This mastic cake was an experiment and if you love trying different ingredients and unusual flavours then do check it out. Along with ground almonds and cardamom, the mastic adds an interesting flavour.

She's finally arrived - Little Miss Spice was born on 22 April, weighing 7lbs 4 (3.3kg). We're now back at home and trying to get used to our new life. Not surprisingly it seems to be full of an endless cycle of washing, changing nappies, crying, feeding, sleeping and starting all over again. So, I'm not sure how much blogging is going to get done over the next few weeks. I have been writing this post for almost a week! But, she's worth it, and absolutely gorgeous.
What is Mastic?
It's hard to remember life before she arrived but a few years ago. Sorry, weeks ago I was reading a post on Culinary Flavours, about a Greek mastic flavoured pastry. I'd never heard of mastic and so was delighted when Katrina very kindly offered to send me some. It is a resin from the mastic tree and has an unusual pine/cedar type flavour. Have a look at Katrina's blog for more information about it.
Well, when I received the mastic I was in a cake baking mood and so I decided to make a mastic scented cake. I researched flavours that go with mastic and came up with cardamom.
So, I decided to make a mastic and cardamom cake. Mastic is a very strong flavour and can be an acquired taste so I followed advice to use very little to begin with. I found a basic recipe and halved all the quantities to make a smaller cake and used less than the recommended amount of mastic too.
I hoped the cardamom would balance out the mastic and go well with the ground almond. But, in the end I couldn't taste the cardamom as the mastic overpowered it!
What was my verdict on this Mastic and cardamom cake?
Overall, it was a lovely soft almondy cake but I couldn't decide whether I liked the mastic or not. It was different and interesting but I couldn't help thinking I would rather just eat almond and cardamom cake as the mastic left a slight aftertaste. Maybe I overdid it a little. Next time I will add just a pinch of ground mastic and will up the cardamom.
Nevertheless, even though this was not a complete success, I'm pleased to have tried something new and especially grateful to Katrina for sending the mastic.
Recipe

Mastic Cake
Ingredients
- 125 g ground almonds
- 125 g icing sugar
- 110 g butter
- 2 eggs
- 75 g self raising flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 g mastic I used 2g previously but have reduced it since.
- 1 teaspoon caster sugar
- 2 cardamom pods
Instructions
- Put the mastic, caster sugar and the seeds from 2 cardamom pods in a spice grinder or pestle and mortar. Grind to a powder.
- Put this powder in a large mixing bowl with the ground almonds, icing sugar and butter. Cream together.
- Add the egg and beat with a whisk. Then add the self-raising flour and baking powder and whisk until everything is combined.
- Put the mixture in a greased 15cm cake tin and bake in the oven at about 170°C for 45 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
More Spiced Cake Recipes
I love using spices in cakes. If you do then why not check out one of these recipes:
Keep in Touch
Do let me know if you make this mastic cake or any of my other recipes. I love to get feedback from readers.
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Nadav
Wow! One of the best cakes ever! It tastes a bit like very light marzipan and with that magical aroma of mastic. Thanks 🙂
Corina Blum
Thanks Nadav, It's a long time now since I made this cake but I'm so pleased you liked it. Thanks for letting me know.
kitchen flavours
Hi Corina,
Thank you for your visits!
How is little baby doing? You must be extremely busy! Take care and try to sleep when baby takes a nap! Easy for me to say! Dozens of chores to do when baby takes a nap! Wish you a great weekend with your family! 🙂
MaryMoh
Congratulations on your baby girl, Corina!! It's wonderful to know that you still blog even though you are very busy. I actually wonder how you can still do it! 😀 Thanks very much for sharing a lovely recipe.
Tandy
We were overseas when you posted this! Congratulations! and welcome to the universe 🙂 Hope all is going well.
Corina
Thanks Tandy. Everything is going well but I am just so busy I have hardly any time for blogging or reading my favourite blogs but I'm hoping in a few weeks it'll get easier.
Working London Mummy (@workinglonmummy)
Congratulations I do hope you are enjoying the wonder of a new baby and that the nights are not too sleepless. Have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger award on my blog
Corina
Thank you. I'm so happy but it's exhausting. I'm finding it difficult to find time for anything except look after the baby at the moment but I'll do my best to write something soon.
Katerina
First of all congratulations on the new arrival! Being a mom in my opinion is the most difficult and yet happy task I have ever undertaken (you will get to realize it as she grows up)! The cake looks very moist and delicious. Perhaps next time put less amount of mastic in it if it was too strong but remember when you put mastic to something do not bother adding anything else because its flavour will overpower all the other ingredients. Try making some custard with it or ice cream if you have the time. They are really good with mastic! Take care!
Susan
Congratulations on your daughter! And the cake looks beautiful, fluffy, and moist!
Lemon
Oh, a baby, congratulations!! And a tasty cake to celebrate.
janet @ the taste space
Little Miss Spice, how cute! Congratulations! 🙂
emmaorussell
Congratulations on Little Miss Spice 🙂
Fiona Maclean
Many congrats! I thought mastic was something you used in DIY, so quite curious about using it in cooking - personally I think the cake looks lovely and I'd probably just make it without the mastic if the 'acquired' taste isn't that great...!
jacquelineroll
Congratulations on your baby girl Corina. I'm sure you are discovering a new way of life altogether now!
I had never even heard of mastic before so thanks for blogging about it. The cakes looks perfect to be served with afternoon tea 🙂
frugalfeeding
Congratulations! You must be so happy. This cake look extremely good too 😀
kitchen flavours
Hi Corina,
Congratulations on your baby girl! So happy to hear about your new bundle of joy!
And that cake looks moist, I have not heard of mastic before, am pretty curious now, I'll google for more info later on.
Take care, get plenty of rest (if you can!). Congratulations to you and your family!