Eggless Butterless Date Cardamom Squares

Every happy event in life becomes happier if it ends on a sweet note. And this baking journey all of April, there have been 26 baking posts by the participating members of Baking BM. For me , it’s a personal milestone of having posted 26 baked treats in a row – thank you Valli and the entire Blogging Marathon for a wonderful run this Marathon. It was amazing to see some wonderful bakes which were awe-inspiring. Hope to clear out those bookmarks pretty soon J

From Orange Almond Meal Cake on day 1 to these Eggless Butterless Dates – Cardamom squares today (day 26), its been a sweet journey of learning and sharing. I made it for no other special occasion than to end the baking marathon and here’s raising a toast to all the BMers.

Baking Marathon Day 26 : Dates Cardamom squares (Eggless & Butterless)

Recipe type : Cakes / Tea Cakes

Course: Dessert / Tea cake 

Prep time: 10 mins | Bake time : 22-25 mins

Recipe Inspiration : DIvya’s recipe

Ingredients:

• All Purpose flour – ½ cup
• Wholewheat flour – ½ cup
• Cardamom powder – ½ tsp
• Salt – a pinch (about 1/8 tsp)
• Baking powder – 1.25 tsp
• Cashewnuts – 2 TBSP (chopped coarsely)
• Black dates – pitted – about 25 pieces (you could use normal dates too)
• Milk – 80 ml
• Custard powder – 2.5 tsp
• Brown Sugar – 2/3 cup (powdered)
• Oil – 1/2 cup
• Water – 150 ml

Method:

1. Sieve the flours with salt & custard powder. Pit the dates and grind them with, add 150 ml to these dates , whisk well & heat this mixture till it becomes gooey, take it off the fire and add in baking powder and cardamom powder. It would froth quite a bit so take care. Let this mixture cool down.
2. Into the flour mixture, add cut nuts .. In a separate bowl, mix sugar, oil and milk well. Add this to the flour mixture, along with the cooled date puree.
3. Fold gently till you get a thickish cake like batter without any dry flour between the folds. Pour into a greased and lined pan, bake on a preheated oven for 25-30 mins (mine was done exactly 27 mins) and a tooth pick comes clean.
4. Cool on a wire rack, unmould , cut and serve. You may also frost if you wish. I just added a stencil cut icing sugar topping and glazed cherries 

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 51

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