Chocolate Date Cake

Step 1/9

Set oven to 170°C

Step 2/9

• 2 cups water (hot)
• 2 cups pitted dates
• 1 tsp baking soda

Boil the water. In a bowl, pour boiling water and 1 tsp baking soda over dates and set aside for one hour.

Step 3/9

• 1¾ cups flour
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda

In a separate bowl, sift flour, cocoa, 1 tsp baking soda, and salt

Step 4/9

• ½ cup butter
• ¼ cup honey

Using an electric mixer cream the butter and honey

Step 5/9

• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Scrape down sides and add eggs, one at a time. Once fully combined add in the vanilla extract

Step 6/9

Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients mixture

Step 7/9

• 1 cup chocolate chip (optional)

To add the dates, transfer to a blender and blend them till they turn into a paste. You can also use a handheld blender and blend them straight in the bowl - I don’t blend them the whole way, so it leaves some chunks in the bread. Fold in the date paste into the mixture and chocolate chips (if using)

Step 8/9

Pour into bread loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, check the cake around 50-55 minutes since ovens may vary. When checking the bread with a toothpick, keep in mind the batter is full of chocolate chips in case you get a lot of chocolate on the toothpick. Remove bread when the toothpick comes out clean.