Sunday, October 14, 2018

Apple Date and Pecan Cake


Here is a super moist and delicious apple cake which I've adapted from one of my favorite Scandinavian bakers, Beatrice Ojakangas.  Chock full of apples, dates and nuts, it's what you can't see that may surprise you...coffee, cocoa and cardamom!  Three delightful additions that make this cake extra special and quite Scandinavian :)  It's perfect with a cup of coffee in the morning or tea in the afternoon.    


I was recently gifted a bag of apples from a friend.  From a local farm, she had more than she could use so offered some of them to me.  Beauties!    



This cake was so moist, I had trouble keeping it dusted with powdered sugar :)  Next time I make it, I will reduce the amount of apples and dates slightly and I've made note of that in the recipe.


It has lasted several days in the frig and freezes beautifully.

If you love the combination of apples, dates and pecans, I hope you give this recipe a try.  I thought it was one of the most delicious apple cakes I've baked!


The leaves are falling and the temperatures are cooling.  It's a great time of year to visit a local apple farm and buy or pick apples!  Our farmers' market had a wonderful variety too.


Apple Date and Pecan Cake

Printable Recipe

Serves 10-12

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons unsweetened dark cocoa
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1-1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup cold, strong coffee
4 cups tart apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (next time I will use only 3 cups)
1 cup chopped, pitted dates (next time I will use only 3/4 cup)
1 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter an 8-inch bundt pan or 13 x 9-inch baking pan.  I sprayed my bundt pan with Bakers Joy.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter until smooth. I used a stand mixer on medium speed.  Add the eggs and beat until light and fluffy.

Stir the cocoa, cardamom, cinnamon, and soda into the flour and blend until combined.

Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture along with vanilla and coffee. Beat until batter is very smooth. Stir in the apples, dates, and nuts until evenly blended.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake 50-60 minutes for a bundt pan or 35 to 40 minutes for a 13 x 9-inch pan - or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Cool the tube cake for 5 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack to finish cooling. Cool the rectangular cake completely in its pan on a wire rack.  Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

39 comments:

  1. Wow, this looks amazing! It's loaded with apples and so much other goodness! My family would love this cake :)

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  2. The bundt cake looks so moist and loaded with all the goodness. And I simply love that you have sweetened this with dates :-)) An excellent recipe, Susan.

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  3. Wow, that looks like a great cake, as I sit here with my coffee... Beautiful apples, what a nice surprise from your friend-enjoy:@)

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    1. I had it for breakfast with my coffee a couple of times :) Thanks, Lynn!

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  4. I too have apples I need to use, from a friend's tree. Thanks for a great recipe. And the best endorsement, is that the powdered sugar wouldn't stay dusted. I made a pound cake recently that soaked up that suga also.

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    1. Your pound cake must have been very moist too, Lea Ann :) Thank you!

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  5. WE love moist cakes:) It looks beautiful and delicious.The cocoa,cardamom and cinnamon must be perfect in this cake..have you ever tried tonka? You might like it..I sometimes add some to cinnamon.
    Pics are so appetizing!!
    When M picked us up at te airport she had just gone apple picking and had brought us one each:) What a difference fresh off the tree..I didn't go this year..

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    1. You would love this :) As far as I know, tonka has been illegal in the U.S. since 1954 as it could be lethal in high doses (which of course would never happen if used for baking). Too bad, I'd love to try it. Have a wonderful week ♥

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  6. this looks amazing :-) love Scandinavian cakes.

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  7. It looks delicious! I pinned it.

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  8. Woo hoo! Love this recipe, Susan and want to bake it soon! I like that besides the fruit and nuts it has coffee, cocoa and cardamom in it, a great combo. I just bought a new bottle of cardamom and I just need the apples and dates now. Thanks for the recipe, my MIL was Swedish and this would be right down her alley too. Have a good week!

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    1. My Danish relatives would have loved it too ♥ Thank you, Pam, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

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  9. Apples, dates and pecans? I’m all in. I need this in my life and hope to make it soon.

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    1. It's a great combination, especially with the coffee, cocoa and cardamom additions! Thank you, Linda!

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  10. Yum, I enjoy a moist cake! And cardamon is one of my favorites in fall. xo

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  11. LOVE this cake! So moist and beautiful with tons of texture. My family would go nuts for a slice or two of this. Dates are a great addition. A must try ;)

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    1. Tricia, thank you so much, and I'm so happy you were able to comment here again. Such hoops we have to jump through sometimes :) It is a delicious cake!

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  12. Oh my! This sounds delightful! I wish it could be my breakfast! Too bad you don't live closer! I've been really getting into cardamom lately. Such a good spice. Take care Susan.

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    1. I definitely have eaten it for breakfast :) Wouldn't we have fun it we lived closer? Thanks, Abbe!

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  13. Susan what wonderful cake ! I love cakes with fruits and this looks stunning!

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    1. Thank you, Gloria! Here we are cooking with fall fruits and you are just starting spring :) ♥

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    2. I like fall but it reminds me of what comes next here. BRRRR! :)

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  14. Lovely cake and it's got the prime Scandinavian baking ingredients, cinnamon and cardamom. I must bake this for my very Swedish mother-in-law. Will need to sub walnuts for the pecans as pecans are rare and hugely expensive over this way.

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    1. Thank you, Ron! I hope she enjoys it :) I forget that pecans are mostly grown in the U.S. Walnuts will taste great in this.

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  15. Hi Susan, I'm taking a break from caring for my mom, and the cleaning, and stopped by to visit. Oh, how I'd love a slice of this cake. I love dates, and my mom did, too, and I know that I'd love these flavors. Maybe I'll get a chance to make one someday. Your pics are so pretty, Susan. Happy baking.

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping to comment, Kitty. I know taking care of your mother must be taking so much of your time...she's lucky to have you :)

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  16. Looks amazing, Susan. This cake would make my afternoon tea very happy :-)
    Amalia
    xo

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  17. Oh Susan, this cake looks awesome, apple and dates? Yes,I would gladly have a slice of this cake for breakfast...thanks for the recipe, and have a wonderful week!

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  18. This is very much my kind of cake. Thank you for the recipe!

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  19. Oh Susan, I will be baking one of these apple and date cakes!! I would love a slice right now with some hot Earl Grey. Really looks like an amazing dessert :)

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I appreciate your comment!