The Aromatic Date and Walnut Cake

Come Christmas and our house will reek with the aroma of the  various sweets that are prepared only during Christmas time. The Date and Walnut Cake is one such item.  I do not mind sharing the recipe with you. Not just during Christmas, I bake it during the year as well as this is my favourite cake and it is  nutritious too.

Ingredients

225 grams flour – I now use wheat flour and it works

225 grams sugar

4 eggs

170 grams butter

450 grams dates – preferably the black variety

110 grams walnuts

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

200 ml warm water

1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

Method

Remove seeds from dates, chop them  and soak them in warm water and baking soda overnight.

Chop walnuts into small pieces

Add baking powder to flour and sieve it thrice

Beat butter and sugar till creamy

Beat eggs separately

Add beaten eggs to butter mixture, beating continuously

Add flour spoon by spoon  and alternate it with dates. Keep beating – an electric beater does a good job

Finally add walnuts and cinnamon powder.

Line a baking tin with butter having the measurements – 8x8x4 (in inches) seems ideal. I use the round tin. Pour the batter gently.

Heat the oven at 190 degrees. Let it warm up for 5 minutes. Place the stuff in the oven and bake for about an hour.

Do not open the oven until the cake is done. The indication is that the cake will give out it s delicious aroma.  Sometimes for some reason the timer may not work.

Turnover the cake only after it is completely cooled.

The dates in the cake gives it that moist feel and ofcourse the colour too.  I prefer cinnamon for the flavour but some prefer vanilla essence.

Wrapped in aluminium foil this cake can remain fresh for days. I prefer to store it in the fridge and steam it. Steaming it gets its moisture back.