Description
Moist, nutty, and naturally sweet, this Healthy Date and Walnut Cake is a nourishing twist on a classic. Made with fiber-rich oats, creamy tahini, and soft dates, it’s a dessert that doubles as a wholesome breakfast or satisfying snack. No refined sugar here just comforting flavor, heart-healthy ingredients, and a decadent drizzle of date tahini on top. Perfect for any time of day and sure to become a staple in your healthy baking rotation.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 220g soft dates (Medjool or any soft variety)
- 320ml milk (dairy or plant-based)
- 4 tbsp tahini
- 4 tbsp neutral oil (such as canola or sunflower)
- 150g oat flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- 40g walnuts, roughly chopped
For the Date Tahini Drizzle:
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 1 tsp date syrup
Instructions
- Preheat Oven:
Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) / 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch (20x20cm) square cake tin with parchment paper. - Soften the Dates:
Heat the milk in a saucepan until it starts to bubble, then remove from heat. Add dates to the warm milk and let soak for 30 minutes. - Blend the Date Mixture:
Once softened, blend the dates and milk together in a blender or food processor until smooth. - Combine Wet Ingredients:
In a mixing bowl, stir together the date paste, tahini, and neutral oil until well mixed. - Add Dry Ingredients:
Stir in the oat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt to create a thick, smooth batter. - Assemble the Cake:
Pour the batter into the prepared cake tin and spread evenly. Sprinkle the chopped walnuts on top. - Bake:
Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. - Cool:
Let the cake cool completely in the tin before removing and slicing. - Drizzle:
Mix the tahini and date syrup together and drizzle over the cooled cake just before serving.
Notes
- For extra texture, try adding pecans or almonds in place of walnuts.
- Make it gluten-free by using certified GF oat flour.
- This cake stores well for 3 days at room temperature or up to 3 months frozen.
- Love wholesome baking? Try this Chocolate Zucchini Bread for another fiber-rich delight!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40–45 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Healthy, Middle Eastern-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: ~183 kcal
- Sugar: ~13g
- Sodium: ~130mg
- Fat: ~10g
- Saturated Fat: ~1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: ~20g
- Fiber: ~3g
- Protein: ~4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: healthy date and walnut cake, vegan walnut cake, refined sugar free dessert, oat flour cake, tahini cake, wholesome dessert, naturally sweetened cake, healthy baking