“Not everybody’s gonna dig what I dig, but I reserve the right to dig it.” –
Dates are not on my list of favourite things by far. Not the dried fruit atleast! Not fond of the overly sweet taste or the texture. Now, like many many things that i dislike , the husband really likes them. He s been suggesting a date cake for a while now and I finally gave in a couple of months back .
I didnt completely hate it.
He and everyone else seemed to love it.
Its a recipe hugely adapted from a recipe by Nita Mehta which I first heard about from my friend Neha. A quick search online and I found a version here. Its a simple recipe and doesnt even require you to get the electric mixer out. Prepping the dates is key here. Deseed them (if they arent deseeded already ) and chop them small . Then soak them in some hot water for atleast an hour or as long as you can. If you mince the dates really tiny , most of them merge into the cake itself, If you want some date bits to bite into , chop them slightly bigger. I decided to go with bigger. The picture tells it all!
The cake is one of those that screams simplicity . Simple ingredients , simple to make and looks less than noteworthy. But what it lacks for in shock factor, it makes for in flavour. Really moist and rich . Again , the picture tells it all!
Dates cake
Ingredients
- 250 grams dates
- 50 grams or 1/2 cup sugar
- 90 grams or 3/4 cup all purpose flour or maida
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 60 ml or 1/4 cup oil
- 3 eggs at room temperature
Instructions
- Deseed the dates and chop them really small. Soak in 5 tablespoons hot water and the baking soda. Keep aside for atleast an hour and upto 4-5 hours.
- When ready to bake , preheat the oven to 160 C / 325 F.
- Butter and flour a 8 inch round. Line the bottom with parchment (optional)
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
- Mix the soaked dates and this flour mixture.
- In another bowl, whisk together the oil and sugar.
- Add the eggs , one by one and beat well after each addition.
- Add the flour- date mixture and whisk until well mixed.
- Pour into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake at 160 C / 325 F for 35 to 45 minutes until the top springs back when pressed. A toothpick inserted in the center , will come out clean.
- Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Unmould cake and cool completely on a wire rack.
Notes
The smaller you chop the dates, the more they will melt into the hot water and then the batter as it bakes up.
You can increase the sugar if you want a sweeter cake .
My measuring cup measures 240 ml.
This is a cake that is served in thick slices or wedges , and relished along with a cup of tea or coffee. It would make a good hostess gift as well . And personal experience tells me that its a hit with children and adults alike.
Well, most adults!
If you are looking for a teatime cake and dates arent your thing , you may want to check out this citrusy Orange loaf cake or this wholewheat tutti frutti cake .
Hi, want to try this but want to add alcohol as it’s the Christmas season. Was wondering can the dates be soaked in rum instead of water? Will there be any other changes that needed to be done?
Would be grateful for a prompt reply.
Thank you so much.
Hi Deepa! I haven’t tried it myself, but soaking the dates in rum would work. The only reason for soaking is to soften the dates. Infact, if you have time, let the dates soak overnight or longer. And use any unabsorbed rum into the batter as well. No other changes needed… Do let me know how it turns out!