Lebanese Date Cake Recipe
Lebanese Date Cake is a deliciously soft cake made with dried dates, subtly spiced with cinnamon, and topped with chopped pistachios. It’s a popular cake in the region that you can easily make in your own kitchen --- enjoy it for your next coffee break!
Servings: 10
Calories: 292kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 200 grams dried dates (about 1 & 1/2 cups), pitted and finely chopped
- 150 grams flour (about 1 & 1/4 cups), plus more for dusting the cake pan
- 8 grams baking soda (1 teaspoon)
- 8 grams baking powder (2 teaspoons)
- 4 grams ground cinnamon (1 teaspoon)
- 100 grams butter (3.5 ounces or about 7 tablespoons), unsalted and softened (plus more for greasing)
- 120 grams sugar (1/2 cup)
- 2 medium eggs
- handful pistachios, shelled and roughly chopped
Instructions
- Start by boiling a cup of water in a small saucepan.
- Add the chopped dates and the baking soda (slowly), then adjust the heat to low.
- Continue cooking until the sauce thickens --- usually takes me about 10 minutes. Then set aside to cool. (Note: Remember to stir almost constantly during this time.)
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Prepare a 23-cm (9-inch) cake pan by greasing and dusting it with flour, or by lining it with parchment paper --- it’s up to you.
- Using a medium-sized bowl, sift and combine the flour, baking powder, and ground cinnamon.
- In a separate, larger mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy.
- Add eggs and continue mixing.
- Pour the cooled date syrup and mix until evenly combined.
- Add the sifted dry ingredients and fold to combine --- do not overmix.
- Pour the date cake batter into the prepared pan.
- Place in the lower part of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out dry.
- Remove the cake pan from the oven and set aside to cool --- before transferring the cake to a plate.
- Chop the pistachios roughly and sprinkle them over your Lebanese date cake.
- Slice and serve --- enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Cook's Tip: Remember to add the baking soda slowly with the dates. It is to prevent the saucepan from overflowing with bubbles.
- Refer to the post for more tips and suggestions.
Nutrition
Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 488mg | Potassium: 229mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 308IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 2mg