Express Microwave Date Sponge

My boys love this! Really quick & easy to do ... no need to beat eggs till creamy or wait ages for the batter to "relax" or whatever.  Takes just 4 minutes to "steam" by microwave!

Soft & fluffy ... many say it tastes just like Malai Ko.

Prep Time: ~10 mins; Cooking Time: <5 mins

Ingredients A (Dry)
1/2 C + 2 T cake flour
1 T castor sugar
3 T brown sugar / Muscovado sugar
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
pinch of salt
Optional: small pinch of mixed spice or coffee powder or orange zest

Ingredients B (Wet)
2 eggs
3 T oil (grapeseed, corn, canola are best - no smell)
1 T honey
1 T evaporated milk
1 tsp vanilla essence

Date Paste
6 dates, pitted (I use King Solomon DERI dates which mash easily)
2 T hot water
Pinch of bicarbonate of soda (optional if you use DERI dates. Others are more fibrous)
3 T unsweetened set yogurt (like Paul's Natural - I used DIY yogurt here)

Method:

Line the bottom of a suitable 18cm diameter microwave cake tin (or disposable plastic container) with baking paper.

Mash dates: Put dates & water (& baking soda) in a small microwave-safe teacup. Snip with kitchen shears a few times. Microwave 20sec. Press with a fork, then stir till well-mashed. Or you can also process this.

In a large mug or bowl, mix dry stuff with a fork or wire whisk (if soda is lumpy, rub between fingers & sprinkle it). Add wet stuff one by one, stirring then beating smooth between additions. 

Beat yogurt into dates till blended (to make it easier to blend dates into batter), then stir this into batter. Pour into microwave cake tin and microwave on HIGH for 4 minutes.  To remove, use a plastic knife to ease the cake off the edges of the tin and pop onto a wire rack to cool.

This is a very light, soft sponge - cut with serrated knife and enjoy!