Chocolate, date and coffee cake
, Updated Apr 29, 2019
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This simple chocolate, date and coffee cake with chocolate glaze will satisfy all your chocolate/coffee cravings!
I have had a major craving for chocolate lately. I mean, there’s never a time I am not happy to eat chocolate, but I can go for ages without craving it. And then, suddenly, it’s all I can think about. I guess these times usually coincide with periods of stress and sleeplessness when chocolate and coffee can help keep you going when all you really want to do is collapse in bed. Funnily enough, I used to be pretty bad about going to sleep – all the worries that had been niggling me during the day, but kept at bay through sheer busyness, would surface just as I was about to drop to sleep. These days I fall asleep without much trouble – an upside to owning a dog. Not only does he drag me out of bed a lot earlier than I was used to, he also keeps me a lot more active and therefore a lot more tired.
This cake here combines chocolate and cold brew coffee and adds dates for sweetness and moisture. It is not unlike my sticky toffee puddings except with added chocolate which can only be a good thing! I would term it an ‘everyday’ cake – it is easy enough to throw together, tastes great and keeps really well. A great standby for when you need a hit of something sweet with your cup of coffee or for when people drop by. The cocoa nibs add a really lovely crunch and do double duty as simple decorations too. But if you can’t find any, a little grated chocolate would work well.
Photographing food has become very complicated with a puppy around – and photographing chocolate which is toxic to dogs was definitely a dangerous sport! But it has put a stop to me taking dozens of photos of the same dish – sometimes less is more, especially if your props start disappearing only to be paraded gleefully around the house by a proud naughty pup. Brutus has even gnawed on the tripod to show me his displeasure at not paying attention to him 100% of the time which, clearly, is my job. Fingers crossed the puppy crazies settle down soon!
Chocolate, date and coffee cake
An easy cake to satisfy your chocolate and coffee cravings. Serve with a cup of strong coffee.
Ingredients
- <b>For the cake</b>
- 300 ml | 10fl oz water
- 200 g | 7oz pitted dates chopped small
- 150 g | 5.3oz plain all purpose flour
- 150 g | 5.3oz caster sugar
- 60 g | 2oz unsalted butter
- 125 g | 4oz ground almonds
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp cold brew coffee or 1 tbsp espresso granules
- ½ tsp vanilla paste
- pinch salt
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- <b>Chocolate glaze</b>
- 150 g | 5.3oz plain dark chocolate, chopped small
- 100 ml | 3.3oz double cream
- 1 tbsp golden syrup
- cocoa nibs or edible flowers to decorate optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C (350F) and grease a springform cake tin with butter. Line the bottom with paper, grease and dust with flour. Shake out any excess.
- Put the water, coffee and dates in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Take off the heat, transfer to a food processor and pulse until smooth. Stir in the bicarbonate of soda – the mixture will froth up a little.
- Beat the butter and sugar with a stand or hand mixer until pale. Add the eggs, one at a time, and whisk to combine. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed.
- Sift in the flour, baking soda and salt and then add the date mixture. Fold everything together until batter is smooth.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared cake tin and level. Bake for 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes before carefully removing from the tin.
- Stir all the ingredients for the glaze in a small pan over low heat until smooth and glossy and pour over the cake letting it drip down the sides.
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- Recipe adopted from Indulgent Cakes.
Hi, can I just use cold espresso coffee instead of the cold brew/espresso granules? It looks yum!
Thanks
Yes I am sure that would be fine 🙂
Thanks
I just came across this recipe and am in the middle of making it! However, you don’t have any chocolate or cocoa listed in the cake ingredients; only chocolate is listed for the glaze. I’m going to experiment with cocoa, but I’m looking forward to hearing back from you about the amount that you used. Thanks!
Hi Tricia – there’s no chocolate in the cake batter, the colour comes from the dates. The glaze provides the chocolate hit!
Well this looks yummy or is it an understatement? i hope not. But thanks for posting the recipe, (That's too generous of you). My girlfriend is learning pastry and cooking and the downside to it is that she bakes all night because she works in the morning and that means less sleep for me too. Surely, since i love coffee, i'm gonna have her make this for me.
This looks amazing! Will definitely give this one a try 🙂
I clearly need Ringo to pester me more when I'm taking photos – I always end up with far too many then get annoyed with myself when it comes to sorting through them…. The cake looks delicious, I could do with a slice with my coffee right now 🙂 x
This is such a beautiful cake Lucy. I have just found a new love of cocoa nibs too! I know what you mean about puppies acting as photography assistants too! I used to photograph things on a low table – but that's out of bounds now as Dylan runs off with anything you want to use as a prop.
From the moment I saw your photos, I gained too a sudden craving for chocolate cake! Ι am glad Ι'm not the only one who get this thing with chocolate! Besides, how can anyone resist to this chocolate cake.
When you try to work with a puppy next to you is certainly time consuming but so cute! Do not worry it does not last long, only one or one and a half year.
kisses
One and a half year! Dear me. Today Brutus is very poorly which makes me long for extra naughtiness
You've put two lots of plain flour in the main ingredients. Do we need to add both lots?
No – just the one. Well spotted – I have amended. I should know better than to post recipes late at night.