Date cupcakes recipe

Our date cupcakes take 30 minutes to bake and can be enjoyed with or without the cream cheese icing. 

This cupcake recipe is delicious and moist thanks to the addition of soaked chopped dates in the batter. We have also included some mixed spice but you can swap for cinnamon or replace with a little vanilla extract if you prefer. 

Ingredients

• 100g bag of walnuts ( 75g to be chopped and 25g left aside to decorate)
• 200g stoned dates
• 100ml of golden syrup
• 125g butter
• 120g self-raising flour
• 120g plain flour
• 10g cornflour
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 100g light brown sugar
• 1 medium egg

For the cream cheese icing:

• 150g full-fat soft cream cheese
• 150g icing sugar
• Few drops of vanilla extract

Method

1. Heat the oven to 170C (150C fan, Gas 3). Line a 12-hole muffin tray with cake cases.
2. Chop 75g walnuts and leave the rest whole for decoration.
3. Roughly chop the dates into 1cm pieces then put them in a small saucepan with 250ml water, the golden syrup and butter. Heat until just boiling then leave to one side to cool.
4. Into a large mixing bowl sieve the self-raising flour, plain flour, cornflour, bicarbonate soda, mixed spice, brown sugar and add the chopped walnuts.
5. Lightly beat the egg and when the date mix has cooled fold the egg and date mix into the flours until just combined.
6. Divide the mixture between the 12 cases and bake for 30 minutes or until risen and the sponge springs back when lightly pressed. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. To make the icing, add the cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla to a mixing bowl and beat with a whisk until smooth and shiny.
8. Decorate the cakes with a teaspoon of icing then press a walnut halve on top.

Top tips for making date cupcakes 

Victoria says: ‘If you would prefer to decorate the cakes with a perfect circle of icing, use a Wilton 2A or other round-tip nozzle attached to a piping bag to pipe a circle onto the centre of each cake.’ For more tips and tricks, continue reading below. 

In step three of the recipe you need to heat the dates with syrup and water in a saucepan. If your pans are looking tired and need updating, we like this stainless steel one from Le Creuset. 

Le Creuset 3-Ply Stainless Steel Lidded Saucepan 16cm - View at John Lewis

The 16cm pan is a good versatile size for most cooking and baking needs but there is an 18cm and 20cm version if you prefer. The stainless steel material looks timeless and chic in any kitchen. Although the pans are dishwasher-safe, we recommend handwashing where possible to increase the quality and longevity of the pans.

Fancy making some more cupcakes? Try our chocolate cupcake recipe for an easy crowd pleaser or these mini cupcakes are a wonder option when entertaining. Our rainbow cupcakes are a popular option with little ones too.