Date Syrup and Date Cake with homemade date syrup (silan)

👨‍🍳 Method

For the homemade date syrup (silan) ✓ Homemade · or skip – back to store-bought

1. 1
   Put the dates and water in a pot and bring to a boil.

   StovePot
2. 2
   Cook over low heat 5 minutes and mash the dates with a wooden spoon.

   Stove
3. 3
   Line a sieve with thin cloth and set it over a bowl. Pour in the mixture, press the dates with a spoon, gather the edges of the cloth and squeeze well.

   ColanderCheeseclothBowl
4. 4
   Return the liquid to the pot and reduce over low heat about half an hour, until to a thick syrup.

   StovePot
5. 5
   Let the date syrup cool.

   Jar

For the Cake

1. 6
   Preheat the oven to 175°C (345°F) and grease Bread pan.

   Oven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
2. 7
   Whisk the eggs and date syrup until smooth.

   Whisk
3. 8
   Add the oil and vanilla extract and mix.
4. 9
   Sift the flour and baking powder, combine with the cinnamon, cardamom and salt, add to the wet mixture and Fold gently, just until no dry flour remains.

   Silicone spatula

   💡Fold in the flour only until there are no pockets of dry flour: overmixing develops gluten, and the cake comes out dense.

   💡Fold with a spatula, in broad strokes from the bottom up, and stop when there's no dry flour: vigorous mixing of a batter with flour develops gluten.
5. 10
   Add the nuts and dates and Fold gently.

   Silicone spatula
6. 11
   Pour into the pan.

   Baking pan
7. 12
   Bake 40–45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

   OvenBaking pan

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
8. 13
   Let cool completely before slicing.