Dates Cake/Bolo di Dadel

Information

Dates cake is a delicious and moist cake that is popular on the islands of Curacao and the Caribbean.

Ingredients

• 500 g wheat flour
• 400 g butter
• 300 g brown sugar
• 300 g pitted and chopped dates
• 100 ml milk
• 8 eggs
• 1 capful vanilla essence
• 150 g walnuts, chopped
• 8 g baking powder
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 50 ml brandy
• 50 ml dark rum
• 50 ml cherry liqueur
• Juice of 1/2 lime

Preparation

1. Grind the dates in a food processor and chop the walnuts into small pieces. Mix the brandy, dark rum, cherry liqueur, cinnamon, and lime juice together. Add the dates and walnuts and let them soak in the mixture overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 340°F (170°C). Grease a baking pan with butter.
3. Make sure the butter is at room temperature. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, followed by the milk.
4. Sift the wheat flour and baking powder together into a separate bowl. Gradually add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and mix until a smooth batter forms. Add the vanilla essence and mix well.
5. Once the batter is smooth and free of lumps, gently stir in the soaked dates and walnuts, including the remaining soaking liquid.
6. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
7. Bake for approximately 75 minutes, or until a knife or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
8. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool before removing it from the baking pan. Slice and serve. Enjoy!