Arabic Dates and Honey Cake

The theme for this month's Home Bakers Challenge, a monthly baking group started by Priya, is Arabic Bakes. Rafeeda of The Big Sweet Tooth suggested both savory and sweet bakes for this challenge. On her choices, today I baked this dateand Honeycake. I followed Raffeda's instructions and instead of eggs  I used milk. It tasted so heavenly and its so good and My family loved it. Thank you Rafeeda AR for the wonderful Arabian recipes

This Arabic Date and Honey Cake is Easy , delicious, unique and The half-baked cake absorbs all the syrup, turning the cake super soft and moist. This is a rich, delicious and filling cake. We  can served it with coffee/tea.

Ingredients:

All Purpose flour-1 cup

Salted Butter-1/2 cup  

Eggs-3   (Instead of eggs I used ½ cup milk)

Brown sugar-1/4 cup 

White sugar-1/4 cup

 Vanilla essence-1/2 tsp 

 Baking powder-1/2 tsp 

For Topping:

Butter-1/2 cup 

White sugar-1/4 cup

Brown sugar-1/4 cup 

Honey-1/3 cup

Sliced almonds-1/2 cup 

Cinnamon powder-1/2 tsp

Pitted dates-8to10

  Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C Grease cake  pan or line with parchment paper.I used parchment Paper.

2. Beat the, white sugar, brown sugar,milk and vanilla together until light and fluffy.

3.Gently pour in the melted butter and whisk until well combined.

4. Sift all-purpose flour, salt and baking powder right into the bowl. Mix well to combine.

5. Pour into the prepared pan and bake 10 minutes.

6. While cake is baking prepare the topping. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.

7.Add the sugars, honey, almonds, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

8. Pour the topping gently on the cake and return the cake to the oven. Bake for another 15-20 minutes or until completely baked.

9. While pouring the syrup on the cake, start from the sides and pour slowly. The syrup will be still bubbling, but it will thicken once cooled.

10.Let the cake cool in the pan completely before removing it out of the pan.Serve it with tea/ coffee

Pineapple Burfi

Pineapple Burfi is a simple and yummy fruity burfi with no fat and also looks great. It is very easy to prepare and gives you unique taste. I tried in my own version.

Ingredients:                                                                                         

Pine apple - 1 cup

Besan- ½ cup

Sugar - 1/2 cup

cardamom powder- 1 teaspoon

Ghee-- ¼ cup 2+1 tbsp to grease

Chopped almonds - 1 tbsp

Pistachio slivers as required

Method:

1.Grate the Pineapple and Grind it into a paste.

2. Sieve the besan | kadalai maavu to avoid lumps. Heat ghee in a heavy bottom pan.

When the ghee melts and is hot, add the besan.

3.Roast the besan for 5 minutes till the raw smell goes and gives out a nice aroma then keep aside  Grease a tray with ghee and set it aside.

4.Add the grated Pineapple paste to it and reduce the heat to medium. Keep stirring till no moisture is left.

5.Now Add sugar to it andKeep stirring for few minutes till sugar turns into thick syrup.

6.Add besan slowly; keep stirring so no lumps are formed. Reduce the heat to medium and keep stirring.

7.Add the remaining ghee slowly while keep stirring continuously.

8.When it starts leaving the sides of the pan and moves as a mass along with the stirring ladle, it is done. Add cardamom powder and mix properly

9.Transfer to a greased pan and Spread it evenly and set aside to cool.

10.Garnish with. chopped pistachios& Silvered Almonds.Then cut into desired shape& Serve.