Gluten Free Date Walnut Cake

Have you heard of the celebration for the tree’s birthday? Although it is considered a minor Jewish holiday, it is one of my favorites as it celebrates nature and the bounty we receive from trees. Dates and nuts are just two of my favorite things, and I wanted to combine them into a new gluten free dessert recipe.

Tu BiShvat means “New Year of the Trees” and is considered the Jewish Arbor Day. Surprisingly, the holiday name has several different spellings. Although we honor trees on this day, you can enjoy this gluten free date walnut cake recipe all year! 

Many like to plant trees to celebrate the holiday. Personally, I take this as a great excuse to bake using the bounty from trees like fruits and nuts. You will love baking this Gluten Free Creamy Apple Cake, this Gluten Free Almond Flour Orange Cake, or this fruity Gluten Free Plum Crisp.

Why we love this gluten free date nut cake:

1. This date nut cake recipe is both gluten- and dairy-free; plus, there is an easy nut-free option, so it is perfect if you have multiple food allergies. You can use walnuts, pecans, or any nuts.
2. Dates naturally sweeten this cake, so you can cut back on the amount of sugar you use if you choose. You can also use coconut sugar instead of regular sugar if you prefer a low-glycemic sweetener.
3. You can bake this cake in a cake pan a loaf pan, or frost it to make it a nice layer cake. There are so many options!
4. This cake freezes nicely so you can make it ahead, then thaw it when you are ready to serve it.

Allergen Information:

This delicious date cake is gluten-free, dairy-free, oat-free, and soy-free. Make it nut-free by omitting the walnuts.

Ingredient Notes:

For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.

• Gluten Free Flour Blend – Many gluten free flour blends will work in this easy date nut cake recipe. I have tried both King Arthur GF Measure for Measure and Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF Blend in this recipe. Note that if your recipe doesn’t contain Xanthan Gum, you must add 1 teaspoon. My DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend also works well in this recipe.
• Brown Sugar – You can use this sweetener or coconut sugar. One of my readers told me monk fruit sweetener works well in this recipe.
• Baking Powder – Use aluminum-free if you can.
• Nuts – I switch between walnuts and pecans when I make this date nut cake, but you can use any nuts you like.
• Dates – Be sure to remove the pit before using the dates.
• Eggs – Use size large.
• Coconut Oil – You can use another oil if you prefer.
• Honey – You can use inexpensive honey in this recipe. Just make sure it is 100% honey with no additives.
• Almond Milk – I used this, but any non-dairy or regular milk will also work.

Step 1: Add your dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and whisk to blend. If you see clumps of brown sugar (or coconut sugar), use your fingers to break them up. You can also sift the coconut sugar in and use a spoon in the sifter to press the crumbs through.

Add the chopped dates now. See the Tips for Success section to learn why this is important.

Step 2: Mix the wet ingredients in a smaller bowl. If your coconut oil is hard, melt it until it is warm (not hot).

Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and add the nuts. Mix these gently. You do not want to overmix your cake batter.

Step 6: Use a large spoon to spread the cake batter in the pan. Bake the date cake at 350º F for 30 minutes until done. (Note: if you use a loaf pan, your baking time may be slightly longer.)

To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the cake must be baked longer.