Date and walnut cake is a delightful dessert that combines the rich, caramel-like flavor of dates with the crunchy texture of walnuts. This cake is an easy recipe and comes together in no time.
It is a perfect treat for any occasion, my mother often made this cake which we enjoyed with afternoon coffee or tea.
For more homemade cakes check out my mother's popular orange cake, plum cake, and banana bread with chocolate chips and strawberries.
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Some Facts About Dates
Dates are one of the most essential dried fruits that Palestinians consume. Not only do we enjoy dates as a snack in winter and during holidays. They are also enjoyed throughout the year!
Check out my most popular and delicious stuffed dates with goat cheese or quick and easy no-bake date oats balls.
Ajweh, a date paste, is mainly used for baking some of the most amazing cookies, such as holiday cookies, Easter Ka’ek and Ma’moul, Anise Date Cookies, or makrouta.
Palestinian dates are special since they come from Jericho, Palestine. Jericho (Ariha in Arabic), is believed to be one of the oldest and still inhabited cities in history.
The town of Jericho is located on the West side of the Jordan Valley. Jericho is 258 meters (846 ft) below sea level, Jericho is about 6 miles from the Dead Sea and 18 miles from Jerusalem. Jericho is known for its abundant sunshine, low humidity, rich soil, and natural spring water. These conditions make a perfect environment for growing Medjool date palm trees.
Dates are full of nutrients, high in iron, fiber, and antioxidants, and considered superfoods.
Dates provide the body with sugar helping to restore low blood sugar, especially after fasting all day, which makes them an important part of Ramadan.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Great Flavor and full of nutrients: The spices in this recipe provide a great flavor and on top of that dates are full of nutrients, high in iron, fiber, and antioxidants, and considered superfoods.
- Fluffy and Moist: This recipe brings a perfectly soft flavor.
- Simple Ingredients and Easy to Make: Despite that, it includes a few extra ingredients but this cake is so easy to make. With readily available ingredients and simple instructions, this cake can be prepared quickly.
- Crowd Pleaser: The creamy taste that comes from the dates combined with the crunchy texture of walnuts and spices make this cake incredibly flavourful and tasty.
Equipment
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Stand Mixer or a Hand Mixer
Ingredients
- Medjool Dates - Medjool dates are one of the hundreds of varieties of dates. They have a sweet, caramel taste and chewy texture.
- Hot Tap Water - Helps soften the Medjool and provides a liquid structure to help with the cake.
- Baking Soda - The baking soda is mixed with the dates, helps break down the dates, and disperses them through the mixture so they don't sink to the bottom.
- Unbleached All-Purpose Flour - Provides the structure of the cake.
- Medium Size Eggs (room temperature) - Using room temperature cake helps the cake whip better and allows the cake to rise better, be fluffier, and be less dense.
- Vanilla - It adds extra flavor to baked goods.
- Unsalted Butter - Provides richness to the cake.
- Brown Sugar - Adds sweetness and moisture to the cake.
- Baking Powder - Helps the cake to rise.
- Spices: cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg - Provide great flavor to the cake and pair well with dates and walnuts.
- Sea Salt - Helps to balance all the flavor
- Walnuts - Provides a nutty crunchy texture to the cake.
Instructions
Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1 | Remove the pits from the dates and chop them into quarters.
Step 2 | In a small bowl, combine the chopped dates with baking soda. Pour the boiling water over the dates and let them sit for about 20-30 minutes.
Step 3 | In a stand mixer beat in the eggs with vanilla on high speed, until well combined.
Step 4 | Add brown sugar and softened butter over the egg mixture, and beat on medium speed until light and creamy.
Step 5 | In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, and baking powder, then add ground cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and salt.
Step 6 | Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter-egg mixture and mix on low speed until all ingredients are well incorporated.
Step 7 | Add the date mixture and mix on low speed until incorporated.
Step 8 | Stir in the chopped walnuts and with a spatula scrap the edges and mix well until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Step 9 | Pour the cake batter into the prepared 9-inch round cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Storage and Freezing
- If stored at room temperature in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, a date walnut cake can last for about 3 to 4 days.
- Storing the cake in the refrigerator can extend its shelf life. If stored properly in an airtight container, a date walnut cake can last for up to 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator.
- You can freeze this cake, just wrap it tightly in plastic wrapping paper, it can last in the freezer for up to 2 to 3 months.
Variation and Substitution
- You can use any other type of date.
- You can add semi-sweet chocolate chips to this cake.
- You can substitute the walnuts with semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- You can use granulated sugar instead of brown sugar.
Experts Tips
- Make sure to soak the dates with hot water and add baking soda. The baking soda will help break down the dates, and disperse them through the mixture so they don't sink to the bottom.
- Slicing the cake exposes more surface area to air, which can cause it to dry out more quickly. If you've sliced the cake, it is best to consume it within a day or two for the best taste and texture.
- After the dates are soaked in water, give it a quick stir before adding them to the cake batter.
- To keep that chunky date texture, beat on low speed when adding it to the cake batter or incorporate it with a spatula.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can, but keep in mind ajwah is more like a paste so you won't get the same texture as if you used chopped dates.
Brown sugar has a rich, caramel-like flavor due to its molasses content. This adds depth and complexity to the cake, it also contains more moisture which can result in a moister and denser texture. While brown sugar and white sugar are similar in calorie content, brown sugar contains slightly more minerals due to the presence of molasses.
Yes, you can make this cake without any nuts and it will still taste delicious.
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More Delicious Recipes
Date and Walnut Cake
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 10 slices 1x
- Category: Cake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Palestinian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Date and walnut cake is a delightful dessert that combines the rich, caramel-like flavor of dates with the crunchy texture of walnuts. This cake is an easy recipe and comes together in no time.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups pitted and chopped dates (about 14-16 dates)
- 1 cup boiled water
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 3 eggs medium size (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup melted unsalted butter or oil (of your choice)
- ¾ brown sugar (add a full cup for extra sweetness)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground clove
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- Extra dates for decorating (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Use parchment paper or grease and flour a 9-inch round baking pan.
- Remove the pits from the dates and chop them into quarters.
- In a small bowl, combine the chopped dates with baking soda.
- Pour the boiling water over the dates and let them sit for about 20-30 minutes.
- In a stand or hand mixer beat in the eggs with vanilla on high speed, until well combined.
- Add brown sugar and softened butter over the egg mixture, and beat on medium speed until light and creamy.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, and baking powder, then add ground cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter-egg mixture and mix on low speed until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Give the date mixture a quick stir then add to the cake batter, and mix on low speed until incorporated.
- Stir in the chopped walnuts and with a spatula scrap the edges and mix well until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Remove the bowl from the stand and scrape the bottom of the mixing bowl to ensure the batter is well combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared round cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then remove it from the pan and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, slice and serve. Enjoy your delicious date walnut cake!
Notes
- Make sure to soak the dates with hot water and add baking soda. The baking soda will help break down the dates, and disperse them through the mixture so they don't sink to the bottom.
- Slicing the cake exposes more surface area to air, which can cause it to dry out more quickly. If you've sliced the cake, it is best to consume it within a day or two for the best taste and texture.
- After the dates are soaked in water, give it a quick stir before adding them to the cake batter.
- To keep that chunky date texture, beat on low speed when adding it to the cake batter or incorporate it with a spatula.
Gina says
I made this cake to my family and everyone loved it, it's definitely a repeat. Thanks for the recipe.
Wafa Shami says
That's great to hear. You are welcome!
Ian Wilkinson says
I'm not one with a sweet tooth, but I loved this!
Wafa Shami says
That's great Ian -:)
Nadia bibi says
Hello looks delicious but maybe missed the part or timing in which you put the dates as whole on top. Thank you 🙏🏻
Wafa Shami says
Hello Nadia, this cake is delicious indeed. The dates on top are optional and just for decoration purposes, they can be placed on top before baking.
susan says
should i use the water the dates were soaked in or throw it?
Wafa Shami says
Hi Susan, yes absolutely.