This uniquely spiced fruit-and-nut loaf cake earns its name from its unexpected combination of ingredients—dates, raisins, candied orange peel, and walnut pieces—blended into a moist batter steeped in boiling water. The soaking step enriches the fruit and melds flavors before folding into a cake batter that’s sweetened with brown sugar and spiced simply with vanilla. Often enjoyed with afternoon tea or as a cozy winter treat, it’s a charming twist on the classic nut bread or holiday loaf.
Ingredients
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1½ cup walnut pieces (or mixed nuts)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1¼ cups flour
- 1 cup chopped dates
- ¼ cup seedless raisins
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ¼ cup candied orange peel
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Step 1: Soak Fruits and Nuts
- In a bowl, mix chopped dates, raisins, candied orange peel, and walnuts.
- Pour 1 cup boiling water over the mixture.
- Stir in baking soda. Cover and let stand until cool.
Step 2: Prepare Wet Mixture
- In a separate bowl, beat 2 eggs with brown sugar and white sugar until well combined.
- Add melted butter and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
Step 3: Combine and Mix Batter
- Add the cooled fruit-nut mixture to the egg-sugar mixture.
- Gradually stir in flour until a thick batter forms.
Step 4: Bake the Cake
- Pour the batter into a greased small loaf pan.
- Bake at 350°F (moderate oven) for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Step 5: Cool and Serve
- Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool completely on wire rack.
- Slice and serve.
Tips
- Add ½ tsp cinnamon or nutmeg for a spiced version.
- Swap walnuts for pecans or almonds.
- Substitute chopped dried apricots or figs for dates.
- Serve with a smear of cream cheese or citrus glaze.
- Use muffin tins for mini-cakes (reduce baking time to ~25 min).
Nutrition
Calories: 131kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.01gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gTrans Fat: 0.003gSodium: 251mgPotassium: 63mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 0.3mg
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