Sri Lankan Dates Cake

This is a Sri Lankan style dates cake recipe I always love to make for tea time. This dates cake is made of luscious dates and is moist, soft and so easy to make that you can whip it up and bake! 

(Tray size 9 x 9 x 3 inch pan)

Ingredients

250g salted butter (softened) 

250g white sugar

5 eggs 

250g flour 
400g dates 

2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda 

2 tbsp fresh milk 

1/4 cup tea (1 tbsp tea leaves plus 1/4 cup boiling water)

Cashew nuts for garnishing (optional)

Directions

Note: All ingredients must be in room temperature.

1. Finely chop the dates and soak them in hot tea and baking soda for about 5 hours. (I usually do this the night before making the cake)
2. Preheat your oven to 160 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. (the oven should be hot when you put the cake)
3. Sift flour+baking powder together twice. 
4. Beat softned butter and sugar well until creamy. The batter should not be grainy. Make sure to scrape the bowl while beating. 
5. Add one egg at a time and beat well until creamy.
6. Now add the soaked dates to the egg mixture and beat in the lowest speed for 30 seconds.
7. Then add the sifted flour and beat in the lowest speed for 30 seconds. 
8. Finally add the milk and mix it with the cake batter. Mix well or fold with a spatula until combined. 
9. Pour the batter to a lined baking pan and bake for 1 hour under 160 degree Celsius. Place the cake in the middle rack.
10. Prick a clean toothpick and see if the cake is baked. Every oven is different. Sometimes it may take longer to bake. Once the cake is baked let it cool completely and then cut pieces using a sharp knife and serve. Enjoy!