Piernik – Honey Bread

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup honey
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

In a large bowl, mix the sugar, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and eggs. Stir in the milk and oil, and mix in the baking soda. Place honey in a small pot, and bring to a boil. Stir honey into the bowl. Mix flour into the bowl. Fold in the raisins and walnuts. Stir by hand with a sturdy spoon for 10 minutes. Allow the dough to sit 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease four 8×4 inch loaf pans.

Fill each loaf pan with about 2 inches of the batter. Bake 1 hour 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a loaf comes out clean. Bread will be brown in color and will crack on top.