Desserts Recipes - Chocolate Date Cake Recipe

Ingredients

Serves 10

• 50g/2oz butter (plus extra for greasing)

• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder

• 50ml/2fl oz hot water

• 350g/12oz self-raising flour

• Pinch of salt

• 175g/6oz caster sugar

• 1 egg (beaten)

• 125ml/4fl oz milk

• 225g/8oz dates (chopped)

• 100g/4oz walnuts (chopped)

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Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4. Grease a 27.5 x 18cm/11 x 7in cake tin.

2. In a medium-sized bowl, stir the cocoa powder into the hot water and mix until smooth.

3. Add the butter and place the bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir until the butter melts.

4. Sift the flour and salt into a basin. Mix in the sugar. Add the cocoa mixture, beaten egg and milk and beat well with a wooden spoon until smooth and well mixed. Then stir in the dates.

5. Place in a greased tin, sprinkle the walnuts on top and bake in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Turn out on to a wire rack to cool.