Moist Dates and Walnut Cake with Oil (Eggless)

1.Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x9-inch baking pan.

2.In a small bowl, combine the pitted dates and boiling water. Stir in the baking soda and let it sit for 10 minutes to soften the dates.

3.In a large mixing bowl, cream the vegetable oil and brown sugar until well combined.

4.Add the unsweetened applesauce (for eggless version) and vanilla extract, mix well.

5.In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

6.Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.

7.Fold in the chopped walnuts and the softened date mixture.

8.Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

9.Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

10.Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.