No Ramadan iftar is complete in a Muslim household without dates. Sales of dates increase during Ramadan with Muslims buying dates for their families. The health benefits of dates are also multiple.
For more information on the health benefits of dates, please click here.
Date and Cardamom Moist Cake
Ingredients
7 cups all-purpose flour (you can use 3 1\2 cups whole wheat flour +3 1\2 cups all-purpose flour).
1 cup oil.
1 cup low fat milk or soy milk.
2 Tablespoons baking powder.
2 Tablespoons ground cardamom.
1\2 Tablespoon baking soda.
2 cups Date molasses.**
Walnuts Filling
Mix together and keep aside.
1 cup chopped walnuts.
1\4 cup raw sugar.
4 Tablespoons rosewater.
Pinch of ground cardamom.
Pinch Saffron.
Method
1)Mix Date molasses with milk and than mix it with oil.
2)Combine flour with cardamom, baking powder, and baking soda in large mixing bowl.
3) Mix step 1 and step 2 together and now you have the dough.
4) Divide the dough into 2 equal portions (use water or oil when you divide the dough)
5) Flatten dough into 22cm x 30cm pan, fill with walnuts filling, then but the second portion and flatten.
6) Bake at 350F for 30-33 minutes or until done.
7) Keep it in the pan and cool it for 2-3 hours.
** Date molasses is (thick syrup made from pressed dates used a lot in the Gulf area in cooking and baking especially in traditional dessert. You should be able to find it in Arabic specialty shops or health store.
Note: You can make your own cardamom powder, but pounding gently on the cardamom pod to crack it open. The cardamom powder is inside the pod. Making the cardamom powder this way when you need it ensures the fragrance of this spice stays fresh.
