As I sit down to write this, the house – and the dark canyon surrounding it – are silent. I’m cuddled into several layers of sweaters, out of comfort more than necessity, I’m sipping a mug of this tea + eating a little piece of this truly Perfect Date Cake. AND, I’m in the middle of my reset.
That’s right, I’m technically cleansing. And this isn’t a cheat. It’s an actually-Ayurvedic approved way of soothing the wind and fire elements in my being (which I’m working hard on these next weeks) and it’s going to help me sleep like a baby (because sometimes I need a little bit of something after my early dinner when I do these resets.)
There are probably several ironies surrounding this truth. First, when we get beyond the annoying noise that is the wellness industry, it’s pretty plain to see that a thoughtful slice of cake is exactly what we need to cure what ails us. Further, I didn’t create this cake to eat it on my cleanse. I created it to share over the holidays at the several inevitable feasts we’ll joyfully host in this little, now quiet kitchen. And, no one will know that this is a cake fit for a cleanse. Just like I don’t ever want to know a cleanse without one.
Ok, let’s be really clear here. During this 10-day digestive reset I’m in the middle of, I’m eating a lot of things that are NOT cake. Kitchari, this green soup, steamed rice, poached spiced pears, quinoa porridge…I’m avoiding animal products, refined sugars, caffeine, gluten and fermented foods. It’s a very simple, very slurpy menu that is easy to digest, and some could consider to be “boring” but I have grown to love – all the scents and tastes of returning my body mind to a calm and collected baseline.
It’s a rare occasion, honestly, that I have any “treats” on these resets. I keep dates in the house at all times, and this is one of the “snacks” that are welcome through this process. I steam sweet potatoes and enjoy them with ghee and cinnamon sometimes. And, when I really feel like I want something cozy and sweet, I have one that’s designed to fit in the confines of this process. There are a couple here in the Recipe Library that are suitable for this. This cake is really the most decadent of them, because of the high quantity of both dates and coconut sugar.
Things to know about coconut sugar: first, it contains about half of the blood glucose of refined sugar. It still contains it’s minerals and nutrients, which is something that refined sugar can’t say, so it actually has nutritional value instead of emptyness. But the reason that it fits the bill on a fall reset is that this process is all about grounding vata dosha and soothing pitta dosha and. there are very few substances that can do this in the same way.
In abundance, or if you were – say – eating this cake everyday or more than once each day during your reset, you’re starting to jeapordize this time-honored process. But once, or maybe twice over the course of 10 days? You’re in the clear.
Coconut sugar is not just a cute little pantry prop. In the context of a reset, or life in general, it has subtle but meaningful perks, if you use it mindfully.
In addition to the caramely flavor, here are some good things to know:
1. It feeds a healthy microbiome.
Coconut sugar contains inulin, a type of soluble fiber. Even though it’s not a huge amount, it slows the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. That’s why your energy doesn’t spike as sharply as with plain white sugar, which is basically pure sucrose with zero fiber and zero nutritional benefit.
2. It contains mineral and polyphenol support.
Coconut sugar retains small amounts of potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and antioxidants. These micronutrients don’t magically cancel the sweetner’s effect, but they slightly help your body process glucose and mitigate oxidative stress. In Ayurvedic terms, they make the sweet more “whole” and grounding instead of sharp and heating.
3. Sweet balances the doshas.
From an Ayurvedic lens, sugar is sweet (madhura rasa), cooling, and grounding. Coconut sugar is less processed and closer to its natural sap form, which makes it less agitating to Pitta and less aggravating to Vata than refined sugar. That’s why it fits into a gentle reset and regular life more easily than white sugar—it doesn’t spike internal heat or disturb digestion as harshly.
Bottom line: Coconut sugar isn’t a free pass—it’s still sugar—but it modulates blood sugar more gently than refined sugar, both chemically and energetically. In a reset, at your afternoon snack time or around the holiday dessert table, that can translate to steadier energy, calmer digestion, and a less jittery nervous system.
Is truly perfect. I shared it with my friends in Bentonville when I cooked for Rapha and the USA Cycling team last month, ahead of their announcement that all the Olympic cycling athletes will be wearing Rapha in the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. They LOVED this treat! Leo loves it too. He’s been enjoying little bits on occasion as snacks. It’s ridiculously easy to make, and is perfect for a crowd because the batch makes a large pan full, so be sure to share some with your advenure buddies, neighbors, relatives…or cut the recipe in half and bake it in an 8×8 pan.
There aren’t many substitutions to make. I recommend using my Ultimate Gluten-Free Flour Mix here, but you could also use an unbleached whole grain all purpose flour here.
If you’re planning to indulge during a reset, I recommend leaving off the coconut caramel. It’s delicious but this combination is too much of a good thing for systems trying to unload. But for systems and bodies in celebtations – no matter what for – it’s truly perfect.
Oh! Last thing – I know it seems weird to put yogurt on a cake instead of ice cream. I recommend this because the tartness of the yogurt is truly perfect whereas an ice cream can feel cloying. I love Cocojune for the purpose of dolloping on top!
That's ok, just sign up or log in to see this recipe.