CHOCOLATE DATE NUT LOAF CAKE

CHOCOLATE DATE NUT LOAF CAKE image

Yield 1 loaf

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 C dates, chopped (about 6 oz whole)
1 C strong coffee
zest of 1 large orange
1 t baking soda
5 oz (10 T) butter
1/2 C sugar
3/4 C dark brown sugar
1 egg @ room temperature
1 1/4 C flour
1/4 C cocoa powder
1/2 t salt
1/4 t cinnamon
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
2 T milk
2 T Amontillado sherry (optional)
1 t vanilla
3/4 C toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast the walnuts for just about 8 - 10 minutes. Prepare an 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" loaf pan with oil and a piece of parchment paper large enough to form an overhang along the length of the pan. Pit the dates and remove the stems. Chop into coarse pieces and place in a medium bowl. Cover the dates with 1 cup of strong coffee. Add the zest of 1 orange and the baking soda. Melt butter and beat in the sugars. Add the egg and beat until the mixture is emulsified. Add the date mixture and combine thoroughly. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Combine milk, liquor (if using) and vanilla. Alternate adding half the flour and all the milk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Once all the ingredients have been added, mix just a minute or so until everything is fully combined. Fold in the toasted walnuts. Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf pan. Bake the cake for about 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Cool the cake on a wire rack for about 30 minutes. Remove it from the pan, carefully peel off the parchment paper and cool the cake completely.