Description
A rich and flavorful cake made with blackstrap molasses and dates, topped with a refreshing orange glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup blackstrap molasses
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup pitted dates, chopped
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice (for glaze)
- Zest of 1 orange (for glaze)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Mix in the blackstrap molasses until well combined. Then, add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, pour the boiling water over the chopped dates and let them sit for about 10 minutes to soften. If using, add the chopped nuts to the date mixture.
- After the dates have softened, fold them (and the nuts, if using) into the cake batter until evenly distributed.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, fresh orange juice, and orange zest until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more juice or sugar if necessary.
- Once the cake is completely cool, drizzle the orange glaze over the top, allowing it to drip down the sides.
- Slice the cake and serve it on a white plate. Enjoy the rich flavors of the blackstrap molasses combined with the sweet dates and the refreshing orange glaze.
Notes
- For added flavor, soak the dates in warm water or orange juice for a few minutes before adding them to the batter.
- This cake pairs wonderfully with a cup of tea or coffee.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Blackstrap Molasses Date Cake, Orange Glaze, Dessert, Cake, Baking