Preheat your oven to 325°F. Prepare a 9-inch light-colored round cake pan by spraying it with non-stick cooking spray. Line the bottom with a round piece of parchment paper, then lightly spray the parchment as well. Dust the entire pan with a thin layer of flour, and gently shake out any excess.

Evenly sprinkle almonds over the bottom of the prepared pan, shaking it slightly from side to side to distribute them. For a more even rise, you can optionally wrap the pan with water-soaked cake strips. Set the pan aside.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well combined.

In a separate large mixing bowl, use an electric hand mixer to cream together honey and softened butter on high speed until the mixture is pale and fluffy, which should take about 3 minutes.

Add the eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition. It’s normal for the mixture to look slightly curdled at this stage—don’t worry!

Gradually add half of the flour mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Next, blend in the buttermilk, followed by the remaining half of the flour mixture, mixing until just combined.

Scrape down the sides of the bowl and gently fold the batter to ensure all ingredients are evenly incorporated.

Spoon large dollops of batter over the almonds in the prepared pan, then spread it into an even layer.

For optimal results, wrap a water-soaked cake strip around the cake pan. This helps ensure the cake rises evenly and prevents the edges from becoming overly brown. While the cake can be baked without the strip, using one yields superior results.

Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, which will take approximately 40 to 45 minutes.

Once baked, allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Carefully run a thin knife around the edges, then invert the cake onto a wire rack to cool completely. Let it cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Drizzle each serving with honey to taste for added sweetness.