Chocolate, Banana and Date Bread

Chocolate, Banana and Date Bread is a great recipe. It’s quick, simple and really easy to make. Plus it’s a great way to keep little ones entertained for a while during the summer holidays. Children can mash the banana and they can mix the flour too. My son has just started to show an interest in the kitchen so I’m really trying to encourage him. Women will love him if he can cook.

The added bonus of this cake is that it has plenty of healthy ingredients which will also be good for the kids this summer. Dates are one of the best sweet and versatile foods that can regulate the digestive process. It can boost energy levels within half an hour of consuming them. There are lots of health benefits which include relief from constipation, intestinal disorders, heart problems, sexual dysfunction, diarrhoea and many other conditions.

Dates are also good for gaining weight and they are rich in several vitamins and minerals too. The delicious fruit contains oil, calcium, sulphur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium. The huge benefits of dates have made them one of the best ingredients for muscle development. Muslims also break from fasting by eating them and water according to their cultural traditions. It helps to avoid overeating of food once the fast is over. When the body begins to absorb the high nutritional value of dates, feelings of hunger are pacified.

So this cake is packed full of health benefits and it’s also good for keeping you full during meals. My son loves the dates in this cake which is great. Dates help to keep him full until his next meal. As I mentioned earlier, it’s a great recipe to involve the children in this summer but it’s also a great cake the whole family will enjoy. Well, worth a try.

Makes 8 thick slices

Equipment needed

• Scales
• Chopping board
• Knife
• Large bowl x 3
• Small bowl x 1
• Stirring spoon x 2
• Folk x 1
• Teaspoon
• Loaf tin or cake tin
• Greaseproof paper
• Cooling rack

Ingredients needed

• Bananas x 3 (very ripe)
• Medjool dates x 10 – 12

Dry ingredients

• Gluten free oats or spelt flour x 250g
• Raw cacao powder x 50g
• Baking powder x 2 tsp
• Xanthan gum powder x 1 tsp
• Cinnamon x 1 tsp
• Vanilla powder x 1/4 tsp
• Salt x 1/4

Wet ingredients

• Eggs x 2 large
• Maple syrup, coconut sugar or brown sugar x 150mls
• Coconut oil, unsalted butter or ghee x 150g
• Milk x 200mls (your choice)

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180°C and then line the loaf tin or cake tin with grease proof paper.
• First, start by removing the stones and chopping the dates and set aside.
  • If not already chopped.
• Next mash the banana in one of the bowls and set aside.
  • The bananas do not have to be smooth, in fact, the lumpier the better.
• Then mix the gluten free oats or the spelt flour with the raw cacao powder, baking powder, xanthan gum powder, cinnamon, vanilla powder and salt and again set this aside.
• Finally mix together the eggs, maple syrup and the coconut oil.
  • If it’s cold outside the coconut oil may have to be melted down in a small pan.
• Now mix the mashed banana into the wet ingredients and then mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
• Add in the dates to the mixture and mix all the ingredients together.
• Pour the cake mix into the pre-lined tin and spread as evenly as possible across the base of the tin.
  • It does not have to be smooth on top but try to spread evenly.
• Put the cake in the oven for around 25 – 30 mins.
  • It will depend on your oven as to how long it will take.
• Once the time is up, take the cake from the oven and put a skewer in to see if it’s clean.
  • If it comes out clean then the cake is cooked.
• Leave to cool in the tin for a good 30 minutes, to make sure the cake sticks together.
• Once the cake feels colder remove the tin and remove the grease proof paper as well.
• Let it stand until it’s cold.
• Cut yourself a slice and enjoy with a nice cup of tea or coffee.

Chocolate, Banana and Date Bread is great for families, couples and singles. It not only makes a great afternoon treat but can be eaten at breakfast with jam or honey. Also, it could make a great after dinner treat. Just warm it up and serve with ice cream. If you are a single or a couple or feel you won’t eat a whole cake, you can freeze individual slices and defrost before eating. However you decide to eat this cake, as always, enjoy.