Indulge in Warmth: Easy & Healthy Date, Apple, and Walnut Cake Recipe

As the days grow shorter and a crisp chill hints at the arrival of winter, there’s nothing quite as comforting as the aroma of a freshly baked cake wafting through your home. This year, the weather has been a whimsical dance, shifting between unseasonably warm days and sudden, cool breezes. Yet, regardless of the forecast, a slice of this delightful Date, Apple, and Walnut Cake is the perfect companion. Whether you enjoy it warm, straight from the oven, or cooled with a steaming cup of coffee or tea, it promises a moment of pure bliss.

This recipe brings together the natural sweetness of dates, the refreshing tartness of apples, and the satisfying crunch of walnuts in an effortlessly easy and incredibly healthy cake. It’s a testament to how simple ingredients can create something truly extraordinary, making it an ideal choice for both novice bakers and seasoned pros looking for a wholesome treat. This cake isn’t just a dessert; it’s a hug in a slice, embodying the warmth and comfort of home baking.

Why This Date, Apple & Walnut Cake Will Be Your New Favorite

There are countless reasons why this particular cake stands out. Firstly, its simplicity. You don’t need exotic ingredients or complicated techniques to achieve a moist, flavorful result. The preparation is straightforward, making it a fantastic recipe for busy weeknights or a relaxed weekend baking session. Secondly, the harmonious blend of its core ingredients creates a unique flavor profile that is both rich and refreshing. The dates melt into pockets of caramel-like sweetness, the apples provide a gentle moisture and a hint of fruity tang, while the walnuts add a nutty depth and a pleasing textural contrast.

Beyond its delicious taste, this Date, Apple, and Walnut Cake also boasts a wholesome appeal. It leverages natural sweeteners and nutrient-rich ingredients, making it a healthier alternative to many traditional cakes. It’s perfect for a satisfying breakfast, a nourishing afternoon snack, or a delightful dessert that won’t leave you feeling overly indulgent. The balance of flavors ensures it’s not overly sweet, allowing the natural goodness of each component to shine through.

The Wholesome Goodness of Dates, Apples & Walnuts

Each ingredient in this cake plays a crucial role, not just in flavor and texture, but also in nutritional value:

• Dates: These natural powerhouses are an excellent source of dietary fiber, potassium, and antioxidants. They provide a wonderful, deep sweetness that reduces the need for excessive added sugars, making the cake naturally more wholesome.
• Apples: Freshly grated apples contribute essential moisture to the cake, keeping it tender and preventing it from drying out. They are also rich in vitamin C and fiber, adding a subtle tartness that balances the sweetness of the dates.
• Walnuts: These brain-shaped nuts are packed with healthy fats, including Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and antioxidants. They provide a delightful crunch and a distinct nutty flavor that complements the fruit beautifully, elevating the cake’s overall complexity.

Together, these ingredients create a dessert that is not only incredibly satisfying but also offers genuine nutritional benefits, proving that healthy eating can indeed be utterly delicious.

Mastering Your Bake: Essential Tips for Success

Achieving the perfect Date, Apple, and Walnut Cake is simple when you follow a few key tips. These insights will help ensure your cake turns out moist, evenly baked, and easy to handle from start to finish, guaranteeing a delightful experience every time you bake.

Preparing Your Loaf Pan for a Smooth Release

One of the most common baking frustrations is a cake sticking to the pan. To prevent this, an essential trick is to line your loaf pan correctly. After buttering and flouring your pan, try laying a strip of baking paper (parchment paper) horizontally in the cake tin. Let the edges of the paper stick out just slightly over the sides of the pan. This ingenious method creates “handles,” making it incredibly easy to lift the baked cake cleanly out of the tin once it’s done and slightly cooled. It saves you from potential breakage and ensures a perfectly shaped loaf every time.

Knowing When Your Cake is Perfectly Baked

Over-baking can lead to a dry cake, while under-baking results in a gooey center. To accurately check if your Date, Apple, and Walnut Cake is perfectly done, insert a wooden skewer or a thin knife into the very center of the cake. If the skewer comes out clean, with no wet batter clinging to it, your cake is ready. If it still has wet crumbs, bake it for another 5-10 minutes and test again. This simple step ensures your cake achieves that ideal moist yet firm texture.

Optimal Oven Temperatures for the Best Results

Baking consistency often comes down to understanding your oven. This recipe typically calls for baking at 350°F (180°C) in a conventional oven. If you are using a convection oven (which has a fan that circulates hot air), it’s generally recommended to reduce the temperature by about 25-30°F (15-20°C). So, for a convection oven, you would bake this cake at around 320°F (160°C). This adjustment prevents the cake from baking too quickly on the outside while remaining raw in the center, ensuring an even bake throughout.

Customizing Your Cake: Substitutions and Enhancements

While the classic Date, Apple, and Walnut Cake is utterly delicious on its own, don’t hesitate to personalize it! Baking is all about creativity, and a few simple swaps or additions can tailor this recipe to your specific preferences or whatever ingredients you have on hand. Experimentation can lead to delightful new versions of this comforting classic.

Ingredient Swaps for Every Taste

• Flour Alternatives: If you prefer to use self-rising flour, you can easily substitute 1 cup (approximately 125 grams) of self-rising flour for the plain flour and baking powder combination. This simplifies the dry ingredients step without compromising texture.
• Nut Varieties: Not a fan of walnuts, or simply looking for a different flavor? Pecans make an excellent substitute, offering a similar crunch and buttery flavor that pairs beautifully with dates and apples. Almonds or even a mix of nuts could also work!
• Fruit Options: While apples are classic, this cake is equally delicious with finely grated or diced pear. Pears add a slightly different, often softer, sweetness and moisture, making for a subtle yet noticeable variation.

Elevate Your Cake with Extra Flavors and Toppings

• Winter Spice Boost: For an extra layer of cozy winter flavor, consider adding 2 teaspoons of gingerbread spices (or a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves) to your batter. This will infuse your cake with a warm, aromatic kick.
• Sweet Pairings: While fantastic on its own, a slice of this cake is truly elevated when served with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or even a drizzle of warm caramel sauce. These additions turn a simple cake into a decadent dessert.
• Simple Glaze: For a touch of elegance, whisk together powdered sugar with a little milk or lemon juice to create a simple glaze. Drizzle it over the cooled cake for an appealing finish and an extra touch of sweetness.

📖 The Ultimate Date, Apple & Walnut Cake Recipe

VIDEO

RECIPE CARD

Date, apple and walnut cake

Andréa

Date, apple and walnut combined in an easy and healthy cake. Serve it with a cup of tea or coffee when it comes out of the oven.

5 of 27 votes

Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Sweets and Sweet Baking

Cuisine Other

Servings 8 slices

Calories 328 kcal

Equipment

• Loaf pan 6 inches / 15 cm
• A conventional oven is used. When using a convection oven (with air fan) decrease the temperature with 30 °F / 20 °C

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 stick butter , unsalted, roomtemperature
• ▢ ½ cup dark brown sugar
• ▢ 2 eggs , size L
• ▢ 1 cup flour
• ▢ 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ 1 cup walnuts, peeled, chopped finely
• ▢ ⅓ cup dates, pit removed, chopped finely
• ▢ 1 apple, grated finely

All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.

Metric – US Customary

Instructions

• ▢
  Preheat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C).
• ▢
  Brush the cake tin with butter and dust with flour. Tap the excess flour out of the tin.
• ▢
  Add the sugar with butter in a bowl and mix until it’s fluffy.
  1 stick butter, ½ cup dark brown sugar
• ▢
  Add the eggs, one by one, and mix until the eggs are incorporated.
  2 eggs
• ▢
  Sieve the flour and baking powder above the batter and whisk the batter until the flour and baking powder are just mixed in.
  1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ▢
  Add the walnuts, dates and apples and use a spatula to whisk them through the batter.
  1 cup walnuts, ⅓ cup dates, 1 apple
• ▢
  Pour the batter in the cake tin and bake for 1 hour.
• ▢
  Prick a skewer in the middle of the cake and when it comes out dry the cake is done (otherwise bake for another 5 minutes and check again).
• ▢
  Leave the cake 5 minutes at room temperature in the tin and then take the loaf out of the tin and let it cool down on a rack.

Notes

1.- Baking tip

Place a strip of baking paper horizontally in the loaf tin, with the edges sticking out. The cake is then easier to release from the tin.

2. – Check if the cake is done

Check whether the cake is done by inserting a skewer into the center of the cake after the baking time. If it comes out dry, the cake is done.

3. – Oven temperature

Bake the cake for 70 minutes at 350 °F (180 °C) in a conventional oven. If you use a convectional oven, decrease the temperature to 320 °F (160 °C).

4. – Substitutes

• Use 1 cup of self-rising flour (125 grams) instead of flour and baking powder.
• Use pecans instead of walnuts.
• This cake is also delicious with pear instead of apple.

5. – Storage

• Room temperature – You can store this cake wrapped in plastic at room temperature for up to 2 days.
• Refrigerator – Do not store the cake in the refrigerator, because the moisture in the refrigerator will change the structure of the cake and make it less tasty.
• Freezer – The cake can be frozen by first wrapping it in aluminum foil and then in plastic wrap. It can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.

7.- Nutritional value
The nutritional value shown is per slice of cake.

Nutrition

Calories: 328kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 5gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 119mgFiber: 2gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 415IUVitamin C: 1mgIron: 1mg

Keyword a basic recipe for a pound cake

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!