Grandma's Chocolate Chip Date Cake Recipe Is Old-fashioned Deliciousness (9 Ingredients) Cakes/Cupcakes Fruit Gluten-free Desserts Low Sodium Recipes

If you're a fan of dates and chocolate, this old-fashioned chocolate chip date cake recipe is for you! This date cake recipe is straight out of grandma's recipe box and is one you won't soon forget. The moist chocolate cake will take you back.

This vintage cake recipe is simple to make and only requires a short list of ingredients. Here is what to grab from your fridge and pantry: dates (check out the health benefits of dates), baking soda, vegetable shortening or butter, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, flour (all-purpose or gluten-free flour) and chocolate chips. If you're a little nutty, grab some pecans or walnuts.

The dates take a hot bath in boiling water and baking soda to soften while you prepare the rest of the batter. The cake bakes up in about 30 to 35 minutes. Once a toothpick comes out with no crumbs, the cake is ready to be cooled on the counter.

Serve slices of this 13x9-inch cake for dessert after dinner or as a sweet, satisfying, chocolatey snack during the day. The chocolate cake also packs well for potlucks or cookouts.

Love dates? Try this old-fashioned date loaf recipe.

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 to 35 minutes
Total Time: 40 to 45 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped dates
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening or butter, softened 
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour or 1:1 gluten-free flour
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips (semisweet or dark chocolate chips)
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Here's how to make it: 

1. Put the dates into a small bowl. Sprinkle with the baking soda. Add the boiling water, stir and set aside.
2. Cream together the shortening or butter and sugar in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer or in a stand mixer until fluffy.
3. Add the eggs and vanilla. Beat to combine.
4. Stir in the flour and softened dates. (Stir until just combined. Do not overmix.)
5. Pour the batter into a buttered 13x9-inch baking pan. Spread it out, then sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. If using nuts, sprinkle them on top, too. (You could also sprinkle with a little granulated sugar, if desired.)
6. Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the cake passes the toothpick test. Remove from the oven and cool.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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