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Chocolate Chip Date Cake



This cake's unusual combination of flavours -
chocolate, date and orange,
are a treat to the taste buds and make a great addition to a packed lunch.
Or you can serve it with a dollop of whipped cream for a satisfying dessert.
  • 1 cup chopped dates
  • 1 teaspoon soda
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 tablespoon grated orange rind
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 3/4 cups flour ( you can substitute 1/2 the flour with whole wheat flour if desired)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Grease the bottom only of a 9x9 square pan or line it with parchment paper.
  3. Stir together chopped dates and baking soda in a mixing bowl and add boiling water.
  4. Stir and set aside to cool until lukewarm.
  5. Meanwhile in a large mixing bowl, beat butter together with sugar until light.
  6. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well between additions.
  7. Add cocoa, orange rind and vanilla.
  8. With a spoon or spatula, stir in date mixture, salt and flour, mixing until well blended.
  9. Fold in 1/2 of the chocolate chips.
  10. Spread evenly in prepared pan.
  11. Sprinkle top with remaining chocolate chips and all of the nuts.
  12. Bake At 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until cake tester or toothpick comes out clean.
  13. Serve warm or cold, with or without whipped cream.
This cake is very good cold so I store it in the refrigerator. It also freezes well.

8 comments:

  1. This is new for me... and seems to be more than delish..xoxoxox

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  2. hooray, I tasted a cake I would believe to be very similar and I loved it. Now I can try yours, I am sure it would taste very much the same. Simple, yet so moist and delish.....thanks bev.

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  3. I know I would absolutely LOVE this combo of flavors...it's printing as I type. Thanks so much - loooovee your recipes!!!

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  4. I'm sure this recipe is in my 1960s-era red plaid Better Homes and Gardens cookbook! I know it's one of my teenage and all time favourites--something wonderful about chocolate with dates.

    Thanks.

    S.

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  5. My entire department is gaining weight just by reading your blog lately...and summer is just around the corner! It all looks so good, which is precisely the problem. Time for some whole grain, vegetable-laden meal options...

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  6. I have made a very similar recipe and boy. .is it nice and moist.

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  7. I wanted to let you know that I made this cake today, and made very slight alterations to make it gluten free. I substituted almond meal for the flour. It was still quite moist, so I added an additional 1/2 cup of quinoa flakes. It turned out wonderfully moist and delicious. Thank you.

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  8. This cake sounded so good, that I just had to make it. It is very good! Nice and moist. I will definately make this again. Thanks for sharing.

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