DATE, BANANA & RUM LOAF

Date, banana & rum loaf image

A tasty cake with no added fat or sugar - try it to believe it. Plus it's easily made gluten-free

Provided by Jane Hornby

Categories Afternoon tea, Dessert, Supper, Treat

Time 1h15m

Yield Cuts into 10 slices

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

250g pack stoned, ready-to-eat dates
2 small or 1 large banana (140g/5oz in weight)
100g pecans , 85g/3oz roughly chopped, rest left whole
200g raisins
200g sultanas
100g fine polenta
2 tsp mixed spice
2 tsp baking powder (use gluten-free if needed)
3 tbsp dark rum
2 egg whites
a few banana chips and 1 tsp sugar (optional), to decorate

Steps:

Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line a 900g/2lb loaf tin with non-stick baking paper, using a little oil to make it stick. Put the dates into a small pan with 200ml boiling water and simmer for 5 mins. Drain the liquid into a jug, then put the dates into a food processor. Add the bananas and 100ml of the date liquid and whizz until smooth. Mix the nuts, dried fruit, polenta, spice and baking powder in a bowl, then add the date purée and rum, and stir until combined.
Whisk the egg whites to soft peaks and fold into the cake mix. Tip into the tin (it will be quite full), then top with the remaining pecans and the banana chips and sugar, if using. Bake for 1 hr until golden and crusty and a skewer comes out clean. Cool completely before cutting into slices.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 310 calories, Fat 8 grams fat, SaturatedFat 1 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 57 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 49 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 5 grams protein, Sodium 0.39 milligram of sodium