Vegan Date and Walnut Cake Recipe

Ingredients

• 100 g stoned dates (chopped)
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
• 1/2 lemon (zest, finely grated)
• 100 ml hot tea
• 40 g vegan margarine (plus extra for greasing)
• 70 g dark muscovado sugar (molasses sugar)
• 1 ripe banana (mashed)
• 125 g self-raising white flour (self rising flour)
• 25 g walnuts (chopped (plus extra halves to decorate))

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 180C (160C fan, 350F).

2. 2

   Put the dates, bicarbonate of soda and lemon rind in a bowl.

3. 3

   Add the hot tea. Leave to soak for 10 minutes, until soft.

4. 4

   Put the margarine and sugar in a bowl. Whisk until light and fluffy - some plant margarines whip better than others, so don't worry if it's a bit liquid.

5. 5

   Add the mashed bananas. Stir through.

6. 6

   Add the soaked date mixture and mix.

7. 7

   Add the flour and fold through.

8. 8

   Gently fold in the walnuts.

9. 9

   Grease a 1 lb loaf tin and line the base with non-stick baking paper and spoon the mixture into it, levelling off. Top with the walnut halves in a line down the centre.

10. 10

    Bake for 35-40 minutes or until risen, firm and golden brown.

11. 11

    Leave to cool for 10 minutes in the tin, then turn out and finish cooling on a wire rack.

12. 12

    Transfer to a board, slice and enjoy!