Moist homemade date cake loaf with walnuts on top, sliced on parchment paper

Best Date Cake Recipe

A moist and nostalgic date cake recipe made with simple ingredients, warm spices, and naturally sweet dates. Perfect for holidays, tea time, or any cozy occasion.

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 40

Rest Time: 1

Total Time: 1 1

Servings: pieces

Calories: 310kcal

Cost: $8–$10

Equipment

9-inch square pan Can substitute with round cake pan
Stand/Hand Mixer Optional but helpful for creaming
Sharp knife For chopping dates finely
Parchment paper For easy cake removal and clean edges
Wire rack To cool cake evenly

Ingredients

Cake

1.5 cup Pitted dates Chopped
1 cup Hot water For soaking dates
1 teaspoon Baking soda Added to hot water + dates
0.5 cup Unsalted butter Room temperature
0.75 cup Brown sugar Packed
2 Eggs Room temperature
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1.25 cup All-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Baking powder
0.5 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
0.25 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
0.5 cup Walnuts Optional, chopped

Caramel Sauce (Optional)

0.25 cup Unsalted butter
0.5 cup Brown sugar Packed
0.25 cup Heavy cream
0.5 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Salt Pinch

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F / 175°C
Soak dates in hot water + soda
Cream butter and brown sugar
Add eggs and vanilla
Whisk dry ingredients separately
Combine wet, dry, and dates
Fold in walnuts (optional)
Pour into lined pan
Bake for 35–40 mins
Cool 10 mins in pan
Transfer to wire rack
Prepare caramel (optional)
Serve with or without sauce

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Nutrition