Dette Datokake is a delicious tea cake filled with juicy pieces of Medjool dates and light orange flavors. It’s a great cake to serve with a maple olive oil caramel or peanut butter caramel and a cup of tea.
I love making healthier cakes, like my Chocolate Coconut Cake but I also love the flavors of dates and oranges together, so I made a special cake just for that.
While the whole recipe is just below, don’t miss all my tips further down, including ingredient swaps, process shots, and baking tips!
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Datokake
Ingredienser
- 1 cup Medjool Datoer - pitted, finely chopped, 5.5 oz/155g (note 1)
- 1 cup Kokende vann - (merknad 2)
- ⅓ cup Olivenolje med mild smak - (merknad 3)
- ½ cup Orange Juice - (note 4) about 1 small orange + 1 tablespoon zest
- 1 teskje Vaniljeekstrakt
- 2 kopper All-purpose mel - (merknad 5)
- 2 ts Baking Powder
- ½ teskje Natron
- ½ cup Muscovado-sukker - (merknad 6)
- 1 teskje Kanel
- ¼ teskje Salt
Valgfritt
- ½ cup Hakkede valnøtter - (merknad 7)
Instruksjoner
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper. Slightly oil the paper with oil. Set aside.
- Finely chop the pitted dates into small bits. I like to cut each in half lengthwise and then chop in the other direction to form small cubes.
- In a large mixing glass bowl, add the chopped dates and boiling water. Cover the bowl with a plate to prevent the water from evaporating. You will use this water in the cake batter. Set aside for 10 minutes.
- Bring back the bowl with the date/water mixture – keep the water – and stir in muscovado sugar, orange juice, olive oil, vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon of orange zest, if you like its tangy flavor.
- Add in flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Stir to combine and form a smooth cake batter.
- Fold in the chopped walnuts if used, and stir to incorporate evenly.
- Pour the cake mixture into the prepared pan.
- Bake the cake at 350°F (180°C) on the center rack for 25-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let it cool down for 10 minutes in the pan, then transfer it to a cooling rack. Keep it at room temperature for a few hours before slicing.
Merknader
Ernæring
Ingredienser og erstatninger
You only need a handful of wholesome ingredients to make these, here’s how to pick and swap them:

- Medjool Datoer – They provide sweetness and moisture, and a rich, caramel-like flavor. It’s a date cake, so you can’t swap it.
- Vann – Boiled water softens the dates and helps them release their natural sugars.
- Lett olivenolje – This adds moisture and tenderness. Melted plant-based butter or other light-flavor oils are fine too.
- Orange Juice – This adds a bright, citrus flavor. Dairy-free milk works as well.
- Vaniljeekstrakt – This enhances the overall flavor.
- All-purpose mel – This provides structure to the cake. White whole wheat or white spelt flour also work. For a gluten-free version, use my glutenfri konverteringsguide.
- Baking Powder – This helps the cake rise and makes a soft and fluffy crumb.
- Natron – This helps the cake rise and adds tenderness.
- Muscovado-sukker – This sweetens the cake with a rich, molasses-like flavor. Brown sugar, date sugar, or coconut sugar also work.
- Kanel – This adds warm, sweet spice.
- Hakkede valnøtter – They contribute a nutty flavor and crunch. Chopped pecans or almonds also work.
How to Make Date Cake
This is a really easy cake to make in one bowl. Here’s how in a few pictures.

Chop the dates and let them soak in boiling water for 10 minutes.

Pour them in a mixing bowl and add all the other ingredients.

Stir the batter until it’s just combined and transfer it to a springform pan.

Bake the cake at 350°F (180°C) on the center rack for 25-35 minutes.
Carines baketips
Let me share a few more tips to make sure you make the best cake you can!
- Check Baking – Don’t overbake the cake! Remove it from the oven as soon as it’s golden brown and a pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- More Crunch – Add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts for a lovely crunch in the crumb
- Moist Topping – Serve the cake with caramel to add moisture – try my maple olive oil caramel or peanut butter caramel for healthy options.
- Sugar Needed – Don’t skip the added sugar. While dates are sweet, since they are not blended in the batter, they don’t sweeten it too much. Without sugar, the crumb will be dry and not sweet, the sweetness will only appear where the piece of dates appears, which to me, is not sweet enough.







could you use maple syrup for sweetness and cut firm on OJ?
It will be too much sweetness, maple syrup is way sweeter than orange juice. Maple syrup will also make the cake dense and gummy. Best swap will be almond milk to keep the consistency right. To boost sweeteness you can up the muscovado sugar.
Okay, there was a cake. And I’m not one but sorry that there’s not one now. Very tasty! This is a keeper.
Had to substitute with brown sugar and juice from some mandarins that I had on hand, but I can’t imagine this tasing even better.
Takk skal du ha!
Takk for den hyggelige tilbakemeldingen!
I haven’t made this yet, but I would like to have the recipe
Click the jump to recipe button on top of this page to see the recipe in one click.
Made this cake yesterday – absolutely delicious! And very easy to make. Will make again and again.
Thank-you for the recipe
Tusen takk!
Absolutt nydelig!!
Why does it need to be refrigerated?
It’s going to have to be warmed up to be any good after being in the fridge.
I refrigerate all my baked goods to prevent mold, especially when fruit are involved. But it’s up to you to store it in the fridge, or room temperature.
This is perfect without a topping or ‘glaze’. I zested the orange as well. This cake really is lovely for any time of day.
Thanks for the positive feedback on my cake recipe!
Wow! This is delicious! We didn’t have orange juice so i used milk. I am sure it is even more delicious with the juice… probably I will also be delicious with raisins or other dried fruit. Thanks!
I am so glad it came out great with milk, dried fruits will be amazing indeed! Thanks for trying my recipes.
What a great cake! And lovely with the caramel too. Everybody in my family loved it.
Tusen takk for denne fine anmeldelsen!
Would love to make this cake- but would you provide conversions to grams for cups of dry ingredients, and mls per cups for wet ingredients?
I’m European and haven’t a clue what a “cup” is- especially as you say the measurements have to be accurate. Also some dry ingredients would take up different space in a cup………????
You can convert all my recipes in grams and ml in a simple click, click the metric button before the ingredients and the recipe will convert automatically.
Delicious!!!!!! Easy to make. Not a sweet cake, which I like.This is a keeper.
Takk så mye!