Loaded with soft dates, this cake has a special, really delectable taste.
I almost did not buy the creme anglaise to go with it, when I decided to make it for dessert last Saturday, but then I was glad I did because everyone seemed to enjoy the combination !
Date Cake
1 egg
1 and ¼ cups of chopped dates
½ cup of chopped walnuts (optional but a nice touch)
¾ cup of brown sugar
¼ cup of melted butter
1 and a ½ cups of any flour (refined is probably ideal, though I often bake with even whole wheat flour)
1 and a 1/2 tsp of vanilla essence
½ tsp of salt
1 tsp of baking soda
1 tsp of baking powder
Soak the dates in 1 cup of boiling hot water, after adding the baking soda and leave them aside to cool. In the meanwhile, beat together the egg and the sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the vanilla to this mixture.
In another bowl, combine the flour, the salt, and the nuts.
Add the dates once they have cooled to the first mixture, then add in the flour mixture.
Now stir in the melted butter and combine well.
Put this cake batter in to a cake mould, and leave it to stand for 15-20 minutes.
Then bake in a preheated oven at 180degreesC for 1 hour, or till a table knife inserted in to the middle comes out clean and dry.
Like the chocolate and date loaf, this cake makes for quite a fancy dessert, eaten with crème anglaise or vanilla ice cream 🙂