Date and Apple Cake

Name: Date and Apple Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Yield: 10-12
Cuisine: Middle Eastern

roubashahin.com.au

Moist, spiced date and apple cake with cream, topped with apples and a honey rose glaze. Easy to make and perfect for any occasion.

PREP TIME

30 minutes

COOK TIME

45–50 minutes

SERVES

10-12

About this recipe

I couldn’t pick just one favourite ingredient for this cake—so I combined them all! This date and apple cake with cream is full of warm spices, sweet simmered dates, and a soft, buttery texture. It’s topped with a smooth cream cheese layer and finished with honey-glazed apples tossed in rosewater. It might sound like a lot, but it’s surprisingly simple to put together—and worth every step.

If you’ve made my Chocolate Raspberry Loaf with Buttercream, with its rich chocolate, or my Crème Brûlée Cake—inspired by those caramelised cakes I’ve seen all over social media—then you’ll love this too. This date and apple cake with cream is familiar, comforting, and just that little bit extra. Serve it for dessert, afternoon tea, or anytime you need something special.

Ingredients

For the Cake

150 grams chopped dried dates
⅔ cup (150ml) orange juice
250 grams unsalted butter, softened
1 ¾ cup (280 grams) brown sugar
5 eggs
2 cups (280 grams) self-raising flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
1 small red apple, skin on, cored and grated

For the Cream Layer

250 grams cream cheese softened
2 tablespoon Greek yogurt
2 tablespoon honey
1⁄2 teaspoon orange blossom water
½ tsp ground cardamom (optional but yum)

For the Topping

3 small red apples, skin on, diced

For the Honey Rose Glaze

2 tablespoon honey
½ tablespoon rose water
1 tablespoon water

Notes from Rouba

If you love a stronger floral note, add an extra dash of orange blossom water to the cream.
Serve this warm with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Method

Step 1. Prepare the Cake Batter:

Preheat your oven to 160°C fan forced (180°C no fan) and line 23 cm round cake tin with baking paper.

In a small pan, simmer the chopped dates and orange juice over medium to low heat until the liquid is mostly absorbed. Set aside to cool. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Step 2. Add the Eggs and Combine:

Crack the eggs into a jug and whisk lightly. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, and baking powder. Add the eggs gradually to the butter mixture, along with a spoonful of flour each time, mixing until combined. Stir in the cooled date mixture and grated apple.

Step 3. Bake the Cake:

Pour the batter into the lined cake tin, smoothing the top. Bake for 45- 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 4. Prepare the Cream Layer:

In a bowl, whisk together softened cream cheese, yogurt, honey, orange blossom water and cardamom until smooth. Once the cake is cooled, spread the cream mixture evenly over the top.

Step 5. Make the Honey Rose Glaze:

In a small pan, gently warm the honey, rose water, and water until smooth. You can also do this in the microwave on low heat. Dice the apples into small pieces, then toss them through the warm glaze until coated. Scatter the glazed apple pieces over the cream layer, then drizzle over any remaining glaze.