Cristina started baking at the age of 6, and has been doing so for more than 20 years. Through the years, her passion for baking grew and she decided to take her baking journey a step further by enrolling into baking classes. Cristina’s favorite part about baking is to fill her home with the sweet scent that comes out of the oven while the pastries are baking. She enjoys seeing the reaction in her friends and family as they take a bite of her delicious, tasty creations. 

Cristina has been part of the Oasis Date Gardens team for 5 years.

Prep 20 minutes / bake 25 minutes / makes 12 cupcakes

•   200 grams date paste   •   100 grams diced dates with coconut flour   •   3/4 cup of water  •   2 tablespoon instant coffee powder   •   2 eggs

•   1 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda   •   75 grams butter, softened  •   3/4 cup of sugar   •   1 tablespoon vanilla extract   •   11/4 cup of all purpose flour  

 

1. Preheat oven at 350

2. Lightly grease a 12 x ½ cup muffin pan, or line with paper cases.

3. Mix the date paste with water and coffee powder in a medium saucepan. Cook and stir occasionally over medium heat for 5-7 minutes. Remove from the heat, using a spoon stir in bicarbonate of soda and butter. Set aside for 10 minutes to cool slightly.

4. Transfer the date mixture into a large mixing bowl. Using an electronic hand beater, beat in sugar and vanilla until everything is blended. 

5. Add in the eggs to the blend, one at a time, beating through after each addition. Gently add the flour.

6. Once all ingredients are blended, pour into cupcake pan. 

7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cake is golden brown and cooked through. Test with a toothpick or fork.

8. Once cake is cooked, let rest in pan for 5 mins, then transfer muffins onto a rack to cool. Once cool, ice cupcakes with the coffee topping.

 

INGREDIENTS FOR COFFEE TOPPING

Date paste improves the taste of foods it helps make, with notes of caramel, brown sugar, and vanilla. Date paste is produced from a single ingredient, dried dates. The dates are macerated and then conveyed to a grinder and extruded into a paste.

• Adds sweetness without added sugars • Contains vitamins and minerals • Cholesterol free food • Natural antioxidant polyphenols • Heart Healthy
• No chemicals or preservatives are added • Equal parts fructose and glucose • 1 cup of Date Paste is equal to 1 cup of white or brown sugar

The baker used the Oasis Date Gardens Organic Date Paste as the main ingredient in the recipe.

"The date paste was soft and fresh making it easy to work with. Its sweet flavor and texture was fantastic!"