Sticky Toffee Date Cake Recipe

If you can't resist a little dessert with your afternoon coffee, you'll love this sticky toffee date cake recipe. It pairs perfectly with a nice cup of joe, and each serving is less than 250 calories, so it won't derail any healthy eating plans you might have.

This cake takes its flavor from dates and chopped pear pieces, making it a fruit lover's delight. With 36 grams of sugar, this dessert is a little high on the sweet front from the fruit, but once you've tasted it, you'll agree it's worth it.

Nutrition: 244 calories, 2 g fat (1 g saturated), 310 mg sodium, 36 g sugar, 4 g protein, 4 g fiber

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray
1 8-ounce package whole pitted dates, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
1 1/4 cups water
1 medium pear, peeled, cored, and chopped
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed
Fresh pear slices (optional)
Grated fresh nutmeg (optional)

How to Make It

1. Coat a 1 1/2-quart soufflé dish with cooking spray. Tear off two 20 x 2-inch pieces of heavy foil. Crisscross the strips and place dish in the center. In a small saucepan, combine dates, the water, and chopped pear. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and boil gently 12 minutes or until mixture is thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Coarsely mash with a potato masher or fork. Stir in brown sugar and baking soda (mixture will foam).
2. In a small bowl, combine flours, baking powder, salt, and ground nutmeg. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, applesauce, and vanilla. Stir in date mixture and flour mixture. Transfer mixture to prepared dish. Cover with foil.
3. Place a trivet and 1 cup water in a 6-quart electric pressure cooker. Use the foil strips to transfer the dish into the cooker. Fold ends of foil strips overtop of the dish. Lock lid in place. Set cooker on high pressure to cook 30 minutes. Let pressure release naturally 15 minutes. Carefully release any remaining pressure. Open lid carefully.
4. Using foil strips, lift dish out of the cooker. Place on a wire rack. Remove foil strips and foil cover. Cool slightly. Serve cake warm with whipped topping, and, if desired, garnish with pear slices and fresh nutmeg.

Eat This! Tip

When it comes to weight loss, fresh nutmeg is a go-to dessert garnish because it contains manganese, which helps break down fats.

The easy way to make healthier comfort foods.