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Date and Walnut Traybake Cake

Date and Walnut Traybake Cake
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This Date and Walnut Traybake Cake is a rich, moist, and flavorful dessert featuring natural sweetness from dates and crunch from walnuts. Easy to prepare with simple pantry ingredients, it’s ideal for tea time, casual coffee breaks, or special gatherings. Its tender crumb, warm spices, and versatility make it a comforting treat that keeps well and tastes even better the next day.

Ingredients

Scale

Fruit and Nuts

  • 200g chopped dates
  • 100g walnuts, chopped

Dry Ingredients

  • 250g self-raising flour
  • 150g brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon mixed spice

Wet Ingredients

  • 125g unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 150ml milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dates: Chop the dates into small pieces and soak them in hot water mixed with a pinch of baking soda for about 10 minutes to soften and activate the rising process.
  2. Mix the dry ingredients: Sift together self-raising flour, cinnamon, mixed spice, and baking soda in a large bowl. Stir in brown sugar and chopped walnuts evenly.
  3. Cream the butter and sugar: Beat the softened butter until light and fluffy, then gradually add the sugar to create a smooth base.
  4. Combine wet ingredients: Add eggs one at a time into the butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract and milk to form a cohesive batter.
  5. Fold in dates and dry mix: Drain soaked dates and gently fold into the wet mixture. Gradually add the dry ingredients, folding carefully to keep the batter light and fully combined.
  6. Bake the traybake: Pour batter into a greased or lined traybake tin, spreading evenly. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 30-35 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
  7. Cool and serve: Let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, then cut into squares to serve.

Notes

  • Soak dates in hot water with baking soda to soften and maximize moisture.
  • Fold ingredients gently to maintain a tender texture and avoid dense cake.
  • Use room temperature butter and eggs for better blending and rise.
  • Start checking cake doneness around 25 minutes to prevent overbaking.
  • Cool cake properly before slicing for clean cuts and minimal crumbs.

Nutrition

Keywords: Date cake, Walnut traybake, Easy traybake, Moist cake, Nutty dessert, Afternoon tea cake

Find it online: https://withnora.com/date-and-walnut-traybake-cake/