Enjoy my latest share from my Grandma's Recipe Box, Helen's Chocolate Chip Date Cake. Discover how heritage and flavors combine in this simple, delightful dessert recipe.
Full disclosure, I have not always loved dates. Recently though, I have been enjoying them in a variety of desserts and also when I make a recipe, date caramel. A couple of weeks ago, I was craving chocolate cake. Since it had been a while since I had baked, I decided to go through my grandma's recipe box to see what I could find. When I found a recipe for Chocolate Date Cake recipe, I knew this was it.
This recipe was my Great Aunt Helen's, and like my grandma, my Aunt Helen was a fabulous baker. Per usual before I made the recipe I reached out to my mom, dad, and my sister for their input. As you will notice this cake is half and half, half with nuts and half without.
Fun fact: I'm not too fond of nuts in desserts, especially cakes and cookies. As far back as I can remember I never have liked nuts in desserts. Even when my mom would make banana bread, if it had nuts I was picking them out or just not eating a single bite of it. That is why in the photos you will see half the cake half with nuts and half without. My mom loves the added texture they bring so I decided to make us both happy! LOL
After making this I wish I had taken a little extra time to chop the dates a little smaller. Since the recipe didn't dictate I did more of a large chop, but like everything, to each their own! Otherwise, this recipe is super easy and comes together very quickly!
HOW TO MAKE HELEN'S CHOCOLATE CHIP DATE CAKE:
- Pre Heat Oven to 350 Degrees
- Cover 1 cup of chopped dates with 1 cup of hot water (faucet), let cool.
- Cream 1 cup shortening and 1 cup sugar.
- Beat in 2 eggs, and 1 teaspoon Vanilla, and add dates and water.
- Sift together 1 3/4 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cocoa, dash of salt then add to the creamed mixture.
- Stir in 1/2 cup Chocolate Chips.
- Pour into a greased 9x3 pan.
- Top with 3/4 cup chocolate chips and 3/4 cup of chopped nuts.
- Bake, then allow to cool and enjoy!
I hope you enjoy this family recipe and thank you for following along on this adventure.
Helen's Chocolate Chip Date Cake
Equipment
- 1 Glass jar
- baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Chopped Dates
- 1 Cup Hot Water
- 1 Cup Shortening
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1 teas Vanilla
- 1 3/4 Cup Flour
- 1 teas Baking Soda
- 1 teas Cocoa
- Dash of Salt
- 3/4 Cup Chocolate Chips
- 3/4 Cup Chopped Nuts
Instructions
- Pre Heat Oven to 350 Degrees
- Cover 1 cup of chopped dates with 1 cup of hot water (faucet), let cool.
- Cream 1 cup shortening and 1 cup sugar.
- Beat in 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon Vanilla, add dates and water.
- Sift together 1 3/4 Cup flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cocoa, dash of salt then add to creamed mixture.
- Stir in 1/2 cup Chocolate Chips.
- Pour in greased 9x13 pan.
- Top with 3/4 cup chocolate chips and 3/4 cup of chopped nuts.
- Bake, then allow to cool and enjoy!
Video
@purpleiriseverywhere From my Grandma's Recipe Box, my Great Aunt Helen's Chocolate Date Cake! This classic recipe is the perfect mix of sweet chocolate and rich dates! #food #mhk #grandma #grandmarecipes #dates #datecake #datecakerecipe #chocolate #chocolaterecipe #chocolatecake #recipes #recipesoftiktok
♬ All That Glitters - Earl
