Date cake Recipe

Date cake is an incredibly moist cake that is a delightful dessert and it doesn't even need any frosting. However, it goes quite well with a simple caramel sauce, topped with walnuts or sea salt flakes if you choose.

I don't know about you but when I think about cake it brings back a nostalgic feeling of gathering with family or a cup of coffee with a friend. Or simply 5 minutes away from the kids so I can indulge in this decadent dessert where each bite is covered in a rich and velvety toffee sauce. Soon they will be clamoring for a piece, because this is date cake and everyone knows how good this is in my home.

There are often times when you want a little something or you have a friend visiting and you need to quickly put together a dessert to share. This is that recipe!

Jump to:

• ❓Why This Recipe Works
• 📝 Recipe Ingredients
• 🥣 Equipment
• 🥄 Recipe Instructions
• 💡 Recipe Expert Tips
• 💬 Recipe FAQs
• 👩‍🍳 Variations
• 🧺 Storage
• 📣 More Recipes From the Blog
• Date Cake

❓Why This Recipe Works

This one layer cake is simple, yet so delicious. It will become a favorite in your home as it has become in mine. All the ingredients are easily accessible and you may already have all of them in your kitchen cabinets. If you have a blender, this recipe is a breeze. After softening the dates, the rest of the cake is blended up along with the date mixture and pour batter into a prepared pan. The two-ingredient caramel sauce is easily created right on your stove top.

📝 Recipe Ingredients

📋 Ingredient Notes

• You can use any dates you have just make sure they are soaked until the flesh is tender so it will blend easily with the other ingredients.
• Prepared pan means that you spray your pan with baking spray or simply grease your pan with butter and dust with a tablespoon of flour then turn the pan in all directions to distribute the flour evenly. Shake any excess flour off.
• You can use any table cream you find. I've used Nestle Crema as it is widely available here in the US market. You can use any toffee (caramel) recipe you like or even use a store bought one, although I highly recommend making it, as it's so delicious.

🥣 Equipment

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• A blender, your everyday blender will work in this recipe.
• A mixing bowl.
• A heavy bottomed pan for making the caramel sauce.

🥄 Recipe Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

1. Place dates in a deep heat proof bowl and cover with boiling water. Let them soak for 15-20 minutes until they becomes tender.
2. In your blender add eggs, oil, vanilla extract and cinnamon.
3. Next, add the sugar and then blend well.
4. Add the soaked dates with its water and blend again until everything mixes well.

1. In a separate bowl combine flour and baking powder.
2. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix.
3. Pour the mixture into an 8-inch prepared round cake pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

1. Place your can of cream in a bowl with hot water to raise its temperature.
2. In a light colored pan sprinkle sugar in a single layer then turn heat to medium. When you see the edges are starting to melt, turn heat to low and stir the sugar every now and then so it all melts evenly.
3. Add the cream and stir, the mixture will bubble and be lumpy, do not worry about that.
4. Keep stirring the mixture over low heat until all the lumps disappear. This will take anywhere from 10-15 minutes.

• When the cake has cooled completely pour the caramel over and garnish with some sea salt or chopped walnuts.

💡 Recipe Expert Tips

• Be extremely cautious when making the toffee as caramelized sugar can get very hot. Stay attentive to your pan and do not get distracted.
• The cake tastes great by itself but for a fancier cake make the toffee and garnish with a sprinkle of sea salt or walnuts to balance the sugary toffee layer.
• Cover and keep it on the counter for 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. Cake freezes well in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

💬 Recipe FAQs

👩‍🍳 Variations

Date cake is already very delicious but if you want to add more to your cake besides a caramel topping, you could add sea salt flakes, chopped walnuts, chocolate chips or a drizzle of chocolate on the top. I have also seen some Americans add ice cream to make it 'a la mode' style or a dollop of whipped cream.

🧺 Storage

Cover and keep it on the counter for 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. Cake freezes well in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

📣 More Recipes From the Blog

• Caramel tres leches or Trileçe is a heavenly cake that is so good for parties.
• Another classic from the Mediterranean is this revani cake.
• Pistachio and semolina cake is a great treat to end any meal.

I hope you'll like this recipe and please if you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #amiraspantry — I love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter!
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If you like this recipe do not forget to give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and attach a photo of your finished dish. It is always a pleasure of mine to see your photos and check your own take of the recipe. Thank you.

First published Feb 11, 2014 . Last updated May 10, 2021 with important tips, clear step by step instructions and readability.