Date Cake Recipe

This is the cake I made for Abhiskes birthday in June ....was inspired by the recipe posted on the blog http://www.thespicespoon.com/blog/  . Like the author of the blog Shayma says this is a lovely pudding -like dessert so much more amazing than a plain cake.

Plain cake for a birthday ...you wonder why? Because mom-in-law and husband are gym freaks so no frosting cakes for them ... I know poor lil me! :D

Which is why this cake was a perfect choice! Made some and served the cake warm with some vanilla ice-cream! Got rave reviews ! Sometimes I think thats the only reason I cook ....haha ....for the rave reviews! :)) How many of you do that too?

So , Thank -you Shayma for this wonderful recipe this is a keeper ...I've already printed and filed this one into the hall of fame recipe folder :))

I did however make a little modification ....the recipe requires you too chop finely 250g of dates ! Lazy me stopped at 100-120g :))

But guess what I have made the cake with this modification twice and I think I like it like this!

So here is the modified recipe below .....please also visit Shaymas lovely post about the date cake here http://www.thespicespoon.com/blog/date-cake/#more-2870



My modified version of Moist date pudding cake

Ingredients:
*120 g chopped dates without seed ofcourse!.
*250 ml boiling water
*1 tsp baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
*100 g butter, unsalted, brought to room temperature
*180 g granulated sugar
*2 eggs
*150 g flour
*2 tsp baking powder

Preparation:
*Preheat your oven to 175C / 350F.
*Place parchment paper on top of the springform pan base and trace a circle. Line pan with parchment circle and butter and flour the sides.

Step 1: Prepare the date mixture:
*Deseed your dates by gently tearing them open from top to bottom.
*Chop dates fine.
*Bring 250 ml of water to a boil (I boil it in my kettle and then measure out 250 ml to be exact).
*Pour into saucepan, when water starts to boil, add baking soda, (it will froth).
*Add chopped dates and stir the mixture for 2-3 minutes.
*The date mixture should be on the thick side, not watery.
*Take off the stove and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the batter:
*Whip butter with sugar till light and fluffy.
*Add eggs slowly; they may curdle at first but keep whipping, the mixture will come together and become smooth.
*Slowly fold in flour and baking powder and keep whipping/mixing.
*Add in date mixture, with a spoon/spatula and gently stir.
*Batter will seem slightly thin, but since we’re using a pan with a wide base, don’t worry, the cake will cook through. Remember, this is a moist, pudding-like cake.
*Pour into Springform.
*Bake for 35 minutes, test to see if the toothpick comes out clean after 30 mins; I like this cake moist and goeey, please don’t overbake it.

As you can see the recipe is unchanged apart from the quantity of dates! I served this cake warm with plain Vanilla ice-cream because like I said no one will touch anything with cream in this house of exercise fanatics!! Apart from me ofcourse!! ;))

I hope you do try this cake the next time the opportunity presents itself!

Sorry I dont hv a picture for this one! It was so yum that after cutting the cake my MIL took half with her to Banglore for her daughter and the rest of it made its way into our tummies real soon!

But Shayma has lovely pictures so do visit her blog!