Prettaly – Pretty Italy

The air outside is getting colder and the lust for some me-time (or friends time) in the afternoon with a comforting cup of tea or coffee is also getting bigger. At least for me. This tart is a nice alternative to a heavy cake, as the dates give lots of sweetness, but doesn’t really leave you with a bad conscience…

Ingredients
150g Medjool dates (without pit), plus a few for decoration
150ml hot water
60g soft butter
40g brown sugar
1 pack vanilla sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
130g flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
Icing sugar (for decoration)

Directions
Pre-heat the oven to 165°C (circulating air).
Line a baking form with parchment paper.
Boil water in a kettle. Meanwhile remove the pits of the dates and cut the dates into small pieces. Pour the boiling water on top and let cool.
Combine butter, sugar, vanilla sugar and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Then add eggs and milk and mix until fluffy.
In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and baking soda. Then add to the rest of the dough.
Add dates including the water last.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking tin and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.

Use a wooden skewer to check if the cake is ready – if still doughy, leave in for another bit, if the skewer is dry, its ready.

Dust with icing sugar and decorate with a few dates before serving.