Are you looking for the best Sri Lankan date cake recipe? Then, my easy Sri Lankan Recipe is for you. It will help you to get a perfect homemade cake that will taste like a fancy bakery cake.
Date cake is a flavorful and healthy dessert that is popular in Sri Lanka. All the ingredients, such as the spices and the dates, bring a delicious combined taste to it.
If you want to make your occasion or any mealtime special with the perfect baked date cake, follow my instructions and the tips in this recipe.
What Makes The Sri Lankan Date Cake Special?
Sri Lanka is a nation that is known for various factors, and one of the most amazing factors is it is popular in mouthwatering cuisine. Basically, Sri Lankans prefer cakes made with local ingredients, natural sweeteners, colorful and which are well-decorated.
Date cakes are made with dates and walnuts/cashews. The rich and nutty flavor of the cake makes dessert time so special, and one can enjoy this dessert with a cup of tea. The main ingredient of this cake is the date itself which makes the cake so special.
Dates have various health benefits as it is rich in protective antioxidants. As a useful sugar replacement, it also supports bone health. So, the date cakes are special without any doubt.
Necessary Ingredients for Cake Recipe
1. Flour (375 grams): All-purpose flour is an excellent choice to make cakes since it’s gluten-free.
2. Dates (750 grams): Dates are the primary ingredient of this recipe, so I like to use Medjool dates as they are known for being “the king of dates” and sweeter.
3. Baking Soda (1½ tsp, use twice ): I add baking soda to this recipe for its ability to give cakes a fluffy texture.
4. Sugar (375 grams): Since dates are the main element in this cake, and I use sweeter dates, white sugar will be perfect for this recipe. If you can’t get Medjool dates, use 375 grams of brown sugar to enhance the sweetness.
5. Cashew Nuts (75 grams): Cashew nuts are essential to the Srilankan date cake. Asian people love adding cashews to their dessert and cake recipes due to their chewy taste.
6 Butter (350 grams): I prefer butter for its rich flavor instead of margarine.
7. Warm Water (1 1⁄2 cup): You need warm Water to make dates soak with baking soda.
8. Vanilla Essence (1½ tsp): Vanilla essence creates a unique combination of taste. This is another ingredient for the recipe you can’t skip.
9. Eggs (6): Eggs are necessary to make your cake thick yet soft. To make 30 pieces out of a cake, 6 eggs are needed.
10. Almond extract (1/2 tsp): Almond extract will add a nutty flavor that will increase the taste.
How to Make Sri Lankan Date Cake
Here’s the step-by-step procedure to make Srilankan date cake:
Step 1. Prepare Dates
Separate dates from seeds and put them in a 1½ cup warm water bowl. Add 1½ tsp baking soda and stir well. Cover the bowl with a lid. Let it rest for 3 hours 30 minutes. Make sure the dates are absorbed.
Step 2. Create Flour Mix
Add 375 grams of four 1½ tsp baking soda in another bowl, and give it a good mix.
Step 3. Make Batter
Beat 350 grams of butter with 375 grams of sugar with a beater to make the batter.
Step 4. Prepare the Cake
Add 6 eggs, flour mix, and 1½ tsp vanilla essence in a big pot. Beat them well. After it creates a creamy form, combine soaked dates and batter with it. Crush 75 grams of cashew with a food processor or blender and add them as well. Place the entire mixture into your baking dish.
Step 5. Bake the Cake
Bake the Srilankan date cake for 45 minutes at 400 degrees F. Cut them into 30 fine pieces when the cake is ready.
My Secret Tips for Perfect Sri Lankan Date Cake
As a home baker, it is quite natural to make mistakes while baking a perfect cake. So, stop worrying about that because the following tips and tricks are for you and will help you bake a perfect cake without any mistakes.
- The correct measurement technique can guarantee you better baking results. Here most of the baking fails because the “spoon and level” method is not applied. Do not tap the measurement cup when you pour flour into it. Try to measure perfectly to get a perfectly baked cake.
- Whether you use a hand whisk or electric mixer, try to mix the batter till the ingredients are combined well. Do not overmix the batter, and even try avoiding under-mixing the same. Make sure that all the ingredients are mixed well and that there is no tough texture for over-mixing.
- Use room-temperature ingredients such as butter, milk, eggs, cream, etc.
- Do not open the oven to avoid drastic changes in temperature that lead the rising cake to sink.
- Use parchment paper in the baking tray to get a smooth outcome.
- If powdered cardamom is not available, then you can grind some whole cardamom in the grinder to get a fine powder.
Ingredients
- Flour - 375 Grams
- Dates - 750 Grams
- Baking Soda - 3 Tsp ( Use 11/2 Tsp Twice and Separately)
- Sugar - 375 Grams
- Cashew Nuts - 75 Grams
- Butter - 350 Grams
- Warm Water - 11/2 Cup
- Vanilla Essence - 1/12 Tsp
- Eggs - 6
- Almond Extract - ½ Tsp
Instructions
- Separate dates from seeds and put them in a bowl with hot water.
- Add 11/2 tsp baking soda to it and mix.
- Cover the bowl at least for 3 hours with a lid.
- Combine 375 grams of flour and 11/2 tsp baking in another bowl.
- Prepare batter by mixing 350 grams of butter and 375 grams of sugar.
- Take a large pot to add flour mix, eggs, and vanilla essence.
- Beat them using a beater until the cream is formed.
- Add batter, soaked dates, and crushed cashew nuts to this.
- Place them in a baking dish and bake it at 400 degrees f for 45 minutes.
- Cut them into 30 even pieces.
The Closure
I hope you liked the recipe above and try to follow all the instructions properly to make your cake perfect. With a few cautions and patience, you can bake a delightful and amazing cake at home. So, try my Sri Lankan Date Cake Recipe and enjoy your moment with a delicious dessert.
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