Date Cake
Wonderfully moist, easy to make, delicious, soft and light date cake, with very little sugar due to the perfect natural sweetness of the dates, goes wonderfully with a hot cup of tea or coffee.
Ingredients
- 1 cup self-rising flour 120gm
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 60gm
- 3/4 cup chopped dates de-seeded then weighed (150gm)
- 1 cup of very hot water or milk 200ml
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. vanilla essence
- 2 tbsp. soft unsalted butter 30gm
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup sugar 50gm
- 1/4 cup crushed nuts optional
Instructions
- Put the chopped dates in a bowl, sprinkle the baking soda then add the cup of boiling water. Mix together, then cover and set aside for about 15-20 minutes until the mixture thickens and cools.Grease a loaf pan and line with baking paper. You can also use an 8″ round pan.Sieve the two flours together, then add the nuts into them if you are using. Toss together so that the nuts are well coated with flour.Mix the sugar and butter until creamy (you can use a machine or by hand), then add the egg and mix until the egg is well combined. Add the vanilla and beat for a few more minutes. Now add the dates mixture and stir using a spatula or wooden spoon. Add the flours with the nuts, and fold into the mixture until well-combined.Pour into the prepared pan, and bake in a preheated oven at 180C for about 40 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.Enjoy! 🙂
Notes
To make 1 cup of self rising flour, for every cup of plain/all purpose flour, add 1 and a half tsp of baking powder and a pinch of salt. Sieve together and use.
Salaams Sister,
I am completely obsessed with your recipes and have successfully made many of them. I was wondering if you had a moist fruit cake recipe that you would kindly share with me
W/Salaam, thank you so much dear, that was so sweet! At the moment I don’t have a fruit cake, but will plan on making one soon inshaAllah. 🙂
Please could you send me an email asap. It would me greatly appreciated.
Hi Rehana, which email did you want me to send? Not sure I understood you.
Assalam aleikum,
Thanx for the delicious recipes you are sharing with us. Jazaka Allahu kheir
Could you kindly inform me the quantity of baking powder i can use if i’m using all purpose flour in place of self rising flour.
Do u have recipes for cheese pies?kindly share with us. thank u
W/Salaam, thank you. To make SR flour, add 1 and a half tsp of baking powder and a pinch of salt to each cup of AP flour.
asalaamalikum, can i use date paste instead of chopped dates? if so, then how much?
W/Salaam, have not tried this recipe with date paste. Not sure how much would be needed.
Asalaamalikum,fauzia i had prepared date cake it was good to taste everyone loved it but the cake was too spongy means i wasn’t able to make its slices they were breaking off what could be the problem, may be baking powder content was more as i added baking powder in self-rising flour 1.5tsp and in the dates mixture 1.5tsp.Plz reply.Keep up the good job:)
W/Salaam, why did you add baking powder to the dates mixture? It is supposed to be baking soda not powder! That might be the reason the cake didn’t turn out as soft as it should have.
today i tried this cake…it was too yummy… thanks for sharing this recepie…you are superb, Fouzia…
I do not have self-raising flour… plz tell what to use instead of it and in wat quantity…
Here is a note on how to make it at home: SR Flour
I just over-baked this cake 🙁
I am still fasting so I have no idea how it’s going to taste 🙁
Smelled amazing though!
Sallams Fauzia,
I discovered your inspiring website few days back, I love it! I love cooking too
I want to try this cake but I cant find baking soda, can I replace with baking powder, how much?
Please respond ASAP want to bake it now1
Shukran!!!!
W/Salaam, best to use baking soda. Have you tried checking for Bicarbonate of Soda? It is easily available.
ow yeah thanx i had it at home… looool
thnx loads
A.a shukran for the recipe,, wantd to ask wat can i replace baking soda coz its not available here… Tc
W/Salaam, it should be easily available, maybe you know it as bicarbonate of soda?
Ooh yah ok thnx knew it by dat name. God bless u
Salaams Fauzia,
I made ur chicken croissants yesterday, and they looked and tasted amazing!!! You have really inspired me to cook things I’ve not heard of before, but look good to try. I would love to put a picture of them on FB but not sure how to! Keep sending us fab recipes to keep our families contented and satisfied!!! xXx
Salaams
W/Salaam, thanks for the awesome feedback! You can email me the pic on fauziaskitchenfun@hotmail.com and I can transfer the pic for you to FB.
Aoa,
can we bake this in microwave? If yes, at what power and for how long?
W/Salaam, I never bake in the microwave. Sorry!
Aoa Fauzia I just tried ur date cake , it turned out to be really soft and delicious!! For me it had less sweetness may b the dates weren’t sweet enough . Next time I will use quarter cup more sugar for the same quality of dates. Over all it was a hit at home. Thanks for sharing ur wonderful recipes.
Why do u hav to soak the dates in baking soda?
Wat if u made it without soaking?
It helps soften them and break them down into a smooth paste. You need to soak them as described in the recipe for best results.
Hi fauzia,
You mentioned in recipe hot water or milk..for soak dates,which is the best? Milk or water? And afta it’s cool down is we want add the dates mixture with the water or milk… I’m going to try this..just to clear my doubts before do it…
Thanx
Hi, I prefer using milk as it gives a softer result. Pour it into the dates whilst the milk/water is boiling, then allow the mixture to cool before continuing with the recipe.
Thanx for yr reply..today I’m going to make n let u knw hw it’s cm..
Salam alaikum Fauzia,
I made this cake today, it was very moist & soft . Everything was nice but some kind of unpleasant smell emanated from the cake!! I didn’t understand why?! Is it because of mixing the dates with the baking soda ? Can you help me out pls.. Would live to make this cake again but I’m hesitant because of the smell!!
Thank you..
W/Salaam, thanks for the feedback, very strange about the unpleasant smell though! How fresh was the baking soda? It should not give any such smell at all unless it is an old stock or is no longer active.
Thank you for replying to my post.. Insha Allah, I will change my baking soda & try again. Will give you the feedback soon.
Shukran..
Salaam Fauzia,
Thank you so much for your suggestion to change my baking soda, I tried this again & Alhamdullilah the result was awesome!! We simply loved it.. Special thanks from my family to you 🙂
asslkmwrwb
Made the cake and turned out great.Hav fr tea everyy day
My son also loved it!
W/Salaam, thanks for letting me know! Glad it turned out better. 🙂
salam fauzia..i made ur cake..wow its so yummy n moist date cake ever..but i feel little less sweetnes..can i add sm more sugar in to this recipe?
thanx for the wonderful recipe!
W/Salaam, yes you can.
Assalamu alaikum Fauzia,
I pray you’re well insha’Allah.
Masha’Allah this looks very tasty sis, just wondering is there an alternative to vanilla essence?
JazakAllahu Khairan! Keep up the tasty work! Xx
W/Salaam, vanilla essence is a flavouring, you can use any flavouring of your choice or fresh vanilla pods or vanilla powder.
Slmz! Want to try the date cake but my dates are not sweet enuf.how much more sugar shud I add? Shud I change the quantity of other ingredients too? To make self raising flour is it important to put pinch of salt? Is baking soda n bicarbonate soda the same.pls reply asap as wanna try now!if I put milk can I keep the cake for a few days.
W/Salaam, you can add 2-3 heaped tbsp of sugar depending on taste. No other adjustments needed. And yes you need the pinch of salt. Yes bicarb and baking soda are the same thing. Yes the cake should be ok for a few days, keep it in a dry cool place or refrigerate.
asak fauzia sis….thanx for sharing ur wonderful recipes….nowadays anything n everythng spread on my table is an outcome of ur recipes:)……….just had a doubt…wat do u mean by unsalted butter???wat r its alternatives???does it mean margarine???hoping for a quick reply as m planning to make dis cake today….jazakhallah khair.
W/Salaam, thanks. It means butter without salt. You can use normal butter.
thanks ! jazakallah
Thanks for sharing the wonderful receipe.I just want to clarify a small doubt. Do we need to mix the dates , baking soda and boiling water in a blender?
No, not in a blender, just mix with a spoon in a bowl until combined. 🙂
i wanted to know that is it good to beat with beater after adding flour or just to use the spoon?
Best to use a spoon when mixing in the flour.
Salams,
Salams,
Jazakallah for the recipe. Want to clarify one thing though, after i baked the cake, all the dates dissolved n there were no date pieces to be found in the cake. I think because I kept the dates in the milk n baking soda mix for too long, maybe like 45-60mins (while i was getting the other stuff ready for the batter). Do you think that is the reason too? Dont want to make the same mistake the next time. Plz advise. Thank you 🙂
W/Salaam, actually it is not
W/Salaam, actually it is not bad that the dates do not show in the cake, it means the dates were very soft that is why they dissolved. You can soak them for less time if you prefer bits of date chunks in the cake. 🙂
Salams sis, how long do these
Salams sis, how long do these cakes generally last for? Are they ok to eat for a few days, weeks etc jzk
W/Salaam, these cakes would
W/Salaam, these cakes would keep at room temperature (in an airtight container) for up to 4-5 days. Refrigerated they would last up to two weeks. If wrapped well in cling film, you can freeze them for up to 2 months.
What shud be de size of de
What shud be de size of de loaf pan as I have 2 different sizes?
Approximately 8 x 4 x 2 1/2
Approximately 8 x 4 x 2 1/2 in.
Assalam alaikum sister fauzia
Assalam alaikum sister fauzia,, i tried this cake and it was yum only thing is i wanted it to b a bit sweeter can i add quarter cup more sugar?? I hope it wont spoil d cake
W/Salaam yes you can add more
W/Salaam yes you can add more sugar. 🙂
A.akum Can i use blueband
A.akum Can i use blueband instead?
Yes you can.
Yes you can.
Salam sis, I did this cake
Salam sis, I did this cake 2days ago for the first time and It turned out very well bt I tried it yesterday for 4cups of flour and I found dat da baking soda taste in da cake,I added 6 tsp baking soda for 600g dates, is that correct ?also the cake was like rubber,i baked 20-25min 175deg it seems like it was done outside but in da middle some stickiness as well. Pls tell me where did I go wrong? But my first try was perfect…
W/Salaam, some cakes don’t
W/Salaam, some cakes don’t convert well when multiplied to make a much larger cake. I would recommend you make the small sized loafs several times instead of one very big cake. Also the baking time would also change for such a large amount depending on the baking pan used.
Please asap reply.
Please asap reply.
Thanks for recipe. But I I did a mistake I mixed flours and butter,egg together. And now I’m worried please tell me cake sai ban jaega kya? Please reply.
Not sure how the results will
Not sure how the results will be, the only way is to bake and check.
The cake turned out well but
The cake turned out well but was not sweet at all unfortunately. Will adding more sugar make a difference?
Yes you can add sugar or use
Yes you can add sugar or use sweeter dates.
Asak Fauzia,
Asak Fauzia,
I would like to make a recipe request. A while back I had a dry nut coconut cake and I haven’t found a recipe for a cake like that anywhere.. The look of the cake is just like this date cake. The cake has coconut and walnuts for sure but don’t remember anything else. Can you please post a recipe if you know any.. Thank you so much
Will inshaAllah try and post
Will inshaAllah try and post something like that.
I have been following your
I have been following your cake recipes, they are excellent with guaranteed results. God bless you ! Keep the good work going
Hi,
Hi,
I was wondering if I could use date syrup instead of the dates?
Let me know! Thanks 🙂
Hi, it will change the
Hi, it will change the consistency of the batter and that might yield a different result.