- Prep-time: / Ready In:
- Makes one (9×5-inch) loaf (about 10 slices)
- Serving size: 1 of 10 slices
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This festive and hearty cake is not only delicious but also very fragrant, and it bakes up nice and moist without any added oil. Its few ingredients and steps make for easy preparation, and you can serve it plain or with Lemon Frosting. Millet flour yields a cake that is less dense and heavy than when made with oat flour alone. You can buy pre-ground millet flour (use the same amount, ¾ cup), but it’s very easy to grind your own from whole millet; just follow the directions below. Look for whole millet in the bulk section of healthier grocery stores.
Recipe from Straight Up Food.
By Cathy Fisher,
Last Updated:
Ingredients
For the cake
- 7 oz. pitted dates (about 12 Medjool or 23 Deglet Noor)
- 1½ cups unsweetened, unflavored plant-based milk
- 1½ teaspoons pure almond extract
- 1¼ cups rolled oats
- ¾ cup dry millet
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon regular or sodium-free baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or almonds (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (from 1 medium lemon)
- 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries, optional, for topping
For the frosting
- 5 oz. pitted dates (about8 to 9 Medjools or 17 Deglet Noor)
- ¾ cup raw cashews (3 oz.)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- For cake, in a small bowl combine the 7 oz. dates, the milk, and almond extract; let stand at least 15 minutes to soften dates. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Place oats in a blender; cover and blend into a flour. Transfer to a medium bowl. Repeat with the millet, blending 30 to 40 seconds to make a flour (millet is harder than oats). Add millet flour to oat flour. Add poppy seeds, baking powder, and baking soda to bowl; whisk to combine.
- Pour date mixture into the blender; cover and blend until smooth. Add to dry ingredients along with applesauce, lemon zest, and, if you like, walnuts. Stir until well incorporated. Spoon batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly.
- Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until the top is medium brown. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove cake from pan to cool completely on wire rack.
- While cake bakes, prepare frosting: In a clean blender combine 5 oz. of the dates, the cashews, lemon juice, vanilla, and ¾ cup water. If the water doesn’t completely cover dates and nuts, add more just until it does. Let stand 45 minutes to soften dates. Cover and blend until very smooth, scraping down sides once or twice. (If your blender has a tamper, you may want to use it.) Add a little more water if the mixture becomes too thick to blend. Top cooled cake with frosting and strawberries, if desired.
Per serving (1 of 10 slices): 290 calories, 48 g carbohydrates, 6 g protein, 9.4 g total fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 0 g cholesterol, 246 mg sodium, 6 g fiber, 28 g sugar
Note: Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only.
Comments (15)
(5 from 10 votes)Forgot to add that I cooked these as cupcakes in a silicone cupcake mold and they came out great. It too about 22 minutes at 350 in my oven
Amazing! Couldn’t stop eating them. Even my non-plant based husband couldn’t get enough of them. It’s a tweakable recipe: I prefer less sweet desserts so I used about 5oz of dates, skipped the icing, and doubled the poppy seeds because I love them. They froze beautifully, too.
The video shows walnuts added, how much?
Hi Nell, The walnuts are optional but should have been included in the ingredients list and instructions. We've updated the recipe to reflect this. If you are going to use them, use 1/2 a cup. Thanks for asking!
First no-added-fat/sugar baked good recipe that I’ve made that actually tastes delicious. Thank you!
I have millet flour already ground. What is the amount translated from whole ?
Cathy states in the description that you can buy pre-ground millet flour (use the same amount, ¾ cup)
Really good
I love this recipe, and made it a second time, one week later, however the cooked dough is a little gummy, any way to fix that? Suggestions?
Delicious! Will definitely be making this again : )
A 5 star
A great cake. I agree with the comment below, it doesn’t really need the glaze it’s excellent without it. I did make the glaze but didn’t have Meyers lemons so used regular lemons which had a more bitter flavor. I made it for my husband’s birthday and he deemed it a winner!
I read online that if you want to use a Meyers lemon recipe and do not have Meyers lemons, you can use 1/2 regular lemon juice and/or zest with 1/2 orange juice and or/zest. I am going to make this today and use that suggestion.
I made these for Christmas gifts and co-workers were amazed with the delicious taste- I love the interesting texture. Time to make some more ASAP
I can't believe no one else has commented about this cake. It is unbelievably delicious! Made this a bunch of times and it always comes out great. Nice and moist. A little on the dense side. so think of the texture of a traditional banana bread. I've never bothered with the glaze since it's perfect as is.