Date & Walnut Cake

Like many Greek and Middle Eastern sweets, this date-walnut cake is infused with a honey syrup. Semolina flour makes it moist and dense.


Ingredients


Cake

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1 1/2 cups semolina flour

3/4 cup chopped dates

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest

1 teaspoon baking soda

Honey Syrup

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup orange juice, juice

1/3 cup honey

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
 
Preparation


1.To make cake: Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat an 8-by-12-inch or 7-by-11-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

2.Stir together sugar and yogurt in a mixing bowl. Add semolina, dates, walnuts, orange zest and baking soda; stir until well combined. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake until the top is golden and the cake is set in the center, 30 to 40 minutes.

3.To make honey syrup and finish cake: While the cake is baking, combine sugar, orange juice, honey, lemon juice and cinnamon in a saucepan; bring to a simmer and cook over low heat for 4 minutes. When the cake comes out of the oven, cut it into 15 pieces. Spoon the hot syrup evenly over the top, getting some around the edges and into the cuts. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutrition

Per serving: 198 calories; 3 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 42 g carbohydrates; 4 g protein; 2 g fiber; 91 mg sodium; 124 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Selenium (23% daily value).

3 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 starch, 1/2 fruit, 1 1/2 other carbohydrate, 1/2 fat