Flourless Walnut-Date Cake

Steps to make

1. 1

   Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet

   

   Preheat the oven to 350 °F and generously grease a 9-inch round cake tin with cooking spray then line with baking parchment paper.

2. 2

   Combine walnuts, cinnamon and sugar

   2 min
   

   In a food processor pulse 3 cups of walnut halves, ¾ teaspoon of cinnamon and ¼ cup of sugar until finely ground but not too powdery.

4. 3

   Combine egg yolks

   2 min
   

   In a small mixing bowl, whisk 4 egg yolks with 2 teaspoons of orange zest and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, if you wish to use, and combine.

5. 4

   Combine egg whites

   1 min
   

   In a separate, large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat 4 egg whites and a pinch of salt, on medium-high speed, until foamy.

6. 5

   Add sugar

   8 min
   

   While continuously beating, add ¼ cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, for about 8 minutes, until soft peaks form.

7. 6

   Add yolks, dates, and nut mixture

   3 min
   

   Fold in the whisked egg yolk mixture with ¾ cup of chopped dates, then add the nut mixture until evenly combined.

8. 7

   Bake

   30 min
   

   Transfer to the prepared cake tin and bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes until golden and a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin before inverting onto a plate.

9. 8

   Prepare glaze

   2 min
   

   In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 2 ounces of chopped bittersweet chocolate, 4 tablespoons of margarine and 1 teaspoon of honey in the microwave for about 2 minutes then whisk until smooth and combined.

10. 9

    Top cake

    2 min
    

    Pour the glaze over a cooled cake and top with chopped, toasted walnuts.

11. 10

    Serve

    

    Slice and serve.