Grandma’s recipe for Old Fashioned Date Cake with walnuts and chocolate chips is moist and tender. It’s perfect with a cup of coffee or tea.
“My all-time favorite cake! Exactly the way my mom used to make it, sans the orange zest. I make it that way too. The best!!” -Mary
This Old Fashioned Date Cake recipe comes straight from my Grandma’s recipe book (where the recipes for Date Nut Bread and her Sour Cream Coffee Cake also reside).
The cake has a caramel-like sweetness, courtesy of the dates. It’s also moist, tender, and chock-full of chocolate chips and walnuts. It’s one of those “snacking cakes”-something to nibble on in between meals.
Grandma’s recipe has two stand-out ingredients: cocoa powder and orange zest. The cocoa powder (just one tablespoon of it) amps up the chocolate flavor, and the orange zest perfectly complements the chocolate. Take a peek at her handwritten recipe below!
The full recipe is typed in the recipe card below for easier reading.
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Ingredients
- You can either buy pre-chopped dried dates (to make it extra easy) or chop the dates yourself. Dried dates are typically the deglet noor variety, or might just be labeled “dates”-avoid medjool dates for this recipe.
- Grandma’s recipe called for shortening, but I used butter. Feel free to use either.
- Orange zest adds some extra flavor that perfectly complements the chocolate chips and the caramel flavor from the dates.
- Mix-ins include chocolate chips and walnuts. Use pecans if you prefer.
How to Make Old Fashioned Date Cake with Walnuts and Chocolate Chips
- Start by combining the dates and baking soda in a small bowl. Pour the boiling water over the top. Let sit for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, and salt together.
- In another bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, vanilla, and orange zest, and beat until combined. Add half the flour and half the date mixture (including the water) and stir. Repeat with the remaining flour and date mixture, then stir in half the chocolate chips.
- Pour the date cake batter into a greased 13×9 inch pan. Top with the chopped walnuts and the remaining chocolate chips. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 350°F.
Customize it!
Customize your date cake with one of these ideas:
- Use pecans in place of the walnuts, or leave out the nuts altogether.
- Omit the orange zest if you’d like.
- Substitute shortening for the butter (this is what Grandma did).
- Make the cake in two 8×8 inch pans. Freeze one for later. Decrease the cooking time by 5-8 minutes if you choose this option.
Serving tips
Date Cake is delicious at room temperature OR warm. You can microwave slices for 10-15 seconds to warm them up before serving.
I personally LOVE a dollop of homemade whipped cream or Cool Whip on top.
More old fashioned cakes
- Sock It To Me Cake
- Easy Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
- Coconut Poke Cake
- Wacky Cake
- Jell-O Poke Cake
- Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cake
- Easy Punch Bowl Cake
📖 Recipe
Old Fashioned Date Cake
Ingredients
- 1¼ cup dates, chopped
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1¾ cup flour
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Zest of 1 orange (about 2 teaspoons)
- 1 cup chocolate chips, divided
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13×9 inch pan or 12×8 inch pan with cooking spray.
- Place the dates and baking soda in a heat-proof bowl. Pour the boiling water over the top and set aside for 15 minutes to cool.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, vanilla, and orange zest, and beat until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add half of the flour mixture, and mix until combined. Add half of the date/water mixture, and mix. Repeat with the remaining flour mixture and remaining date/water mixture.
- Stir in half of the chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with the remaining chocolate chips and the walnuts.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
My all-time favorite cake! Exactly the way my mom used to make it, sans the orange zest. I make it that way too. The best!!
Love that!! Thanks for leaving a comment, Mary!