Piernik (Polish honey cake)

Christmas spice mix

• 3 cinnamon quills
• 3 star anise
• 1 tsp ground allspice
• 1 tsp whole black peppercorns
• 1 tsp whole cloves
• ¾ tsp coriander seeds
• ¼ tsp caraway seeds
• 3 tsp ground nutmeg
• 3 tsp ground ginger
• 2 ½ tsp ground cardamom

Piernik

• 250 g dried pitted prunes, cut into pieces (see Tips)
• 50 g walnuts, cut into pieces
• 300 g plain flour, plus 1 extra tablespoon
• 140 g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
• 150 g honey
• 150 g brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 120 g Greek-style natural yoghurt
• 80 g jam of choice
• 2 tbsp grapeseed oil
• 1 ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 2 tsp cocoa powder

Ganache

• 100 g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
• 80 g pouring (whipping) cream