Warm with spices, this date & cranberry tea cake is baked with generous amounts of True Cinnamon & Nutmeg & then made luxuriant with caramelised cacao nibs to perfectly balance a sweet cake with its bitter(y) crunch!
Date & Cranberry Cake With Warm Spices
- 250 g Self-raising Flour150 g Sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
- 125 g Unsalted Butter
- 2 Eggs
- 3 Kandy ‘Heirloom’ Cinnamon quills - Add To Cart
- 1/2 Nutmeg
- 200 g Pitted Dates
- 50 g Cranberry
- 50 g Ashanti Cacao Nibs - Add To Cart
- 3-4 tbsp Extra Sugar for caramelising the cacao nibs
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- Soak the dates in 1.5 cups of hot water and a teaspoon of baking soda, then boil until the dates are soft and smooth. Set aside.
- Beat sugar & butter together, then gradually add the eggs and beat the wet ingredients well.
- Grate half a nutmeg. Break the cinnamon quills into small pieces and grind in a spice grinder. Add the ground spices to the flour and give it a mix with a spoon.
- Add the prepared dates and cranberries to the wet mixture & it mix well.
- Add the flour mixed with spices to the wet mixture & mix all ingredients.
- Grease a round cake pan, line base and sides with baking paper, then pour the mixture.
- Bake for 30-35 mins in a preheated oven at 170°C.
- Prepare for the caramelised cacao nibs in the meantime. Add sugar in a pan and keep stirring in medium heat until caramelised and golden brown in colour. Add the cacao nibs and stir until fully blended together.
- Allow the cake to cool. Then sprinkle the caramelised cacao nibs on top of the cake. Pour over some salted caramel on top as desired.
It is not only a perfect accompaniment to your afternoon tea, but also makes for a warm after dinner desert that can also be served hot with vanilla ice~cream, whipped cream or custard. Bon Appétit!
