Pain d'épices is a traditional French honey cake, made especially in Alsace and Dijon. The ingredients are honey and rye flour, and the spices are cinnamon, anise, ginger and cloves.

The texture is dense and soft and juicy at the same time. The honey adds depth, the spices add warmth - but the whole remains balanced, not gingerbread-like.

Pain d'épices works wonderfully on a cheese platter. With blue cheeses, the sweetness and spiciness balance the saltiness. With goat cheeses, it brings softness and binds acidity. Long-matured Comté or other hard cheeses take on a new tone compared to regular bread.

Pain d'Épices was the wedding cake of Rolling Cheese owners, Peter and Nell!