Caramel cake with dates

Cake with dates, the dough for which is kneaded on the basis of sugar caramel, is the perfect dessert. Moderately moist, fragrant cake with a crispy crust is definitely worth it to cook such pastries for guests or at home.

Ingredients

• Dried dates - 180 g
• Flour - 160 g (1 cup with a volume of 250 ml)
• Water - 120 ml
• Sugar - 100 g
• Butter - 60 g
• Eggs - 2 pcs.
• Baking powder - 1 teaspoon
• Salt - 1/5 teaspoon
• Vanillin - a pinch
• Powdered sugar - for decoration
• Fresh mint (for decoration, optional) - 1 sprig

Directions

1. Prepare the dates: cut them in half, remove the pits and cut into small cubes.
2. Pour sugar into a saucepan with a thick bottom and put on fire.
3. Heat the sugar until it melts and caramelizes, about 3 minutes over medium heat. Caramel will acquire a characteristic aroma and amber color. The main thing is not to overexpose, otherwise the finished caramel will be bitter.
4. Add hot water in a thin stream to the pot with caramel, stir until smooth and remove from heat.
5. Pour the caramel into a bowl with wide rims, put the butter into the hot caramel liquid.
6. Transfer the prepared dates to a bowl with caramel and butter.
7. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
8. Break the eggs, separate the yolks from the whites. Place the egg whites in a mixing bowl and set aside.
9. Add the yolks to the bowl with the caramel-butter mixture and the dates. Stir.
10. Gradually add flour mixed with baking powder and vanilla, kneading the dough with a whisk.
11. The dough will turn out to be quite thick - it will not drain from the whisk, but will fall in a lump.
12. Salt the egg whites and beat with a mixer or whisk in a strong foam.
13. Add protein foam to the dough. Using scooping movements from the bottom up, to maintain airiness, gently fold the egg whites into the dough.
14. The dough became more liquid, airy and increased in volume.
15. Grease a cake pan with butter or vegetable oil or line with parchment paper.
16. Bake the date cake for 35-40 minutes. Check readiness by piercing it with a dry wooden skewer or an ordinary match - if the cake is ready, the stick will remain dry.
17. Transfer the cake to a plate, freeing it from the parchment.
18. The cooled cake can be decorated with powdered sugar and fresh mint.
19. Cut the cake with dates and caramel cooled down. Such fragrant beautiful pastries will be delicious with any drink: coffee, tea or milk.
20. Very tasty cake, I recommend to try!