The cake was created in the 19th century in the Russian Empire by a young chef who sought to impress Empress Elizabeth Alexeievna, wife of Alexander I.[4]Empress Elizabeth couldn’t stand honey, and any dish made with it drove her mad. One day, however, a young new confectioner in the Imperial kitchen didn’t know the Empress' dislike, and he baked a new cake with honey and thick sour cream. Surprisingly, and unaware of the honey content, Empress Elizabeth immediately fell in love with the delicious cake.[5] Medovik gained its intense popularity during the Soviet era.[6] [7]Today, there are numerous variations of medovik: with condensed milk, buttercream or custard.