Vegan black sesame and almond cake (flourless)

Vegan black sesame and almond cake without flour: a moist recipe with Medjool dates, almond flour, tahini and sesame – nutty, aromatic and easy to bake.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 15 min
• Cooking time: 35 min
• Total time: 50 min
• Calories: 310 kcal per serving
• Protein: 9 g
• Fat: 26 g
• Carbs: 12 g

Ingredients

• 5 Medjool dates
• 200 g almond flour
• 150 g tahini paste
• 3 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1 tsp cream of tartar baking powder & 1 splash of water

Method

You’ll need: oven · baking tray · stick blender · chopping board · knife

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (160 °C fan) and prepare an ovenproof dish.
2. Blend the Medjool dates finely with 1 splash of water, or mash them very thoroughly, until you have a soft, sticky paste.
3. Add the almond flour, tahini paste, sesame seeds and cream of tartar baking powder to the date paste and gently mix everything into an even dough.
4. Put the dough in the dish or on a baking tray lined with baking paper and smooth the surface.
5. Bake at 160 °C fan for 25–30 min until the top is golden brown and the cake feels slightly firm. Then leave it to cool briefly in the dish.
6. To serve, cut into pieces and enjoy lukewarm or completely cooled.

Good to know

This cake is dense, nutty and pleasantly moist. It tastes honest and mellow, without any fuss. Just right when you want something sweet with character.

Swaps

Medjool dates → unsweetened apple purée (less free sugar, moist binding) Tahini paste → white almond butter or cashew butter (milder flavour, often a little less bitter) Sesame seeds → chopped walnuts or almonds (more omega-3 with walnuts, extra vitamin E with almonds)

Allergens

The recipe contains almonds (tree nuts) and sesame as clear allergens. For small children, only offer it in suitably sized pieces because of its dense, sticky texture; during pregnancy the ingredients are usually fine, as long as there's no allergy or individual intolerance.

Frequently asked questions

How does black sesame compare with white sesame?

The differences are usually smaller than often claimed. Black sesame also provides minerals and plant compounds, but the values vary considerably depending on how it's grown and processed.

What's in tahini, nutritionally?

Tahini is made from ground sesame and mainly provides unsaturated fats, calcium, magnesium, iron and copper. Because it's very concentrated, it noticeably shapes the cake's nutrient profile.

Are Medjool dates just sugar?

Dates naturally contain a lot of sugar, but they also bring fibre and smaller amounts of potassium and polyphenols. In this recipe they replace refined sugar, but they're still a sweet ingredient.

Do sesame and almonds contain calcium and iron?

Both ingredients contain these minerals. They also contain natural plant compounds called phytates, which soaking or toasting can reduce a little, but not remove completely.

Dairy-free recipes