups)
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30 g ground cinnamon (~2 tbsp)
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20 g baking powder (~1 ½ tbsp)
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15 g ground cloves (~1 tbsp)
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20 g baking soda (~1 ½ tbsp)
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280 g Rareuma Jataí Gold Honey (~¾ cup + 1 tbsp)
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800 g whole milk (~3 ½ cups)
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260 g granulated sugar (~1 ⅓ cups)
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40 g cocoa powder (~½ cup)
Method
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Prepare the dry mix. Sift together flour, sugar, cocoa, cinnamon, cloves, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk well.
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Combine the liquids. In a separate bowl, mix milk and Jataí honey until completely dissolved.
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Bring it together. Gradually incorporate the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring with a whisk or spatula until smooth.
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Bake. Grease and flour small molds for individual honey cakes. Fill evenly with batter. Bake in a preheated oven at 160 °C (320 °F) for about 12 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
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Cool. Remove from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack before unmolding.
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Optional indulgence. Slice in half, fill with dulce de leche, and dip in melted chocolate. Let the chocolate set, then finish each cake with a delicate drop of Jataí honey for a final golden touch.
The Ingredient
Unlike common honey, Jataí honey is light, floral, and naturally tangy, with a complexity that elevates simple recipes into gourmet experiences. It is harvested in tiny quantities by stingless bees that live deep within Brazil’s forests, making it as rare as it is exquisite.
Each spoonful connects you to a lineage of tradition, of indigenous communities who have long considered Jataí honey both sacred and medicinal. When you bake with it, you are not just making dessert, you are preserving a story of biodiversity and culture.
The Ritual
As the warm aroma of spices fills your kitchen and the golden notes of Jataí honey glaze your palate, you will discover that this is not just a recipe. It is a ritual of slowing down, savoring the weekend, and indulging in something truly special.
From the hive of Brazil’s rainforests to your table, taste the story, not just the sweetness.
