Ingredients (makes 2 cakes):

• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
• 11/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• grated zest of one orange
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 41/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons honey, boiling
• 1/2 cup strong brewed espresso coffee
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup amaretto or rum
• 1/3 cup jam; wild cherry or raspberry
• coffee beans and candied orange peel for garnish
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Mix the sugar, spices, orange zest, baking soda, and salt into the flour. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until it is the size of small pebbles. Pour in the boiling honey, coffee, and liqueur and mix until smooth. Let cool and then turn out onto a floured surface.

Divide the dough in half. Roll the first half into an 18-inch long cylinder. Make a deep trough down the centre and carefully place it, seam side down, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Be sure that the smooth side is up. Bend the dough carefully into a circle and fashion the snake’s head at one end, making a triangle shape. Taper the other end to make the tail. Firmly set two coffee beans for the snake’s eyes. Bake the cakes at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes.