The dates in this cake add sweetness without the need for much additional added sugar. You can double the glaze if you want a thicker topping.
Servings: 12servings
Author: Mary Gillespie
Ingredients
Cake:
1cup/ 250 ml oatmeal
1/4cup/ 60 ml vegetable oil
1/4cup/ 60 ml brown sugar
1/2teaspoon/ 2.5 ml salt
1-1/2cups/ 375 ml boiling water
1cup/ 250 ml whole wheat flour
1teaspoon/ 15 ml baking soda
1teaspoon/ 15 ml baking powder
1teaspoon/ 15 ml cinnamon
1cup/ 250 ml chopped dates
Glaze:
1/4cup/ 60 ml chopped dates
2tablespoons/ 30 ml cocoa
1teaspoon/ 5 ml instant coffee granules
1/2cup/ 125 ml boiling water
Instructions
Cake:
Lightly grease an 8x8-inch baking pan.
Put oatmeal, oil, brown sugar and salt in mixing bowl. Pour boiling water over and let sit until the mixture has cooled.
While the oatmeal is cooling, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F / 176 degrees C.
Stir flour and chopped dates into cooled oatmeal mixture. Spoon into baking pan and smooth top.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cake is lightly browned and tests clean when a toothpick is inserted in the center.
Remove from oven and place pan on a cooling rack. Let cake cool completely, then spread Mocha Glaze over.
Mocha Glaze:
Mix dates, cocoa and coffee granules in small bowl. Pour boiling water over and stir thoroughly. Let sit until the mixture has cooled and the dates are soft.
Mash dates with the back of a spoon. (If you want a very smooth texture you can process the glaze in a food processor.)
Place mixture in a small pan and heat over medium-low heat until the glaze thickens. This should take about 5 minutes. Stir frequently to keep the glaze from sticking.
Remove from heat and let cool. Spread cooled glaze over cake.
Recipe Notes
Try adding 2 teaspoons / 10 ml of grated orange rind to the cake. Stir it in with the flour and dates when they are added to the oatmeal mixture.