Date and Walnut Cake

Recently having discovered this cake i can really tell you one thing i absolutely love it!

I personally hate date just because growing up i hated the fact that it was really chewy and got stuck to my teeth especially the ones that had cavities. Not a nice feeling at all trust me :S

The other day i came across this cake at sainsbury's. 

So i had it with tea the next morning and not only did i not taste the dates at all, it had this wonderful crunch to it. I loved the walnuts on top. Ahh it was just heaven.

I decided to replicate it at home. Didn't exactly manage to but this is even better!

First, set your oven to Gas Mark 4/175C/350F 

So, Ingredients:

240g (1 1/2 cups) pitted dried dates, halved
310mls (1 1/4 cups) water
100g (1/2 cup) dark brown sugar
80g butter, cubed
Melted butter, for greasing
300g (2 cups) self-raising flour
1 1/2 tsp mixed spice
2 eggs, lightly whisked
1 x 100g pkt walnut pieces

Mix everything up and keep some walnuts to sprinkle on top. Then Bake em in the oven for 50-60 mins.

Arent they gorgeous?

Fennel Biscotti

Yeah you read it right! Dried Cake!
Love love love love these there a staple at our home
They smell lovely and taste amazing but very light and crunchy usually have
these with tea. Oh my what more can u ask for?

Hmm, the recipe?

Right lets get started,

Its has the same batter as a sponge cake just a bit heavier. This will turn out to be a bit dense.

Dry Ingredients:
675g   All-Purpose Flour
2 Tbs  Fennel Seeds
1 tsp   Baking Powder
375g   Icing Sugar
2 Tbs  Custard Sugar

Liquid Ingredients:
5 Large Eggs
1 Cup  Sunflower Oil
1 tsp    Vanilla Extract

Before doing  anything preheat the oven at Gas Mark 4/350F/176C Degrees

Then beat together the oil and sugar until creamy

Beat in one Egg at a time..

Nice and fluffy!

Then add the dry ingredients in batches:

Keep beating its going to feel very dry at first and you might think oh no its ruined
but keep beating and it will come together and look like this

I usually use a 9 Inch x 13 Inch pan lined with parchment paper. Then bake it for 40 - 45 mins until golden brown.

Once it looks like this, switch oven off and let it cool completely.

Then place on a cutting board and using a serrated knife cut into blocks
Place the blocks in a baking sheet and put em under the grill for another while until there golden on all sides.

And enjoy with a lovely cuppa tea!