How to Make Date Cake Recipe

I learned how to make date cake recipes in my early adult life. I have always loved these recipes or anything else made with dates. I have shared with you before about driving to Cincinnati as a kid with Mom and Dad and going to a bakery owned by close family friends (They could have been related).  Anyway they made wonderful baked goods using dates. The date bars were my first taste of this fabulous fruit. I was overwhelmed and never forgot that taste.


As a kid we never had dates in the house; I think they must have been too expensive. We usually had raisins so there had to be a reason Mom did not buy dates; we all loved those date bars. Now knowing a little about the history of dates and that they have been used for eating and cooking in the Middle East for thousands of years, it must have cost too much for preserving and shipping.

The first recipe is my favorite. It has been on my list of Christmas cake recipes for many years and it is delicious. As you are learning how to make this date cake recipe you may hear some refer to it as the Brazil nut cake; I still cake it date cake. It doesn’t matter what the name is, the Brazil nuts and dates go very well together. Then add the great flavor of Maraschino cherries; how delicious!


When adding to my holiday recipes, I always look for good fruit and nut recipes. I am always wanting to learn how to make date cake recipes and add new ones to my collection. These along with a variety of flavors and spices seem necessary for my holiday baking. (Maybe it is the aroma that I like.) Many people say they don’t like fruit cake recipes but there are so many completely different tastes and textures.

The Potica cake is another form of fruitcake or date cake recipe. It is totally different from what one here in the United States classify as “fruitcake”. It is very popular in Eastern Europe and is made with yeast dough. The date filling is rolled up in the dough jelly roll style producing a wonderfully flavored cake. 

I personally love most fruit cakes especially the date cake recipes. I usually make several at Christmas, cut them in small pieces and place them on my trays filled with a variety of cookies. They are firm and heavy and make a nice appearance on the trays. The various fruits and flavors help me to round off all the taste which I like to include in my holiday baking.

BRAZIL NUT CAKE RECIPE

  • ¾ Cup sifted flour
  • ¾ Cup sugar
  • ½ Teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ Teaspoon salt
  • 3 Cups Brazil nuts chopped
  • 1 Pound pitted dates
  • 1 Cup maraschino cherries drained
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 300F degrees; grease and line with wax paper a loaf pan 9X5X3 inches.
Combine nuts, dates and cherries in a large bowl.
Combine and sift over the fruit mixture the sifted flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; stir to coat fruit.
In another bowl beat eggs until foamy; add in vanilla.
Stir egg mixture into the fruit and nut mixture until blended; spread into prepared pan.
Bake 1 ½ to 2 hours; cool 10 minutes and remove from pan.
Cool completely; sprinkle with whiskey and then wrap in whiskey soaked cheesecloth.
Over cheesecloth wrap with aluminum foil and store in refrigerator for at least 2 weeks.

POTICA CAKE

how to make date cake recipeHow to Make Potica Cake Recipe
piece of potica cakePotica Cake Piece

The following date cake recipe is called a Potica cake. It is a traditional holiday cake for the Slovenian countries. Unlike most of our cake recipes it is made with yeast dough. It is made in layers but during the baking it all becomes one cake. And very delicious!

  • 1 Cup butter
  • ½ Cup milk
  • 2 Packages dry yeast
  • ¼ Cup lukewarm water
  • 2 ½ Cups flour
  • ¼ Teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar
  • 3 Egg yolks beaten

Heat butter and milk until butter melts.

Mix yeast in lukewarm water

Sift flour, sugar and salt together.

Stir the beaten egg yolks into the milk mixture; add to the flour mixture.

Add the yeast mixture to the milk and flour mixture; beat well and refrigerate overnight. (Dough is very sticky)


Make filling

  • ½ Cup ground nuts
  • ½ Cup chopped dates
  • 3 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ Cup milk
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 Cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Combine dates, nuts, cinnamon, 3 tablespoons sugar and milk over heat stirring to a paste; cool.

Beat egg whites until stiff gradually beating in 1 cup sugar; fold in the cooled paste.

Roll out ½ of refrigerated dough into 20 inch square; spread ½ of filling over dough.

Roll dough up like a jelly roll and place into greased tube or bundt cake pan.

Repeat same with remaining ½ dough and filling; place over other roll in pan.

Bake 65 minutes; sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar.

Nut Filling for Potica CakeNut Filling for Potica Cake
Dough Ready for Potica CakeDough Ready for Potica Cake
Bundt Pan used for Potica CakeBundt Pan used for Potica Cake
Dough Ready for FillingDough Ready for Filling
Spreading Nut FillingSpreading Nut Filling
Rolling Up Potica DoughRolling Up Potica Dough
First Roll in Bundt PanFirst Roll in Bundt Pan
Second Roll in Bundt PanSecond Roll in Bundt Pan

HOW TO MAKE DATE CAKE RECIPE

  • 1 Cup chopped dates
  • 1 Cup boiling water
  • ½ Cup solid shortening
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 2/3 Cups cake flour
  • ¼ Teaspoon salt
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ Cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350F degrees; grease, line with wax paper and flour an 8 inch square pan.
Cover the dates with the boiling water; cool to lukewarm.
Cream together shortening and sugar thoroughly; add egg and vanilla and beat well.
Add the date mixture to the creamed mixture.
Sift together flour, salt and baking soda; add to the date and creamed mixture.
Stir in nuts; spoon batter into prepared pan.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until pick comes out clean.
Remove cake from pan and cool completely; wrap tightly in plastic wrap.

ORANGE SLICE DATE CAKE RECIPE

  • 1 Cup softened butter
  • 2 Cups sugar
  • 4 Eggs (Beaten)
  • 2 Teaspoons grated orange peel
  • 1 Cup buttermilk
  • 3 ½ Cups flour
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 Package (8 Ounces) finely chopped dates
  • 1 Pound orange slice candy (Finely chopped pieces)
  • 1 Can flaked coconut
  • 1 Cup chopped pecans 
  • 8 Ounces candied red cherries

Glaze

  • 1 ½ Cups powdered sugar
  • ½ Cup orange juice
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh grated orange peel

Preheat oven to 300F degrees; grease and flour large tube cake pan.

Cream butter and sugar; beat in eggs, orange peel and buttermilk.

Add the flour and baking soda mixing well.

Fold in the dates, orange slice candy, coconut, pecans and cherries.

Stir mixture until well blended; spoon into prepared pan.

Bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes TO 2 hours; test with pick for doneness.

DATE CAKE RECIPE IN A ROLL

  • 1 Cup pitted dates (Snipped)
  • 1 Cup water
  • ¼ Cup sugar
  • Pinch salt
  • 3 Eggs
  • ½ Cup sugar
  • 1 Cup flour
  • 1 Teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ Teaspoon allspice
  • ¾ Cup walnuts (Finely chopped)

Filling

  • 2 Packages (3 Ounces each) softened cream cheese
  • ¼ Cup softened butter
  • ½ Teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 Cup powdered sugar (Sift)

TO MAKE CAKE combine dates, water, ¼ CUP sugar and salt in saucepan.

Bring mixture to a boil; cook and stir over low heat until thick about 4 minutes.

Remove date mixture from heat and cool to room temperature.

PREHEAT OVEN TO 375F degrees; grease and flour 10X15 inch jelly roll pan.

Beat eggs in a large mixing bowl on high speed for 5 minutes.

Gradually beat in the ½ CUP sugar until thick and “lemony” color.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and allspice; fold into egg mixture.

Spread batter into prepared pan leveling the top; sprinkle nuts over the top.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes; turn out onto towel dusted with powdered sugar.

Starting at narrow end rollup cake and towel together; cool.

Unroll and spread with filling; reroll (Without towel) and chill.

TO MAKE FILLING beat together the cream cheese, butter and vanilla.

Add the powdered sugar; beat until smooth and creamy.

GINGER DATE CAKE RECIPE cooked in microwave

  • ½ Pound pitted dates
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ Cup boiling water
  • ½ Cup butter (Softened)
  • 2/3 Cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons molasses
  • 1 Tablespoon light corn syrup
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 Cups self rising flour
  • 2 Teaspoons ground ginger
  • 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar

Chop dates into a small bowl; sprinkle with baking soda.

Pour boiling water over mixture; let stand to cool.

Beat butter with sugar with mixer until light and fluffy.

Beat in the molasses and corn syrup; add eggs one at a time beating well.

Sift together the flour and ginger; add to creamed mixture.

Add the dates and liquid to mixture; stir until well blended

Line bottom of 9 inch round microwave bowl with parchment paper.

Pour batter into lined bowl; cook in microwave on high 8 ½ to 9 ½ minutes.

Cool cake in dish for 5 minutes; turn out to cool.

Sprinkle top with powdered sugar and serve; serves 8 to 12.

CHOCOLATE CHIP DATE CAKE RECIPE

  • 1 Cup hot water
  • 1 Package (8 Ounces) dates (Cut into pieces)
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 Cup softened butter
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 ¾ Cups flour
  • 2 Teaspoons cocoa powder
  • ¼ Teaspoon salt
  • 2 Teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 Package (6 Ounces) chocolate chips
  • 1/3 Cup chopped nuts
  • Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350F degrees; grease and flour 9X13 inch cake pan.

Pour hot water over the dates and soda; cool.

Cream butter and sugar together; add eggs blending thoroughly.

Sift flour, cocoa powder and salt together.

Add flour mixture and dates with liquid to creamed mixture.

Add vanilla and blend mixture thoroughly; pour into prepared pan.

Sprinkle top with chocolate chips and chopped nuts; bake 30 to 40 minutes.

Cool in pan; sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar.

CHERRY DATE CAKE RECIPE

  • 1 Cup flour
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • ½ Teaspoon salt
  • ½ Teaspoon baking powder
  • 3 Cups chopped dates
  • 1 Bottle (8 Ounces) maraschino cherries (Drain and reserve juice)
  • 1 Pound walnuts (Chopped)
  • 4 Eggs
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 325F degrees.

Line bottom of angel food cake pan with brown paper.

Grease paper and pan sides well; set aside.

Sift flour, sugar, salt and baking powder into large mixing bowl.

Add the dates, cherries and walnuts; mix well.

In another bowl beat together the eggs, vanilla and reserved cherry juice.

Pour egg mixture over the flour and fruit mixture; mix thoroughly.

Spoon batter into prepared pan; bake 1 ¾ to 2 hours.

Cool completely and remove from pan.

Best if you wrap with plastic wrap and let stand at least 1 day before slicing.

Serves 12 to 16.