Description
This Sticky Date & Cardamom Citrus Traybake is a wonderfully moist and fragrant dessert featuring sweet dates, warm cardamom, and zesty citrus notes. Perfect for afternoon tea or a delicious treat, it combines a soft, sticky texture with bright flavors in an easy-to-make traybake.
Ingredients
Scale
Sticky Date Mixture
- 200 g (7 oz) pitted dates, chopped
- 250 ml (1 cup) boiling water
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Batter
- 100 g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 150 g (3/4 cup) brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 200 g (1 1/2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- Zest of 1 orange
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Pinch of salt
For Garnish
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
- Zest of additional citrus fruits, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Tray: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease and line a rectangular baking tray (approximately 20 x 30 cm or 8 x 12 inches) with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Soften Dates: In a bowl, combine the chopped dates with the boiling water and baking soda. Let this mixture sit for 10-15 minutes so the dates soften and infuse the liquid.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, which should take about 3-5 minutes. This step creates a creamy base for the batter.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract to incorporate the flavor evenly.
- Sift Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, ground cardamom, orange zest, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt to ensure an even distribution of ingredients and no lumps.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the softened date mixture. Start and end with the dry ingredients. Mix gently until the batter is just combined to avoid overmixing.
- Pour and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking tray and smooth the top with a spatula for even baking. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Remove the traybake from the oven and allow it to cool in the tray for about 10 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely for best texture.
- Garnish and Serve: Dust the top with powdered sugar and garnish with additional citrus zest if desired. Cut into squares or rectangles for serving.
- Enjoy: Serve this sticky date and cardamom traybake as a delightful dessert or afternoon treat, ideally accompanied by a cup of tea or coffee.
Notes
- Ensure the dates are well softened in the boiling water to achieve the best sticky texture.
- Avoid overmixing the batter once the wet and dry ingredients are combined to prevent a dense bake.
- You can substitute cardamom with cinnamon for a different but complementary flavor.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking flour blend.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
