Lemon and Date Cakes with Lemon Icing

From issue #8.
Photography by Nick Tresidder.
Lemon and Date Cakes with Lemon Icing

INGREDIENTS

250 grams pitted dates, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon baking soda
1⁄2 cup water
110 grams butter
110 grams caster sugar
finely grated zest of 1 lemon
1 egg 150 grams flour
1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon mixed spice
Lemon icing
50 grams cream cheese
50 grams softened butter
100 grams icing sugar, sifted
finely grated zest of 1⁄2 -1 lemon
12 hole muffin tin
9 paper baking cases

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 150oC.

Place the dates, baking soda and the water in a small saucepan and cook gently until the dates form a soft paste, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Cream the butter, sugar and lemon zest in a food processor until pale. Add the egg and beat well. Add the cooled date paste and process until the mixture is smooth.
Combine the flour, baking powder and the mixed spice and tip into the food processor. Using the pulse button, process until just combined.

Line the muffin tin with 9 paper cases. Divide the mixture between them.

Place in the oven and cook for about 30 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool before icing.

Icing: Place all the ingredients in a bowl and beat until the icing is white and fluffy. Icing can be piped using a small nozzle or spooned on and a decorative effect achieved with the tines of a fork.

Un-iced cakes with keep in an air-tight container for 4-5 days. Left-over icing will keep covered in the refrigerator for a week. Makes 9 cakes