Black Sesame Cake (Naturally Sweetened Date Cake)

Mineral rich date cake with calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus.

Moist, gently sweet, and with a tender crumb, this Black Sesame Cake combines lightly toasted black sesame seeds with the caramel-like sweetness of Medjool dates. Walnuts and applesauce add richness and moisture without added oil, while buckwheat flour complements the sesame's nutty, earthy flavor.

Black sesame cake sliced on a cutting board with chia jam.

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This dairy-free, gluten-free date cake is easy to make-simply blend the wet ingredients, mix with the dry ingredients, and bake. Enjoy a slice with coffee or tea, or serve it with a spoonful of chia jam or psyllium jelly.

🔍 Quick Look: Black Sesame Cake

⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
🎛️ Bake Time: 35 to 40 minutes
👥 Servings: 10
📊 Calories: ~228 kcal per serving (based on nutrition panel)
👩🏽‍🍳 Flavor Profile: Nutty black sesame with caramel-like sweetness from dates.
💪🏼 Nutrition: Each slice provides ~6 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, 2 mg of iron (11% DV), and 100 mg of magnesium (24% DV)
🌱 Dietary features: Vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free when using certified gluten-free ingredients
⭐ Difficulty: Easy-blend, mix, and bake.

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🔍 Quick Look: Black Sesame Cake
👩🏽‍⚕️ Dietitian's Note
👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients
🌿 Substitutions
📝 How to Make Black Sesame Cake
✔️ Storage Tips
🍥 More Healthy Treats
🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs
🥄 More Healthy Cake Recipes
👩🏽‍🍳 Made this recipe?
⚖️ Convert the Recipe to Metric (g & mL)
Black Sesame Cake Recipe
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👩🏽‍⚕️ Dietitian's Note

This black sesame date cake provides unsaturated fats from walnuts and sesame, plus fiber from dates, buckwheat, and flaxseed. Black sesame seeds also contribute calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus. Grinding helps make their nutrients more accessible. Dates add sweetness, while applesauce and walnuts provide moisture and richness without added oil.

Why You'll Love This Recipe:

This is not your typical date cake. The black sesame gives it a deep roasted flavor, and the dates add caramel-like sweetness. Plus. it's:

Rich with black sesame flavor: Lightly toasted, finely ground seeds add nutty flavor throughout the cake.
Sweetened with dates: Medjool dates bring gentle sweetness and caramel-like notes.
Moist, tender crumb: Applesauce and blended walnuts add moisture and richness without added oil.
Vegan and gluten-free: Made without eggs, dairy, or wheat flour.
Easy to prepare: Blend the wet ingredients, stir into the dry ingredients, and bake.

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Below, I share ingredient notes from both a nutrition expert's and trained chef's perspective.

Medjool dates, walnuts, applesauce, flaxseed meal, black sesame seeds, apple cider vinegar, buckwheat flour, psyllium husk, nondairy milk, baking powder, baking soda, and black sesame seeds.

Black sesame seeds: Toast them very lightly, cool completely, and grind into a fine meal. Avoid grinding too long or they will turn into a paste.
Medjool dates: Sweeten the date cake and add a caramel-like flavor. Soak and drain them before blending. Weighing the dates is more reliable than counting them because their size varies.
Unsweetened applesauce: Adds moisture and helps create a tender crumb.
Unsweetened nondairy milk: Helps the dates and walnuts blend smoothly. Soy milk works well, but other unsweetened nondairy milks can also be used.
Raw walnuts: Add richness. Blend thoroughly so no visible walnut pieces remain.
Buckwheat flour: Provides structure and an earthy flavor that complements black sesame. Buckwheat is naturally gluten-free despite its name.
Ground flaxseed: Helps bind the egg-free batter.
Whole psyllium husks: Help the cake hold together. Use whole husks rather than an equal amount of psyllium powder.
Baking powder and baking soda: Help the batter rise.
Apple cider vinegar: Reacts with baking soda to provide lift.
Vanilla extract: Complements the dates and rounds out the sesame flavor.

See the printable recipe card below for quantities.

🌿 Substitutions

This recipe is versatile and easy to adapt. Below are some simple ingredient substitutions.

Nondairy milk: Use unsweetened soy, almond, oat, or another nondairy milk. If using oat milk, choose certified gluten-free when needed.
Medjool dates: Other soft, pitted dates can work. Use approximately 170 grams and soak until softened.
Black sesame seeds: White sesame seeds will give a different flavor and a lighter-colored cake. Black sesame is recommended for this recipe.
Whole psyllium husks: Use 1 teaspoon psyllium husk powder instead of 1 tablespoon whole psyllium husks; adjust the milk as needed for a thick but spreadable batter.

📝 How to Make Black Sesame Cake

The complete recipe with exact amounts is below. These additional tips will help you get the best results.

Soaked dates in a measuring cup with water.

Soak and drain the dates: Remove the pits, cover the dates with hot water, and soak for 10 minutes. If they are particularly firm, soak until softened. Drain well so the soaking water does not add extra liquid to the batter.

Toasted black sesame seeds in a skillet.

Toast lightly: Stir the seeds in a dry skillet over medium-low heat just until fragrant. Avoid overtoasting, which can make them bitter. Transfer to a plate and cool completely.

Grind briefly: Pulse the cooled seeds into a fine meal, stopping before they become oily or form a paste.

Flaxseed meal, black sesame seeds, buckwheat flour, psyllium husk, baking powder, baking soda, and ground black sesame seeds.

Whisk the dry ingredients well: Include the buckwheat flour, flaxseed, psyllium, baking powder, baking soda, and optional salt.

Add the ground black sesame seeds and whisk again until evenly combined. Break up any clumps to distribute the seeds and leavening evenly.

Soaked dates, applesauce, nondairy milk, raw walnuts, and vanilla in the canister of a blender.

Blend the wet ingredients thoroughly: Blend the dates, applesauce, milk, walnuts, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.

Blended Medjool dates, walnuts, applesauce, vanilla, and nondairy milk.

Stop and scrape down the blender as needed. Visible date or walnut pieces can make the crumb uneven.

Combine wet and dry: Add the blended wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until no dry flour remains. Stir in the apple cider vinegar.

The batter should be thick and sticky but spreadable. If needed, add nondairy milk 1 tablespoon at a time, up to 3 tablespoons.

Mixing bowl with batter topped with more baking soda and apple cider vinegar.

Optional extra rise: After mixing the batter, sift in an additional ¼ teaspoon baking soda and fold in evenly. Stir in 1 teaspoon additional apple cider vinegar, then transfer to the pan and bake immediately.

Cake batter scooped into the baking dish.

Transfer to the pan: Spread the batter into a parchment-lined 9 × 5-inch loaf pan or an 8-inch square baking pan and smooth the top. Baking time will vary with the pan's depth; a loaf pan may need longer.

Smooth the top: Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the batter evenly.

Cake batter in a loaf pan topped with ground pumpkin seeds.

Sprinkle with ground pumpkin seeds, if desired.

Check for doneness: The top should feel set and slightly spring back when pressed. The center should feel set, and a toothpick inserted into the middle should come out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter.

Let the cake cool completely before slicing so the crumb can firm up.

Serve: Enjoy a slice with chia jam or sweet pumpkin seed butter.

✔️ Storage Tips

Let the cake cool completely before placing it in an airtight container.

Room temperature: Keep for up to 2 days in a cool kitchen.
Refrigerator: Store for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months.

Slice before freezing and separate the pieces with parchment paper so you can thaw one serving at a time. Bring refrigerated slices to room temperature or warm gently before serving.

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🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

What does black sesame cake taste like?

Black sesame cake has a nutty, earthy flavor. In this recipe, lightly toasted seeds add depth, while Medjool dates provide caramel-like sweetness. The result is a gently sweet cake with a moist, tender crumb.

Is this a date cake?

Yes. Blended Medjool dates sweeten the batter and contribute to its moist texture. Black sesame gives this date cake its distinctive flavor and dark color.

Should I toast black sesame seeds before making cake?

For this recipe, toast the seeds very lightly to bring out their aroma. Stir frequently, remove them from the heat as soon as they smell fragrant, and cool completely before grinding. Overtoasting can create a bitter flavor.

Should black sesame cake be refrigerated?

It can be kept at room temperature for a day or two, but refrigeration is best for longer storage and helps maintain freshness. Warm before serving for the best tasting cake.

How do I grind black sesame seeds without making a paste?

Start with completely cooled seeds and use short pulses in a spice grinder or suitable blender. Stop when they form a fine meal. Continued grinding releases their oils and turns the mixture into sesame paste.

Do I need to soak the dates for date cake?

Soaking softens the dates so they blend more easily. Cover them with hot water for 10 minutes, then drain well before adding them to the blender.