Date Cake

This cake is delicious, moist and a cinch to make. I love the way the dates melt into the chocolatey cake, giving it incomparable flavour and texture.

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 15

Ingredients

• 1  lb pitted dates, sliced
• 2  cups water
• 3 1⁄2 cups  sifted all-purpose flour
• 2  tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2  teaspoons baking soda
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 10  ounces chocolate chips
• 2  cups  chopped walnuts
• 1  cup butter, room temperature
• 2  cups sugar
• 4  extra large eggs, room temperature
• 1  tablespoon vanilla
•  icing sugar

Directions

1. Combine dates and water in medium saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil over high heat.
3. Remove from heat and let dates cool in liquid; do not drain.
4. Preheat oven to 350F.
5. Butter and flour 13 X 9 inch pyrex baking dish.
6. Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt into a large bowl.
7. Combine chocolate chips and walnuts in medium bowl and set aside.
8. Cream butter with sugar in another large bowl, about 8 minutes.
9. Add eggs, one at a time, blending well after each addition.
10. Stir in vanilla.
11. Beat in ¼ of undrained dates.
12. Beat in ¼ of flour mixture.
13. Continue adding date and flour mixtures alternately to batter, beating well after each addition, ending with flour.
14. Pour into pan.
15. Sprinkle chocolate chip/nut mixture evenly over top.
16. Bake about 45-50 minutes.
17. Let cool in pan.
18. Sprinkle with icing sugar if desired.
19. This will stay moist for days if wrapped in foil.