Wicklewoods Spicy Gluten Free Walnut And Date Cake Food

FLOURLESS WALNUT-DATE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat the bottom and sides of a 9-inch-round cake pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper. Put the walnuts, cinnamon and 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor; pulse until finely ground but not powdery. Whisk the egg yolks, orange zest and vanilla, if using, in a small bowl.
• Beat the egg whites and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until foamy. Beat in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until soft peaks form, about 8 minutes. Fold in the yolk mixture and dates, then fold in the ground walnut mixture. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the cake is golden and a toothpick comes out clean, 23 to 25 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a rack, then run a knife along the sides and invert the cake onto a platter.
• Make the glaze: Put the chocolate, margarine and honey in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap and microwave until the margarine melts, about 2 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Cool slightly, then pour over the cake. Top with walnuts.

WICKLEWOOD'S SPICY GLUTEN FREE WALNUT AND DATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180.
• Grease and lightly flour a 1lb loaf tin.
• Cut a length of greaseproof paper half the width of the loaf tin and twice the length, line the tin lengthways ensuring it overlaps at the ends.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth, slowly add the beaten egg.
• Heat the milk in a saucepan, add the oil, syrup and treacle until melted, and then beat into the butter mixture, along with the 1 ½ oz chopped walnuts.
• Sift in the flour, baking powder and spices and mix well.
• In a pan, heat the dates, water, lemon zest and juice until boiling, reduce heat and simmer until soft.
• Remove from heat and puree with a blender until smooth.
• Place half of the cake mix in the bottom of the loaf tin, ensuring not to remove the lining paper, level with a palette knife.
• Spread the date puree over the cake mix, almost to the edges of the tin.
• Cover with the remaining cake mix.
• Bake for 25 mins, don't remove from tin.
• Mix all the topping ingredients together and sprinkle over the cooked cake, return to the oven and bake for a further 15-20 minutes.
• Leave to cool for 10 mins before using the overlapping greaseproof paper to remove the cake from tin and transferring to a cooling rack.

DATE & WALNUT LOAF

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter a 2lb loaf tin (ours was 22 x 10cm and 6cm deep) and line with baking parchment. Put the butter, dates and bicarbonate of soda (which helps break down the dates) in a large bowl and add 150ml boiling water. Give it a stir so the butter melts, and leave to stand for around 20 mins until the dates have softened.
• Whisk in the sugar until smooth, then gradually whisk in the eggs until combined. Beat in the baking powder, flour and a pinch of sea salt until there are no lumps of flour left and it's smooth. Fold in three-quarters of the walnuts, then pour into the prepared tin. Sprinkle the remaining walnuts over the top.
• Bake for 20 mins, then turn the oven down to 170C/150C fan/gas 3 and cook for another 45-50 mins until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 15 mins, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Lightly dust with the icing sugar and serve in slices. Freeze whole or cut into slices, then place in an airtight container or divide between reusable freezer bags. Can be frozen for up to three months. Defrost thoroughly overnight.