This Carrot Dates Cake is soft and moist, loaded with the natural sweetness of dates and carrots, and a delicious homemade treat with a warm blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. The caramel syrup gives the cake its lovely golden colour and lovely depth of flavour.

Soft, flavourful and satisfying with the combo of grated carrots, dates and crunchy cashews in every bite. Serve it with a cup of tea or coffee and it is a wonderful snack or dessert for any occasion.

Want an eggless version? You can also find the recipe of Eggless Carrot Dates Cake on my website.

Ingredients

For the Carrot Dates Cake

• 1 cup + 1 tablespoon plain flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
• ⅛ teaspoon ginger powder
• ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg powder
• 3 cloves
• 1/2 cup sugar
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup grated carrot
• ¾ cup chopped dates
• ¼ cup chopped cashews
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

For the Caramel Syrup

• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon water

Method

How To Make Caramel Syrup

1. Put ½ cup sugar and 1 tbsp water in a saucepan.
2. Cook on low heat.
3. The sugar starts turning to a dark golden colour. This usually takes 4-5 minutes.
4. Keep an eye on the caramel. Don’t cook it too long – burnt caramel can taste bitter.
5. Take the saucepan off the heat. Add ¼ cup hot water, carefully. Be careful, the caramel can splash when you add the hot water.
6. Mix well to combine, set aside to cool.

How to Make Carrot Dates Cake

1. Put 3 cloves and 1/2 cup sugar in a mixer and blend to a powder.
2. Place the powdered sugar mixture in a large mixing bowl.
   Then add ¾ cup of vegetable oil, 2 eggs and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Whisk until everything is combined.
3. Sift in 1 cup plain flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ginger powder, nutmeg powder and cinnamon powder. Whisk gently until ingredients are combined just. Do not overmix the batter.
4. Add prepared caramel syrup and 1 teaspoon vanilla essence. Stir well.
5. In another bowl add chopped dates, chopped cashew nuts and 1 tbsp of plain flour. Toss until the dates and cashews are evenly covered with flour. This will prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake.
6. Add 1 cup grated carrot with the coated dates and cashews to the cake batter. Make sure you squeeze the grated carrot so it’s not too watery when you add it.
7. Mix everything together gently until it is evenly mixed.
8. Spoon the batter into a lined and greased cake tin.
9. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Bake for 55 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
10. Let cake cool completely before cutting. It tastes the best when you let it rest for 12 hours.
11. Cut and serve this yummy homemade Carrot Dates Cake!

Recipe Video

Watch the recipe video here:

Tips for Making Carrot Dates Cake

• Don’t overcook the caramel: Remove it from the heat as soon as it reaches a dark golden colour. Overcooked caramel can become bitter.
• Be careful when adding water to caramel: Always add the water carefully and maintain a safe distance because the hot caramel can splash.
• Squeeze the carrots well: Excess moisture from the grated carrot can affect the texture of the cake.
• Coat the dates and cashews with flour: This helps distribute them more evenly throughout the cake.
• Don’t overmix: Fold the dry ingredients and add-ins gently to keep the cake soft.
• Allow the cake to cool: Let the cake cool before slicing so that it sets properly and gives you neat slices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use brown sugar instead of white sugar?

This recipe is developed using white sugar, particularly because the sugar is also used to prepare the caramel syrup. For the best result, I recommend following the recipe as written.

Why do I need to coat the dates and cashews with flour?

Tossing the dates and cashews with a little flour helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake while baking.

How do I know when the cake is done?

Insert a skewer into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, the cake is ready.

Can I make this cake without eggs?

Yes. An eggless version of Carrot Dates Cake is also available on my website, so you can try that version if you prefer an egg-free cake.

Enjoy Your Homemade Carrot Dates Cake!

This Carrot Dates Cake with Caramel Syrup is a simple yet delicious bake with plenty of flavour and texture. The sweetness of dates and carrots, the crunch from cashews, and the warm spices make it a lovely cake to enjoy with your family.

If you try this recipe, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Happy baking!

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