Aunt Delia’s Date-Nut Cake

Torta di Frutta Secca di Zia Delia

Aunt Delia’s Date-Nut Cake

 

4 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups sugar

10 ounces pitted dried dates or 12 ounces dried dates with pits, pitted, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 2 cups), or 2 cups mixed diced dates and diced dried figs, or 2 cups dates and chopped pitted prunes

3 cups (12 ounces) shelled walnut, crushed in your fist into large pieces

5 tablespoons all-purpose flour

 

-Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit, with much excess, an 8-inch square baking pan. Don’t attempt to fit the paper inside it yet.

 

-Place a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400° F.

 

-Beat the eggs with the vanilla and sugar with a fork in a large mixing bowl.

 

-Add the dates and walnuts and mix well.

 

-Sprinkle the flour over the fruit and nut mixture and blend in very well.

 

-Place the parchment paper over the pan and pour the batter into the pan. The weight of the batter will hold down the paper. As you spread the batter evenly to fill the pan, the paper will give way and fit to the pan. Don’t worry if the corners are a little irregular.

 

-Bake for about 45 minutes, until the top is nicely browned and the cake feels solid to the touch.

 

-Place the cake on a cake rack and let cool for 20 minutes. While the cake is still warm, unmold it, leaving the paper-lined side up, and let cool a little longer.

 

-Carefully pull off the parchment paper while the cake is still warm. Finish cooling the cake with the sticky bottom up.

 

-Use a serrated-blade knife to cut the cake into approximately 1 1/2-inch squares. Or cut into 1-inch by 2-inch bars or, truly, into any size you like.

 

-The cake can be served warm, when it is particularly good with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla or, say, dolce de leche, caramel, or coffee ice cream. I prefer it at room temperature, and it actually improves with a few days of age.

 

-Store at room temperature, in a tin or wrapped in aluminum foil, not plastic.