Spiced Date Cake

This very old recipe was given to me on a old and crumbling piece of blue lined writing paper, browned on the edges. Before the cake name, in brackets is {Victoria’s}. So whoever she is I guess this is her recipe. As you look down the list of ingredients you will be as amazed as I was! Coffee? with dates? Plus spices? But, trust me, it is just lovely. Camp is just brilliant for baking.

Butter and line a 8” spring form cake tin. Pre heat your fan oven to 160C

You will need to start off by making a very strong cup of Camp Coffee, using at least two teaspoonfuls, or more. I did this the night before and used 3 teaspoonfuls Camp.

1 cup of Camp Coffee

1 large cupful of dates, chopped [from a block if possible]

Cover the dates with the hot coffee and stir to mix, then cool. [overnight]

In a mixing bowl, place

1½ large cups of flour 

3 tablespoonfuls butter [marg in original]

1 cup of caster sugar

¾ teaspoonfuls grated nutmeg

½ teaspoonful bicarbonate of soda

1 cup of chopped nuts

½ small cup of mixed peel

½ teaspoonful mixed spice

pinch salt

Mix well. Add:

2 beaten eggs

dates and Camp Coffee mix

Mix until well combined and tip into your prepared tin. Bake for 1¼ hrs but turn down to 150C after 45 mins. Leave in the tin for a few mins before turning out onto a rack to cool. 

Just wonderful.