Date Cake with Toffee Sauce

Prep time: 1 hour incl 30 mins standing time Cook time: 30-35 mins Total time: 1 hour 30-35 mins

Ingredients

Cake

226 grams soft dates, pitted

1 cup boiling milk

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs, room temperature

½ cup sugar (you can use light brown sugar)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups flour

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

Toffee Sauce

½ cup unsalted butter

1 cup heavy cream

½ cup sugar

2 tablespoons caramel

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Equipment

Measuring cups and spoons

Medium bowl

Masher

Handheld whisk or electric whisk

Digital scale

Large bowl

Spatula

8-inch square pan (or two 6 inch round pans)

Small heatproof pot

Medium heatproof pot

Chopstick or skewer

How To

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/176 degrees Celsius.

Line the bottom and sides of the baking pan with parchment paper or butter and flour.

In a small heatproof pot, boil the milk. In a medium bowl, place the pitted dates, the milk and baking soda. Using the spatula, press down the dates so they are covered with the milk and baking soda is mixed in. Set aside for 15 minutes.

In a small bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

After 15 minutes, mash the date mixture until it forms into paste form.

In a large bowl, add the date mixture, the eggs, vanilla extract, butter and sugar. Using a hand or electric whisk, mix until well combined and there’s no clumps of butter.

Add the flour mixture, and mix in until well combined forming a slightly thick batter.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  

While the cake is baking, make the toffee sauce.

Put all the ingredients into the medium sauce pot. Over medium heat, simmer the sauce while stirring constantly. Stir for about 5-6 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken.

Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for about 20-30 minutes. Using the skewer or chopstick, poke holes all over the top.

Pour the hot sauce over the cake and let it sit for 30 minutes or longer.