Beltane Recipe // Chamomile Poundcake with Salted Honey Icing
A golden celebration of the season's sweetness and light
As the seasons spiral toward Bealtaine, our kitchens become sacred spaces where magic and nourishment intertwine. This golden chamomile poundcake embodies the essence of this ancient fire festival—a celebration of light, protection, and the sweet abundance of early summer. Join me in creating a cake that honors both the hearth that grounds us and the wild magic of the season's threshold.
The Magic of Bealtaine in Your Kitchen
Bealtaine (pronounced roughly "byal-tin-eh") marks the midpoint between spring equinox and summer solstice, traditionally celebrated on May 1st. This ancient Celtic fire festival celebrates the return of light and warmth, the renewal of life, and the protection of home and hearth as we move into the more expansive energy of summer.
In Irish tradition, Bealtaine was a time when:
Great bonfires were lit on hillsides, with their protective flames believed to purify and bless
Cattle were driven between fires for protection before being led to summer pastures
Yellow flowers decorated homes as symbols of the sun's returning strength
Dairy foods were celebrated as symbols of abundance
Special protective foods were prepared to ensure safety during this liminal time
Our chamomile poundcake draws on these traditions, bringing the protective magic of Bealtaine right into our modern kitchens. Each ingredient has been chosen not just for flavor but for its connection to the themes and energies of this powerful seasonal threshold.
Sacred Ingredients
Connecting to Bealtaine Traditions
This recipe isn't just delicious—it's a magical working that connects us to ancient practices through thoughtfully chosen ingredients. As you gather each component, consider its connection to Bealtaine's themes.
Chamomile
Chamomile's golden, sun-like flowers make it a perfect herb for Bealtaine, a festival celebrating the strengthening sun. In traditional European herbalism, chamomile has long been associated with:
Solar Energy: Its sunny appearance connects to the fire aspect of Bealtaine
Protection: Chamomile was historically used to ward off negative influences
Purification: Like the Bealtaine fires, chamomile cleanses and purifies
Healing: It brings the restorative power of the summer sun
When we infuse butter with chamomile, we're literally embedding these protective, solar energies into the foundation of our cake. The process of heating the herb in butter mirrors the transformative power of the Bealtaine fires, releasing chamomile's magic into every bite.
Honey
Honey holds a special place in Celtic traditions, considered a food of transformation and divine connection. Including honey in our Bealtaine baking connects us to:
Divine Wisdom Honey was associated with poetic inspiration and sacred knowledge
Preservation The preservative nature of honey connects to Bealtaine's protective aspects
Sweet Abundance Honey represents the sweetness of life that Bealtaine celebrates
Transformative Power The transformation of nectar to honey by bees mirrors the alchemical nature of both baking and seasonal change
The salted honey icing creates a perfect balance of sweetness and earthiness—much like Bealtaine itself balances between the airy freshness of spring and the grounded abundance of summer.
Butter
Dairy foods feature prominently in traditional Bealtaine celebrations, marking the time when cattle would begin producing richer milk after being moved to summer pastures. Our butter-rich poundcake honors this tradition.
Abundance The richness of butter represents the increasing abundance of the season
Golden Color Butter's yellow hue connects to Bealtaine's fire symbolism
Hearth Magic Butter represents the nourishing aspects of home and hearth
By infusing our butter with chamomile, we're creating a magical blend that carries both the protective power of the herb and the abundant richness of traditional Bealtaine foods.
Citrus
The clementine zest in our recipe brings an additional layer of solar symbolism.
Awakening: The bright scent represents the awakening energy of the season
Vitality: Citrus connects to life force and vibrant health
Purification: Like the Bealtaine fires, citrus has cleansing properties
Joy: The uplifting aroma invites the celebratory spirit of the festival
The oils released when you rub the zest into sugar create an aromatic magic that infuses your entire kitchen with bright Bealtaine energy.
Salt
The sea salt in our honey icing connects to Bealtaine's protective aspects.
Purification: Salt has been used as a purifying agent across cultures
Protection: Salt creates boundaries against unwanted energies
Grounding: It provides earthy balance to honey's sweetness
Preservation: Salt's preservative nature connects to Bealtaine's protective fires
The combination of salt and honey creates a perfect magical balance—sweetness protected by boundaries, abundance tempered with discernment.
Baking as Ritual
When we approach baking with intention, the kitchen becomes a sacred space and the creation of food becomes a magical act. This chamomile poundcake isn't just a recipe—it's a ritual that allows us to embody the spirit of Bealtaine through our actions.
As you follow the steps below, consider how each action connects to Bealtaine themes.
The heating of butter with chamomile mirrors the Bealtaine fires
The circular bundt shape represents the cyclical nature of the seasons
The golden color of the finished cake embodies the strengthening sun
The drizzling of honey icing symbolizes the sweetness flowing into our lives
Chamomile Poundcake with Salted Honey Icing Recipe
INGREDIENTS
For the cake
1 ½ cup butter
¼ cup chamomile, dried
Zest from one clementine
1 ⅔ cup sugar
5 eggs
¾ cup buttermilk
2 ½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon almond extract
Optional – edible flowers to decorate
For the icing
1 teaspoon sea salt
½ cup honey
2 teaspoons boiling water
1 ½ cup powdered sugar
Magical Preparation
Infuse Your Butter with chamomile. Heat your butter over medium-low heat. Once it's melted, add in the chamomile. Turn the heat to low, and continue to cook for about 30 minutes. You should see some bubbles. Cool for 15 minutes before straining through a wire mesh sieve. Discard the flowers. This step should be done in advance, so the butter has a chance to come back to room temperature and solidify. Magical Intention: As you watch the butter bubble and transform, visualize it absorbing the protective, solar energy of chamomile. This is similar to how the Bealtaine fires were believed to infuse objects with protective power.
Preheat oven to 325°F, setting the stage for transformation. Magical Intention: The heating of your oven mirrors the lighting of the Bealtaine fires. As your oven warms, imagine it as your domestic hearth fire connecting to the ancient fires of Bealtaine.
Prepare your bundt pan by greasing with butter. Be sure to get all the nooks and crannies. Then, use a small amount of flour to dust the pan. Shake it all around to get as even a coat as possible. I usually smack mine around a bit or tap it on the counter to loosen any excess flour and dump it out. Magical Intention: The circular bundt shape represents the cycle of the seasons and the continuous nature of life. As you prepare the pan, you're creating a protected space for transformation.
Create aromatic sugar by placing the sugar and the orange zest in the bowl of a stand mixer. Use your hand to mix the two together until combined. This helps to release the oils from the zest and give a little extra flavor punch to the sugar. Magical Intention: The citrus oils released represent the vital life force of Bealtaine. As you rub the zest into sugar, imagine you're releasing bright, protective energy.
Add the butter and mix on medium-high until light and fluffy. Magical Intention: The lightening of the butter represents the lifting of winter's heaviness as we move into summer's expansiveness.
Add in one egg at a time, and mix for 2-3 minutes between each addition. Magical Intention: Eggs represent potential and new life. Each egg adds to the transformative power of your cake.
After the last egg, add the vanilla and almond extract and mix until combined. Magical Intention: These extracts add depth and complexity to your magical working, representing the layered nature of the season.
Sift the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a separate bowl. Magical Intention: The sifting represents the purification aspects of Bealtaine, removing any unwanted elements and creating lightness.
With the mixer on low, add about a third of the dry ingredients until barely combined. Then add ½ the buttermilk until barely combined. Repeat with the remainder ending with the last of the dry ingredients. Be careful not to overmix. Magical Intention: This alternating pattern represents the dance between different elements—earth (flour) and water (buttermilk)—creating balance in your magical working.
Pour the batter into your prepared cake pan, and smooth the top a bit with a spatula (this is a great time to draw a sigil into your cake for your intention). Place your bundt pan on a parchment-lined baking sheet and pop her into the oven for about 90 minutes. The cake is done when it springs back when you poke it. Magical Intention: As you draw your sigil in the batter, focus on your intention for this Bealtaine season. What are you calling in? What needs protection? What abundance are you celebrating?
Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before placing a plate over the top and inverting the cake. (This is always a hold-your-breath kind of moment for me.) Magical Intention: The cooling represents the settling of energies after transformation. The inverting reveals what has been hidden—like the mysteries revealed at Bealtaine.
Prepare your icing while the cake cools. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl or measuring cup with a pour spout and whisk together. Magical Intention: The combining of honey (sweetness) with salt (protection) creates a magical balance that perfectly represents Bealtaine's energies.
Once the cake has cooled completely, drizzle icing over the entire cake. The trick to those gorgeous drips is to change the speed you move around the cake, pausing a little longer in some spots so the extra icing can drip down the sides. Magical Intention: The dripping honey represents the sweetness of life flowing into all areas, the abundance that Bealtaine promises.
Decorate with a sprinkle of dried or fresh edible flowers. Magical Intention: The flowers connect your cake to the traditional May flowers of Bealtaine, bringing their protective and celebratory energy to your creation.
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Sharing the Magic
Bealtaine Hospitality
In Celtic traditions, sharing food was a sacred act of hospitality, particularly important during festival times. When you share this cake with others, you're participating in this ancient tradition of creating community bonds through nourishment.
Consider these ways to enhance the sharing of your Bealtaine cake:
Share the story of the ingredients and their connections to Bealtaine traditions
Serve the cake with a blessing for protection and abundance
Invite guests to set intentions for the coming summer season as they enjoy their slice
Light a candle alongside the cake to represent the Bealtaine fires
A Modern Bealtaine Practice
This cake is just one element of a meaningful Bealtaine celebration. To deepen your connection to this ancient festival, you might also:
Light a candle or small fire (safely!) to represent the Bealtaine flames
Decorate your home with flowers and greenery
Leave a small offering of milk or honey outside for the spirits of place
Spend time in nature, noticing the signs of the strengthening sun
For a deeper exploration of Bealtaine's historical practices and significance, watch for my upcoming post on [The Ancient Roots of Bealtaine: Fire, Protection, and Celebration]. And if kitchen magic calls to you, my forthcoming post on [Kitchen Witchery: Cooking is Alchemy] will explore this practice in greater depth.
Magic in Every Bite
As you enjoy this Bealtaine cake, remember that you're participating in a tradition that spans thousands of years. With each bite, you taste the sweetness of summer's approach, the protection of the Bealtaine fires, and the nourishing abundance that this season promises.
Food is indeed pure magic—it connects us to seasons, to traditions, to each other, and to ourselves. By baking with intention, we transform ordinary ingredients into carriers of magic and meaning, creating not just sustenance for the body but nourishment for the soul.
May your Bealtaine be sweet, may your hearth be blessed, and may the protective fires of the season keep you safe as you walk between worlds.
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Meet the High Witch
Erin Harker
I'm Erin Harker, a practitioner of ancestral magic and student of Druidry whose path weaves together Irish, Scottish, and German heritage with modern spiritual practice. My journey began in childhood with candlelit spells and family traditions, growing into a devotion to sacred hospitality and community care. Today, I serve as a bridge between worlds—helping others reconnect with their own magic through Magick Makers community, workshops, ritual supplies, and spiritual guidance. Whether you're just beginning your journey or returning to a practice long forgotten, you'll find a welcoming space here where ancient wisdom meets modern needs.
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