My husband absolutely loves this Date And Walnut Cake. I’m not particularly a cake person but this is a cake I deal with comfortably. I always bake it if I can sometime in December. Where I’m concerned, this cake saves me from the famous Kerala Christmastime favourite, the Plum Cake! I have never acquired a taste for boozy dried fruit cakes. The Date And Walnut cake has very fond associations for us. It brings back memories of the years we lived in Goa.
Our favourite bakery in Panjim, was a small family run old fashioned shop called Mr.Baker (estd.1922). They’re quite well known among the locals for the more traditional Goan Catholic bakes they sell. They also have a couple of tables cafe style in the shop so one could stop for a coffee break and fresh Goan snacks like samosas, rissois, patties, etc. They also make and sell a delightful, soft and light date and walnut cake that’s available only around Christmas time.
We would look forward to the end of the year just to buy their Date And Walnut Cake. There have been a couple of instances when we reached the shop just before closing time to find them sold out! One such time, I thought I would try to make a version of the cake at home. Of course, my version is a more moist and slightly dense cake that’s more like Christmas fruit cake.
This is recipe is a good way to go if you are not a fan of spiced boozy fruit cake. It is lower on the fat and eggs but you would never know from eating the cake. You don’t have to wait till Christmas for this cake. Bake it at any other time of the year and it is an excellent coffee cake. If you are looking for a more festive looking Light Alcohol-Free Fruit Cake for the season, please see this recipe.
The New Year is round the corner and I thought I would share this little poem. I came across this very cheerful poem that talks about sentiments that seem perfect for this season.
“Another fresh new year is here . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!
This bright new year is given me.
To live each day with zest . .
To daily grow and try to be.
My highest and my best!
I have the opportunity.
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!”
-William Arthur Ward.
“Wishing everyone a very Happy, Prosperous and Peaceful New Year!”
This post, images and recipe were updated on 5th December, 2017.
Date And Walnut Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates chopped coarsely
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup boiling hot water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 50 gm butter melted
- 1/8 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsps baking powder
- 1/2 cup walnuts chopped
Instructions
- Put the dates in a slightly big bowl (you'll be mixing the batter in this) and sprinkle the baking soda over the dates. Pour the hot water over this so it covers the dates. Keep aside for about half an hour till the dates soften up and the water cools down.
- Stir in the sugar, eggs, butter, milk and vanilla into the date mixture. Sift the all purpose flour, salt and the baking powder together. Add to the bowl along with the walnuts. Gently mix in this in till everything just combines. Do npt over mix.
- Spoon the batter into a parchment lined (bottom of tin only), greased and floured 7" round cake tin. You may use a loaf tin if you choose.
- Bake at 180C (350F) for about 60 minutes till cooked or till a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. If the cake starts browning too quickly, cover it with aluminium foil.
- Let the cake sit in the tin for 5 minutes, then unmould. Cool on a rack and serve with coffee or tea.
I'm Aparna and My Diverse Kitchen is my ovo-lacto vegetarian food blog where you'll find recipes, food stories & photography. I've been blogging since 2007 and believe the kitchen, and the dining table (by extension) is really the heart of a home. 
The cake sounds delicious. Happy New Year! I hope your 2010 is filled with good health, happiness and prosperity!
A nice start! Happy new year!
Happy, Healthy and prosperous New Year- Lovely cake!
What a wonderful way to start the new year! walnuts and dates both yummy.Lots of love and health for this new year for you and your loved ones Aparna!!(Love your header btw!)
Wish you and your family a very happy new year, Aparna!The cake looks fantastic..
Hey Aparna,You have a great blog! Wishing you n your family a great 2010.
Its better late than never that you got to make the cake.Great looking cake and I am sure it tastes good too.Your blog header looks superb also.Happy New year and wish you a fruitful year ahead.Keep safe and keep blogging!!!
Happy New Year Aparna :)I made a similar cake – without the dates but with dried cranberries… my own version of the christmas fruitcake 🙂
I love d an w cake too…it’s my very fav. kind of cake.Wishing you and the family a wonderful new year!
nice cake..have seen mr bakers but never ventured..maybe next christmas now….
Let me start of by wishing you and your family a very happy & prosperous new year!I loved the new header!Your pics are so fabulous! I love the way you photograph it using wooden plank as a prop. I think I should try it too…we just bought a new wooden table :)The cake looks fab!Perfect slice!
Love the new header!!!, it looks fab, and starting with that cake the new year is absolutely gorgeous dear, Wishing you and your family a very happy and prospersous filled new year, Love to see your a lot more of your recipes, introduction to them, findings, links, the verdict and the notes to do them!! 🙂 I hope I have covered everything when I read your post!!, Have a blessed year ahead..
Yummyy cake… lovely presentation.. 🙂
love your new header… happy and a lovely new year to you
So perfect with tea! Happy New Year to you and yours.
I noticed the new header immediately, it looks marvellous. As most of us have greeted each other twice or thrice over about the New Year :-), I’ll just say that the poem is nice, and so is your cake.
Happy New Year – this cake is something I could definitely get used to having around. I love dates.
Such a perfect way to start the year! Wishing you all the best for this new year =D.
Heyyyy Aparna.. Wish you a very very happy and fabulous year ahead!! Just got back to the US.. still adjusting to life here..haha.. Sorry couldn’t catch up with you in India.. was actually pretty hectic but fabulous time 🙂
The new header is lovely, Aparna.A very happy 2010 to you and the family!
Hi Aparna – this cake sounds very similar to what we have in the Philippines – also with dates and walnuts – called Food for the Gods – I am still searching for a recipe that replicates it… this might just do the trick!
Your cake sounds wonderful and I love the poem. Sorry to hear about your dad (from the HBin5 group). Look forward to baking with you in 2010!
Happy New Year to you and your family Aparna. May this year bring lots of happiness.Cheers,elrap.syour cake look scrumptious.
The cake looks absolutely delicious!Happy New year to you and Your family Aparna
Very happy new year to you too. Could you suggest a way to substitute the egg in this recipe ? Perhaps cornstarch and water? If it can be done, would you pls mention the quantity?
Happy new year Aparna. My wishes to Bala and Akshaya as well.The cake looks yummy. I should try it. It was one of the 5 cakes for my birthday this year 🙂 The dry variety keeps for much longer 🙂 if it stays that is 🙂
Wishing you and your family a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!!Your new header looks lovely!!Date cake looks moist and perfect way to celebrate new year!
Wishing you and your family a great year ahead.Cake sounds delicious and only one egg which I think can be substituted.Great header pic.
i adore fruit and nut cakes and this really does look delish. love the pics too aparna!
Aparna, Happy New Year!Love this date and walnut cake. I am basically into anything that contains date. The presentation is wonderful and I can’t wait to bake it in my kitchen. Thanks for sharing!Sawadee from Bangkok,Kris
This cake looks beautiful.Please post a basic cake recipe. I always loved the basic cake in India from the bakery.
Love the cake, love the new header & love the resolve at the end Aparna. Beautiful pictures too my dear. Happy 2010!
dear deeba wishing you a very happy new year. i love that you made a date cake, as you know, i was supposed to make one when my husband arrived this weekend, but i got caught up with other things and was not able to make it. it’s the one in which you use boiling water- i shall let you know how it goes. i love your new header and wish you lots of happiness not for 2010 but for always. best wishes, shayma
sorry aparna! i was reading our friend deeba’s msg above my own and accidentally wrote her name in stead of yours, apologies! xo
I love date and walnut cakes! Your recipe looks real different. I’m intrigued! Shall try this out next time 🙂 Happy New Year 🙂
WOW Aparna, I really like your blog,Have you tasted the Walnut cake in INfanteria Bakery in Calangute, do try it, it’s awesome! I have become your fan,and will surely like to meet u on my trip to my home in Goa.
Thanks for the wishes.Indhu, cranberries sounds good. Wish we got it here. :)Ria, that is a wooden board we use for writing on, when sitting in the easy chair!!!Its a pity, indeed! Next time, I hope. :DTrissa, Food for the Gods! What an interesting name for a cake. Hope you find it. Would love to see one.Thank you, Christie.Rohini,I don’t think cornstarch would work here.One way to substitute the egg would be to use a commercial product like Ener-G. Otherwise, you can use 1 tbsp powdered flax seed mixed in 3 tbsp warm water.Raaga, 5 cakes for your b’day? That must have been some celebration! :)Shayma, will wait to see that cake. And apologies accepted. :)Will check out Infantaria next time. Would be nice to meet up. :)_
Oh Aparna, Tha cake looks just toooooooooo good. Loved ur shot!especially the first one…
Oh but I see why your husband likes this cake! It’s stuffed with moist dates and crunchy walnuts. The flavors go well together too and it would make a great afternoon treat with coffee or tea. For a split second I associated the 3 kings day with your cake for some reason. I think its because you mentioned the new year and we make la galette des roi for the kinds day. 😀
I also like the walnut and date cake. I usually pick it up from the Pastry Cottage next to our house. But, I am going to go to Mr Baker and pick it up this time. Thanks for telling me where to buy cakes in Panjim.
You should definitely check Mr. Bakers. They have some really good bakes. Not fancy stuff though.
Galette des Rois is something I don’t mind at all. 🙂