Here is a very simple and unique date nut cake that you can whip together in no time at all and doesn't need any embellishments whatsoever.
You could dust it with powdered sugar but I chose not to so you could see the meringue-like topping to this cake. The texture of this cake is so interesting and delicious! The recipe was found in one of my oldest cookbooks. It's called, American Cooks by the General Federation of Women's Clubs and was recommended to me by a chef who married my college roommate. I would venture to say that it's still one of the most valuable cookbooks in my collection!
I also have some flower ideas for your spring buffet or table. Take a shallow dish and put some water in it. Add any flowers you like, trimming the stems as necessary, and cover with a pretty clear bowl or upside down vase.
Use pretty wine glasses to display blooms. Here is a glass I saved from my mother's home that brings back wonderful memories of her.
Another favorite is to use egg cups as vases. They make charming little floral displays.
If you have some early spring blooms in your yard, this is a great way to use them!
Date and Nut Cake
Printable Recipe1 cup presifted flour (I used AP flour)
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
16-24 ounces dates, pitted and chopped (I used 16 ounces)
4 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan and line the bottom with parchment paper or waxed paper.
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Stir in the pecans and dates.
In a small mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks and vanilla until light yellow.
In large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold egg yolk mixture into egg whites. Fold in the flour mixture and pour out into the prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool 10 minutes and remove onto a wire rack to cool completely. (Place wire rack upside down over pan and tip both over to remove cake).
Cut into squares and serve.
42 comments:
Those spring flowers are so beautiful, but the cake looks the best, Susan.
Happy Easter!
Thank you, Angie! Happy Easter to you!
The Date and Pecan brunch cake sounds delightful...oven off, though, as it is much too warm for baking. Never thought I'd say that again after the long winter. The posies are such a pretty idea. Makes me wish I had some flowers to work with.
Happy Easter to my dear friend.
Everything looks..sublime.
I don't even have a scilla up..a hint of one..that's it..but loads done this w/ e..and today..
I feel old LOL..temporarily.I promise..
That real first spring clean up is a real exercise in reactivating things that did not move all winter.
Easter..is just about ready here..rain in the forecast..but cheer will be indoors♥
I knew your Tuscan R's would be ..stupendous♥
I would love the date cake! I am smitten with dates :-) I'm glad you found the Rananculus! Happy Easter to you and your family Susan.
Unseasonably warm here also, Vee. 80F for April 15? Happy Easter, Vee!
You will catch up very quickly, I know! I know that feeling - SO true! Three weeks ago we cleaned out the large front garden bed and I my neck was sore for two weeks afterward :( You will have a fun day tomorrow, I know! Have a wonderful Easter, Monique ♥
I adore dates too, Debbie, and I loved the combination with the pecans in this recipe - and the meringue-like way the crust formed on top. The ranunculus have been VERY happy outdoors - even with chilly nights. Happy Easter, Dear Debbie! I'm sure Xavier will have a blast ♥
I love the way the squirrels have dug up and buried the scilla into the woods and everywhere else :)
This cake look delicious Susan and love all yours flowers, look lovely, hugs and Happy Easter!!
This looks amazing!! I have a bag of dates that I have been meaning to use, and this looks like the perfect way to use them!!
Thank you, Gloria! Happy Easter to you and your family xo
Great way to use them! Thank you, Cathleen!
This is a perfect recipe for dates, it looks delicious, Susan! Dreary morning here and will be starting on Easter dinner before long. Pretty flowers! Happy Easter!
lovely pics Susan, your flowers are really adorable. I adore dates and this recipe make me watering...A warm hug and happy Ester from Trieste
Hi Susan I saw both the flowers and the date pecan cake on IG, both spectacular, love your style. Happy Easter!
I love both the brunch cake and the gorgeous flowers!! Hope you had a great day :)
Sues
That cake does indeed look inviting. I didn't see it until after EAster, but with my newfound love of dates, following a visit to a date farm in California, this recipe is sure to soon make its way to my oven.
Nice that you have date and pecan in this cake...somehow I have never used date for baking...thanks for the recipe Susan.
Have a wonderful week ahead :)
What a wonderful cake! We love dates and nuts and I often think about making more treats with both those ingredients. Your garden flowers are beautiful and so are your creative ways to show them off! Hope you had a blessed Easter - with perfect weather of course!
Thank you, Pam! Our typical Midwest spring :)
Thank you, Chiara Dear!
Thanks so much, Cheri. Hope you had a wonderful Easter! I spent mine with a cold :(
Thanks, Sues! I was nursing a cold but I hope your Easter was good!
I remember that you bought dates near Palm Springs :) I wish I had bought some when we were there too.
I love baking with dates, Juliana! You must try it :)
Thank you, Tricia! I had a cold over Easter :( Starting to feel a little better though :)
Dates were one of those fruits I didn't discover until adulthood. Now I'm trying to make up for lost time. This cake sounds fabulous and is ALMOST as pretty as your garden! Hope you had a happy Easter, Susan! And that you are feeling better!
I've been out of town but hope you had a wonderful Easter Susan. This cake sounds wonderful. I love old cookbooks like that, they seem to be full of treasures like this!
Really like that meringue topping...thinking I've made something with that, just can't bring it to mind. I remember loving the sweet crunchiness of it on a bar.
Oh my goodness, Susan, I must make this date cake soon. I adore anything with dates in it. Thank you for sharing the recipe and for your pretty flower ideas, too.
Thank you, Abbe! Easter was quiet but we'll be making up for it this weekend with our grandsons staying overnight :)
I saw that you had visiting your sister :) Thanks so much, Chris!
The way the bars baked up like that was such a pleasant surprise! Thanks so much, Barbara.
I loved it! Unfortunately, my husband does not share my love of dates. That means more for me :)
This cake looks wonderful. Dates and pecan work beautifully together.
Amalia
xo
This cake is just perfect. It looks delicious and yum. Beautiful combination.
I bet this cake is packed with flavors! Dates give such a unique flavor to sweets!
HI Susan! Hope you had a lovely Easter! We are just trying to catch up with comments and posting here and there- life is getting more and more busy- we're sure it's the same with you.
LOVE this recipe for date and pecan cake simply because I adore both dates and pecans and this sounds heavenly and bet it is! Have a great week! Wishing you a Happy Mother's Day this weekend!
This cake looks really good! but I'm dying over those gorgeous ranunculas! I can't grow them where I live - so jealous!!!
I can't grow them either, Mimi. I just bought some in pots a month or so ago and stuck them in a large container outside. They did great and I still have a couple of blooms.
Well, I'm reading this far too late for Easter, but I'll be making this pretty cake. Dates and pecans surely go wonderfully together! I love your ideas for small floral decorations to the table too, Susan. Those little egg cups are so smart!
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