A "Date" with a Cake!

Dates and Wheat Flour Cake

My love for quick cakes, thanks to the microwave, is on an upswing! And when instant blends with

healthy, it is literally like 'cherry on the cake'! I jumped at the option of a cake made using dates and wheat flour and the result was... poof... magical - both in terms of its fluffy, light texture and balanced sweetness thanks to the dates. Here's a quick scan on the recipe...

DATES CAKE

Prep Time: 4 hours | Cooking Time: 7 mins | Servings: 16-18 slices

Ingredients: 

1. Dates (seedless) - 20-25 nos
2. Wheat flour - 1½ cup (approx 175 gm)
3. Milk - 1½ cup
4. Sugar - 1 cup (approx 200 gm)
5. Vegetable Oil - 3 tablespoons
6. Baking Soda - 1 teaspoon
7. Liquid Soda - ¾ cup

Preparation:

1. Soak the de-seeded dates in 1 cup of warm milk for an hour
2. Grind the soaked dates and sugar. Add oil and baking soda to this mixture. Add wheat flour little by little and whisk to ensure there are no lumps in this mixture. Add half cup of milk and mix well. Let this batter stand for 3 hours
3. Just before you add the mixture to a greased, microwave safe cooking bowl, add the liquid soda and whisk well.
4. Pour this into the baking container and microwave (without lid) for 7:30 mins.
5. Insert a knife/ fork to check is the cake is baked through and through
6. Slice it once cooled

Notes & Tips:

• This cake can be made using Maida (all purpose flour) as well - for this you do not need to let the batter stand for 3 hours. Once the dates and soaked for an hour, just add the maida to the mixture (dates + sugar) along with oil and baking soda. Add liquid soda and microwave immediately
• Always mix the batter in one direction 
• Always add the liquid soda just before you pour the batter and microwave