Servings : one 8" 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.
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.
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! 🙂
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.