--- not for those who can't tolerate sugar.
[I've halved the sugar content from the original recipe I found long ago but it tastes great and if it's the only sugar I have in a day then I'm ok with that. I intend to one day try maple syrup as the sweetener or even coconut sugar but haven't ever bothered yet. Can use dash of vanilla paste if you want or extract. I don't use vanilla.]
- Saucepan
- Mixing bowl
- cake pan (loaf pan is nice or a ring pan)
In saucepan ---
- 1 cup finely diced up pitted regular dates
- 1/2 cup raw or brown sugar
- 1 cup of boiling water
- 3 scant tablespoons of vegetable margarine (mine is plant based)
- Let it all sit on lowest temp possible while you prepare dry ingredients and pan
In mixing bowl
- 1 and 3/4 cups of self raising flour
- 1 flat teaspoon bicarb
- Mix well
When vegetable margarine, butter or whatever you use is melted and the dates are softened, pour into the mixing bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix well but don't over mix. I wouldn't suggest coconut oil or other oil in this.
Cook 40 mins. 175C for me in Au (that's 347F ??)
I always check at 20 and 30 mins. Sometimes it's cooked already at 30
Great with a nice hot cup of tea.