Jujube Date and Almond Bundt Cake

Happy New Year! Does anyone else feel like 2020 is going to be special? Not only is it the start of a new year but also a new decade, which feels a little bit like opening the first page of a sequel novel–you already know the characters but you have no idea where their stories will travel.

I’ve made a list of resolutions and goals on how I’d like the next few months and years to pan out, but we’ll see where things go. If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past ten years it’s that life is full of unexpected changes and happenings. All I can really do is work on becoming a better version of myself–hence the resolutions and goals–and make sure I’m ready for whatever comes next.

So what are some things I want to work on? First, I’d like to cook more plant-based meals. I believe that our food habits and systems are a big contributor to global warming. And I believe that changing our diet from one that’s meat-heavy to one that’s more plant-based can have a positive impact on our planet and health. My husband and I actually started eating more plant-based meals at the end of last year, and we really love(d) it. We don’t plan on going 100% vegan, but for now, we’ve cut our meat and dairy consumption by about a third. We feel great and it’s helped us be more creative in the kitchen. Which segues into my second resolution…

I want to be more adventurous in the kitchen and challenge myself with new projects. In the last few years, I’ve gotten really repetitive in what I cook and bake at home, and I realized it was because I was in a rut. I want to start exercising my creative muscles again and share more recipes that help others think outside of the box as well.

Lastly, I want to be more conscious of what I consume and find ways to reduce waste in my life as a whole. This is a huge endeavor and one that will not happen overnight let alone within a year. But I believe that small steps can lead to big changes–I’m beginning with cutting down on single-use plastic and being more intentional about my purchases (i.e. do I really need another pair of shoes? Or another set of offset spatulas?).

So now that the hefty self-improvement plan is in place, shall we get on with the recipe? This is a super cozy bundt cake made with jujubes, almonds, and spices. The flavors are really humble and warming–it’s a nod to both Asian and North American flavors, and so if you grew up with both you’ll find the recipe extra special.

Truth be told, I’ve never made a bundt cake before–which is why I thought it apropos to share it in this post where I shared my resolution about expanding my baking repertoire. The complicated flutes look intimidating, but it turns out the pan does all the hard work for you and the extra edges result in more caramelized surfaces 😋. The cake batter and assembly are very straightforward–cream, mix, pour, and bake. I’ve also included a recipe for a simple glaze, but if you’re not feeling it, just eat it as is or sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top–it’ll still look and taste beautiful.

There are a lot of great bundt pans out there–I love the look of this Nordic Ware bundt pan that I used, but this one is a classic and this heart shaped version is perfect for Valentine’s Day.

More easy cake recipes:

Chamomile Honey Almond Cake
Chocolate Speckled Jasmine & Orange Financiers
Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf

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