Courage and Flourless Date Chocolate Cake
This Flourless Date Chocolate Cake is delicious for any holiday!
I think about people this time of year. Shopping, gift giving, opening our homes for gatherings and dinners, and the courage that it takes for some of us to even face this holiday. For many the holidays are painful and dreaded, so it takes effort to coordinate the schedules, be vulnerable with possibly inviting those you’re not crazy about, and extending good cheer and happiness when you don’t really feel like it. For me, I love this time of year. I love planning different events with different groups of friends and family. But just because entertaining comes easy to me doesn’t mean I don’t feel the losses, hardships, divorces, and sadness that some of my friends are facing this holiday season.
I’m reminded of Anne Lamott’s words:
“People say you can’t have faith and fear at the same time. But you can. I’m exhibit A. I prefer to think, Couarge is fear that has said its prayers. So I said my prayers: Help, help, help.”
I wrote in a few posts back how I didn’t decorate the tree this year, instead choosing to display just its tiny white lights. I wondered who all would even notice, but as the front door began to open, in the background our neighbor, who was delivering a gift to our family over the weekend, could see tiny white lights on the tree, said, Oh, I love the white lights on the tree.
As I sit in the living room in the early mornings, coffee in one hand, gazing into the tree, I think about my friends and people who are hurting. Christmas has come to bring joy to the world, and peace to mankind. It reminds me to pray, for not only myself and my family, but for others in this world who need courage – and help, help, help!
Thinking of my love for those people in our lives, who overcome to do things when they’re afraid, and for the lowly and hurting around us, I offer this delicious Flourless Almond Date Chocolate Cake today!
Wouldn’t it be great if all it took to make this world a better place was to bake a cake, to offer a slice, and all hurts would be healed?
For the gluten-free crowd out there, and for any chocolate lover, my prayer is that each bite of this cake would bringing healing, unity, love, and peace this Christmas season!
Have a wonderful next few days, my friends!
Do you lack courage when it comes to entertaining, or is it something you really enjoy doing?
Get the Recipe:
Flourless Date Chocolate Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 12- ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips + 1/4 cup for garnishing
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 8- ounce bag pitted dates
- 5 eggs
- 1/4 cup blanched almond flour
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 F. Coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the cream until just simmering. Remove the pan from the heat and add the chocolate chips. Stir until melted and smooth.
- Combine the chocolate-cream mixture, vanilla, almond extract, and dates in a blender. Puree until smooth (it will be very thick), about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs and blanched almond flour, then puree again until completely blended.
- Pour into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until completely set at the center. Cool completely, then remove the sides of the pan.
- Grate 1/4 cup of chocolate (using a small Cuisinart or a grater) and sprinkle over the cake. Garnish with pomegranates or fresh raspberries and serve. Excellent served with a small scoop of ice cream.
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
years later, i just wanted to comment and say this is my GO TO chocolate torte recipe! it is what i make multiple times a year … my 3 year old requested it for her birthday, i made it for a friends baby blessing way and now i am making two for christmas celebrations. it is perfect!! thank you!!
Dear Sandy,
I found your recipe to be very exciting but the words you spoke around the recipe gives others the courage. Yes it gives you another way of showing acts of compassion when sharing a yummy slice of cake to others hurting, it may be a simple gesture but it can go a long way showing kindness and genuineness. Just being there for some-one with a yummy slice of cake sharing is just courage in it self lets get out of our comfort and step out to share with others.
Kind regards
Tracy-jean
Yum! Merry Christmas!
A lovely post and recipe from a lovely lady. :) Thanks for sharing, my dear. I, too, think of those who are hurting and going through terrible losses. These past several years following the economic downturn has hurt many and many have lost their loved ones, too. My heart just aches, my throat hurts and I tear up. We must be mindful and not only pray for ourselves and our loved ones, but also for friends we know, and others we do not know or know well, for strength, courage and God’s guidance in life. Sandy, best wishes to you and yours for a meaningful and joyous Christmas holiday! xo
What a beautiful cake!! I have a bunch of dates in my pantry that are just waiting for a recipe like this! Merry Christmas my beautiful friend! xo
Sounds wonderfully, decadently rich. Love it! And love how you’ve scattered pomegranate seeds on top – they look so pretty.
I always have to fight the urge to be JUST US and am still bothered by images of perfectionism after all these years. (Seriously, someone posted a picture of me on facebook serving whipped cream out of a handled pyrex measuring cup instead of an attractive bowl and … how shallow!… i had a little mental battle over that one). But without fail we are glad we open our home and wouldn’t trade the people over perfection … EVER!
dmeyers