Date Chocolate Chip Cake

Plump Sweet Dates are Amazing

I’m talking about Mother Nature’s sweet dates not a night out with that special someone.  Moist, plump chopped dates added to this made from scratch cake batter make it out of this world good!   A little cocoa in the cake gives it a unique mocha color and the combo of nuts, sugar and chocolate chips on top make it irresistible.

As I have been slowly getting back into the swing of cooking, baking and blogging, I realized that it has been awhile since I posted a recipe from the ol’ Grennan family cookbook.  I went looking for something inspiring but also easy. I quickly found  Aunt Susie’s Date Chocolate Chip Cake and made my decision.

I decided on her cake recipe for a couple of very good reasons and then an eery coincidence came to light.  My reasons were based on the fact that Aunt Susie’s cake consists of 2 of the greatest inventions on the planet, 1)cake 2)chocolate chips  and 1 of Mother Nature’s finest delicacies: Dates

Aunt Susie’s Date Chocolate Chip Cake is Amazing too

The eery coincidence came to light on the day I made Aunt Susie’s cake as a test run.  I was eating a piece and love love loving the cake while reading Facebook posts and realized that that day was the 20th anniversary of her passing to the heavenly realm.  Thanks for the inspiration from above Aunt Susie!

Things you will need to bake Aunt Susie’s Date Chocolate Chip cake may seem obvious but here is the basic list

• DATES    High in fiber and naturally fat free. 
• PECANS   Great source of protein and  high in fiber 
• CHOCOLATE CHIPS    Taste yummy

If you do not have a package of deliciously sweet chewy dates in your snack cupboard, you need to go buy yourself a bag.  I am really not kidding. I buy the whole pitted dates because they are more satisfying and enjoyable to eat than a handful of chopped up bits. The whole dried date is softer than the chopped dried dates usually but either will work in this cake.

Dates are high in dietary fiber so help with digestive issues and  have as much potassium as a small banana.  They are a great energy rich snack so grab a handful when you need a boost in the afternoon.  Commonly used in baking as a natural sweetener but also used in cooking.

The whole pitted date can be a little sticky so beware but in my opinion the stickiness makes them seem all the more sinful. When I snack on one of these I imagine I am eating a candy bar  (a small one) and then when I finish, I go ahead and eat another one because it is not a candy bar.   It is really ok to eat a handful of them!

 

I should rephrase that to say, it is ok to eat a handful unless you are diabetic.  There is a lot of sugar in dates just like any dried fruit so moderation is important.   For the most part dates are a healthful snack loaded with vitamins minerals and fiber.

Any Nut Will Do

My version of this cake has chopped pecans but any other nut will do.   Almonds, walnuts even hazelnuts.  Whichever nut strikes your fancy or that is already sitting there in your cupboard.  Nuts are rich in nutrients and great healthy snack as well, although they are high in fat content so go easy on them.   In this recipe pecans add a hint of buttery sweetness to an overall not so sweet cake.

My Aunt Susie was great with her hands.  She was a skilled beautician,  and a very talented baker and cook. She gifted beautifully ornate wedding cakes to all her nieces and nephews as wedding presents.  Coming from an Irish Catholic family she was very busy making those cakes.

She was really great at a lot of things but what she is missed for most is being Mom, sister Susie and Aunt Susie.  She is no longer with us but those that love her see her face everyday and know she is close by when that butterfly swoops in and lands.   I look forward to sharing more of her sweet treats in future posts.  Psst , she has a whole section in the cookbook!

 

Aunt Susie knew what she was doing with this recipe and I can’t wait for you to bake it and leave me your comment.

Go buy yourself a bag of whole pitted dates and your favorite nuts and when you get home whip up this healthy tasting cake for the family.  It is the perfect ending to your next family meal.