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January 26, 2009

Date and Fruit Cake


Sometime between Christmas and New Year, S and I were invited to a dinner party. For us, it was an impromptu invitation. Until about 5 or 6 in the evening, we had no idea that there was a party nor that we were invited to it. And I usually can't think of what to take, especially at such short notice. Since I had some rum soaked fruits handy, I decided to make this easy date and fruit cake. I was told it was tasty (by S' colleagues). I didn't get a chance to sample this cake at all. I baked two of them in aluminium take away containers. I took one to the party and S took the other to work the next day.


1 cup Flour
1/4 cup Sugar
2 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Baking Soda
a Pinch of Salt

1/3 cup Date Syrup (mixed with 1/3 cup warm water)
2-3 tbsp Oil
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 cup Dry Fruits (soaked in rum, optional)
1 Egg, beaten


Sift all the dry ingredients for the cake together into a food processor jar with the dough blade. Pour in all the liquid ingredients and run the processor for 2 minutes. Blend in the dry fruits.


Prepare an 8 inch round cake tin by first smearing a little butter all over the tin and then dusting it with flour. Pour the batter into the tin and bake for 30 minutes at 350 F.


The cake has a Christmas Cake sort of appeal without any of the fuss. It is also quite healthy, low in sugar and fat, with the goodness of dates and other dry fruits. It is the perfect cake to celebrate Appa's birthday. By the time you see this post, my parents will be with us. I have tried very hard to be with my family every year in his birthday. (I used to make it a point to be there for Amma's birthday, until in 2001, she went to Bombay to attend a wedding about a fortnight or so before Appa and I had planned to go.I missed her birthday then, and somehow have not been very regular since. I still try. The only time I missed being with Appa on his birthday was in 1984, when he was in the U.S. and our visas took ages to come, so we joined him only later that year.) We shall celebrate the day in the best posible manner.


Happy Birthday Appa!

8 comments:

Sig said...

Ooh, so sweet! Happy Birthday to your dad, I am sure he will have a great day with his loving daughter.
I have never heard of date syrup btw! Haven't seen it around here.

Uj said...

Very sweet of you.. Happy birthday to your dad... I bet he will be happy.. cake looks lovely we don't get dates here :(
Have fun with your parents dear.. I to don't like to miss to be with my parents on their bday's,wedding anniv

sra said...

Happy Birthday to your dad! Today's my mom's birthday too.

FH said...

I bet your dad is being stuffed with sweets and yummy goodies as we speak! :D

My best wishes to him.

Date cake looks moist and rich, lovely dessert to take to a party.

CurryLeaf said...

Best Wishes to your Father.This healthy cake with dates is apt for him.It looks rich and partyish

A_and_N said...

Oh I'd love to try this. BTW I made your tutti fruiti cake for my nephew and niece and they loved it! Thanks so much for the recipe!

KonkaniBlogger said...

What a sweet post and many happy returns to your dad!! Kudos to you for thinking and bakign a cake within such a short span of time..Looks yummy..

Divya Kudua said...

Belated birthday wishes to your dad.Cake looks awesome..I love the bright chocolatey colour..!!