Pareve chocolate cake with date syrup

You've finished an elaborate meat meal after voting at the polls, everyone's settled in, and now comes the decisive moment: what do you serve at the end? The dessert after a meat meal must be pareve, but there's no reason to compromise on taste or texture. This chocolate cake with date syrup and coffee is exactly what you need — moist, rich and especially indulgent, without any complicated techniques.

The combination of date syrup and coffee does the work: it deepens the chocolate flavor and gives the cake a special richness. And the best part? No need to separate eggs, use mixers or do complicated work. The cake keeps beautifully at room temperature, even if the meal stretches for hours.

Ingredients you'll need

For a wide loaf pan or a 22 cm round pan:

1½ cups self-rising flour (or regular flour with a packet of baking powder)

½ cup quality cocoa powder

Ready for more?

¾ cup sugar

Pinch of salt

3 large eggs

½ cup canola or sunflower oil

⅓ cup date syrup (silan)

1 cup boiling water mixed with 1 teaspoon instant coffee

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For pareve ganache topping:

100 grams dark chocolate

½ cup coconut cream, plant-based cream, or 2 tablespoons oil

Preparation method

Heat the oven to 170°C (340°F) and grease the baking pan thoroughly. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, oil, date syrup and vanilla extract until you have a uniform mixture.
Add the flour, cocoa and salt to the bowl. Start mixing and gradually pour in the cup of hot coffee.
Whisk only until you get a smooth and relatively thin batter - the thinness is the secret to a soft and airy cake.
Pour the batter into the pan and bake for approximately 35–40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out with moist crumbs. Be careful not to overbake, which will dry out the cake.
Melt the dark chocolate together with the coconut cream or plant-based cream in the microwave, in 30-second pulses. Mix into a smooth and shiny cream and pour over the cake while it's warm.

Tips for a festive upgrade

Want to make the cake even more impressive? Sprinkle toasted coconut flakes, chopped nuts or colorful candies over the topping. The cake keeps excellently in a closed container at room temperature for 3 - 4 days.

The combination of date syrup and coffee gives the cake a special depth of flavor that's somewhat reminiscent of sophisticated restaurant desserts, but with simple home preparation.