Description
Signature Middle Eastern date honey nut cake delivers rich Mediterranean flavors with complex sweetness. Warm spices and tender crumb invite delightful exploration of traditional regional dessert crafting that connects culinary heritage with pure comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 ounces (170 grams) whole dates
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- 1 cup cake flour
Sweeteners and Liquids:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- ¾ cup vegetable oil (canola oil recommended)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Pinch of nutmeg
Additional:
- Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Hydrate dried dates by submerging them in scalding water, allowing them to soften while preparing the remaining cake components.
- Create a delicate dry mixture by sifting together cake flour with aromatic spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, complemented by baking powder and a pinch of salt.
- Whisk liquid ingredients in a separate vessel, blending vegetable oil with rich brown sugar, golden honey, eggs, and fragrant vanilla extract until smoothly incorporated.
- Merge wet and dry mixtures gently, stirring until a luscious, thick batter emerges with a consistent texture.
- Carefully drain the soaked dates, removing their cores and chopping into delicate, bite-sized pieces.
- Incorporate crunchy walnuts and tender date fragments into the batter, ensuring even distribution throughout the mixture.
- Liberally coat a loaf pan with nonstick spray, ensuring complete surface coverage to prevent potential sticking.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly and creating a smooth surface.
- Position the pan in a preheated oven set at 325°F, allowing the cake to bake for approximately one hour.
- Verify the cake’s doneness by inserting a toothpick into its center; it should emerge clean and free from raw batter.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let it rest on a wire cooling rack, allowing it to stabilize and develop its final texture before serving.
Notes
- Soaking dates in hot water softens them and enhances their natural sweetness, making the cake more moist and flavorful.
- Use room temperature eggs for better incorporation into the batter, ensuring a smoother and more even cake texture.
- Check cake doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; if it comes out clean with no wet batter, the cake is perfectly baked.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing to prevent crumbling and maintain its structural integrity.
- Toast walnuts briefly before adding to the batter to intensify their nutty flavor and create a more complex taste profile.
- Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain its moisture and freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 305
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg