Oatmeal Date and Walnut Cake

My mom made something like this when I was little.  After we would all go to school, she and the other moms on the street would exchange sewing tips and cookies or recipes.

This is quite close to one of them as I remembered and I still liked it so it was also served at the restaurant, with a dollop of cream.

Dates and walnuts are unassuming. 

Dates are a good source of fibre and essential minerals like copper, potassium, magnesium, calcium and iron.

They are high in antioxidants and are somewhat surprisingly, heart healthy.  

Medjool dates, the large dates usually found in the produce section, are more than just sweet.  They are rich in taste, as if caramelized and softer than the smaller Deglet Noor dates that are more often used for baking and are often sold in the baking section in a block. 

You can use them too.

Walnuts are also high in antioxidants and good for your heart.  They are a good source of magnesium, iron calcium and vitamin B6.

A walnut coincidentally resembles a brain and is good for your brain as it is a source of healthy fats and vitamin E.  

I think, when they are shelled, they resemble millennium falcons or space invaders.

This is a very unassuming cake.  It looks like a boring snack cake but it is rich and satisfying with soft dates, chewy oats and crunchy walnuts.

-And you have it with your coffee while you look at sewing patterns, -or pinterest.

How to Make Oatmeal Date and Walnut Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and flour, or line a 9”/23cm square baking pan.

2. In a large mixing bowl, put in oats and pour the boiling water over them.  Stir to make sure they get moistened.  Set aside.

3. Chop the dates.  Dates are sticky and not too easy to cut.  

I cut them in half and take out the seed.  I count the seeds and dates at the end to make sure I know where all the seeds are!

Then toss them in icing sugar. This makes the cutting a bit easier.  I put them back into the icing sugar as I cut, then I shake the excess off. 

4. Chop the walnuts. Much easier than the dates!

5. In a smaller bowl combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves.

6. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar, add the vanilla.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.

7. Combine the oats with the creamed mixture. Mix well, then mix in the dry ingredients.

8. Fold in the dates and nuts.

9. Bake about 45 mins.

Let cool before cutting or it will crumble.

Serve it with whipped cream if you would like.  Or no cream and a fruity wine, Pinot Noir, Oregon. It is also nice with cheese. Salty cheese like cheddar, or parmesan, ooh! And a fortified wine, maybe a Tawny Port.