Carrot and Dates Cake (Without butter) Recipe

I’m not a big fan of carrot cake. But this super moist cake changed my mind. The combo of carrot, dates, and nuts make it a heaven! It’s a quite healthy cake, and easy to bake too. Inspired by Dates cake at Navya bakers in my hometown, Aluva. Hope you will like it 🙂

Summary

(499 votes, average: 4.53 out of 5)

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Course dessert
Cuisine english
Yield 8 servings
Cooking Time 40 minutes
Preparation Time 30 minutes
Total Time 70 minutes

Ingredients

all purpose flour

1 cup

baking soda

3/4 teaspoon

salt

1 pinch

vegetable oil / canola oil

3/4 cup

Granulated Sugar

3/4 cup

egg

2 numbers

Pure Vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon

grated carrot

1 cup

chopped dates

1 cup

chopped cashew nut / walnut

1/2 cup

Caramel

Granulated Sugar

1/2 cup

hot water

1/4 cup

Dusting

Confectioner's Sugar

Steps

Prepare caramel - Heat sugar in a dry pan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Swirl the pan often to avoid sugar clumps and get the sugar caramelized equally on all portions. Make the Caramel dark and on the bitter side. The bitterness of the Caramel complements this cake really well.
Add hot water to the caramel. It will bubble up and be careful. Switch off the heat as soon as the caramel dissolves. Keep aside till it is cooled thoroughly.
Preheat the oven to 350F or 180C. Grease a 8 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 2 1/2-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper. You can also use a 8 inch round pan.
Toast nuts - Spread cashew nut/walnut on a cookie tray/sheet pan in a single layer and toast them in a 350F oven for about 10 minutes. Shake the pan occasionally during this time to make sure the nuts toast evenly. Don't miss this step. Otherwise, you feel a bit raw taste of nuts in the cake.
Prepare Cake batter - Sift together the dry ingredients - flour, baking soda and salt into one bowl.
In another bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar.
Add the oil and beat well, making sure it's all incorporated.
Make sure the prepared caramel is cooled. Then, add the caramel and Vanilla Essence. Mix well.
Add the dry ingredients (flour mixture) and mix slowly and gently until just combined. Do not overbeat.
Grate carrots. Pit and chop dates into tiny pieces. Split up the toasted cashew nut/walnut kernels if they are too big. Add a tablespoon of Flour into the Carrots, Dates, and Nuts and mix slightly. It will prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the pan (especially dates and nuts) and will aid to separate the Date pieces.
Fold this into the batter. Mix well using a spatula.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for around 40 - 45 minutes, or until a cake tester placed in the center of the loaf comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool down completely. Dust the cake with confectioners sugar. Enjoy:)

Carrot and Dates Cake (Without butter)

21 Comments

nandita Love this cake and the long cake tin! Makes the perfect slices. Sadly you only get the bread loaf tins here :'( Will give this a shot soon!

1 year ago
Jane Jojo Thanks Nandita :) I think it should be available in Blore. Check out JAMAL in Forum Value Mall and also IBCA's outlet.

1 year ago
nandita I haunt Jamal's no luck so far :D

1 year ago
indugetscooking Love the pics. The step by step recipe makes it so easy to follow!

1 year ago
Jane Jojo Thanks Indu :)

1 year ago
Titli Maitra Looks so yummy... want to make it but wondering if the eggs can be substituted and with what? Thanks! :)

1 year ago
Jane Jojo Titli, Sorry about that. I haven't checked whether eggs can be substituted. I will let you know, once I find it out.

1 year ago
Esmeralda Acosta Mollineau Wow, this looks delicious yummy am making this cake and am saving the recipe in my o Pinterest!!

1 year ago
Jane Jojo Thanks Esmeralda. Let me know how it turns out for you :)

1 year ago
roshan Cake is really good.i made exactly.to ur recipe. But sinks in middle.i bake a lot..but tastes really good. Can u help me.

8 months ago
tintumerin Really yummy cake.thank you for the recipe

7 months ago
Jane Jojo Thanks Tintu!

7 months ago
Jis I am so happy to see this recipe as i love this cake from Aluva. We get it here in Bangalore during Christmas time and we will be waiting for this cake to come!! Thanks Jane. Though I am a newbie in baking, I would definitely try out this one out :-)

5 months ago
Jane Jojo This is an easy recipe, even a newbie can get it right! Try it out and let me know how it turns out :)

5 months ago
Jane Jojo Thanks for trying it out, Tania. Great to hear that it worked out for you :)

4 months ago
Jis Hi Jane, I tried this recipe yesterday and it was a 'blockbuster'. My family and friends loved it! Thanks for sharing this recipe.

3 months ago
Jane Jojo Thanks a lot for trying it out Jis!

3 months ago
Anee Hi! Just made this today. I tried out only a half batch, just a little cautiously. Tasted wonderful. Will definitely be making this again. Thanks for your recipe! :)

2 months ago
Jane Jojo Thanks Anee! Thanks for trying it out :) Happy to hear that it worked out for you.

2 months ago
Neha Saxena Hi. I am really fond of baking and I can't wait to try this one. What if I want to skip the caramel process?

1 month ago
Jane Jojo Hi Neha, I would suggest adding caramel. Caramel flavor complements the cake really well. I have always added it.

1 month ago
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