We are not a dessert orientated family, but obviously a Christmas table must provide a suitable dessert, no matter how much food has gone prior to it being served!

I made a cake similar to this last year for the family, selecting dates as the key ingredient because Sticky Date Pudding is Mr Fresh’s favorite dessert.  The kids adore Maple Syrup. They eagerly anticipate Sundays as Maple Syrup tops the pancakes that Mr Fresh cooks for them every Sunday morning for breakfast. 

Combine the Maple Syrup and dates and you have a fuss-free cake that is moist, sweet, but not too sweet and simple to make. Mix and bake – easy.  You will require a pudding basin with a lid to bake it.

It may work in a cake mold covered with a plate or foil however, this is untested.  I do not recommend using Christmas Day to test it! Buy or borrow a covered pudding basin and you will be ok, they are less than $20 and I use my across the year for numerous puddings and also just when I need a deep bowl.

Date Christmas Cake

 

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Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

1 hour 30 mins

Total time

1 hour 50 mins

 

A Christmas Cake for your family to enjoy. Dates provide a lovely sweetness and velvety soft flavor to this cake that is lifted by fresh orange and sweetness of the cranberries. Serve simply with maple syrup.

Author: Kyrstie Barcak - A Fresh Legacy

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1 and ½ cups of dried dates – pitted and chopped into pieces
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 teaspoon bi-carb. soda
• 120 grams butter – softened
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 100 grams dried cranberries
• 80 grams pistachios – ground
• 1 orange - zest and juice
• 2 cups self raising flour

To serve

• 50 ml maple syrup
• Cream or ice-cream

Instructions

1. Place the chopped dates and bi carb in a bowl and cover with the boiling water. Set aside to sit while preparing the cake
2. Beat the butter, coconut oil, and sugar until creamy and well combined.
3. Heat the oven to 160 degrees
4. Add one egg at a time and continue beating to incorporate
5. Remove the dates from the water with a slotted spoon. Discard the water
6. Fold the dates and remaining ingredients into the butter mixture
7. Heavily grease the pudding dish with oil or butter
8. Spoon the mixture in to the dish and cover with the lid
9. Bake in the oven for 1 hour 30 minutes
10. Test readiness with a butter knife. The knife should be removed with no residue when the cake is cooked
11. Remove the lid and allow the cake to sit in the tin for approximately 10 minutes
12. Place a plate on top of the dish and tip upside down to remove
13. Serve with cream or ice cream and drizzled with maple syrup

Notes

Required equipment
Pudding bowl with a lid – eg a baking bowl with a lid. My pudding bowl does not show the capacity/size. When it is empty I can fill it with 1.5 liters of water.
You may wish to insert a flexible silicone spatula around the inside edges to help free the cake.

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Are you concerned about being organised and having everything come together in the kitchen on the day? Getting everything done and remembering all items?  

You may wish to grab a copy of my free Easy Entertaining Planner. It will assist you to plan and schedule everything in the correct order, taking the guess work out of timing everything to ensure that a hot (or cold) meal is on the table at the desired time.

Keep the kids occupied with this idea for decorating the Christmas table while you are preparing. 

What ever is happening at your place on Christmas Day I hope that it is wonderful and that your day is filled with happiness, love and good food. 

Are you hosting a Christmas gathering? Have you decided on your Christmas menu ?