Grandma Deuel's Ice-Water Fudge Cake W/ Date Cream Filling &

This is my grandma's adaptation to a recipe from a magazine called the "Farm Journal." I'll also list an easier Fudge Frosting I found in reference to this recipe on the internet.

• Ready In: 2 hrs
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup shortening
• 2 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3  eggs, unbeaten
• 3  unsweetened chocolate squares, melted
• 3  cups flour, sifted
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 cups  ice water

• Date Cream Filling (recipe follows)

• 1  cup  whole milk
• 1⁄2 cup dates, chopped fine
• 1  tablespoon flour
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  large egg, beaten
• 1⁄2 cup  nuts, chopped
• 1  teaspoon vanilla

• Fudge Frosting (the original 1959 version)

• 2  cups sugar
• 1  cup  light cream
• 2  unsweetened chocolate squares, grated

Directions

1. Cream together very thoroughly the shortening, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time and beat after each addition until light and fluffy. Beat in chocolate which has been slightly cooled.
2. Measure sifted flour and sift together with soda and salt. Alternately add sifted dry ingredients and iced water to chocolate mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. After each addition, beat until batter is smooth.
3. Pour batter into 3 greased 8-inch layer cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees about 35 minutes, or until done. Cool and spread date cream filling between the layers and chocolate fudge frosting over top and sides.
4. Date Cream Filling:.
5. Heat milk and 1/2 pound chopped dates in top of double boiler.
6. Combine sugar, flour and egg, blending until smooth. Slowly stir into hot milk mixture.
7. Cook and stir until mixture is thickened. Cool then stir in nuts and vanilla.
8. Makes 2 cups.
9. Fudge Frosting (the original 1959 version):.
10. Combine all ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Boil over high heat 3 minutes without stirring. Reduce heat and continue cooking until it reaches soft-ball stage (238 degrees). Cool.
11. Beat until creamy and of spreading consistency. Add cream if too thick.
12. Fudge Frosting (the easier 1972 version):.
13. 2 cups sugar. 1/4 teaspoons salt. 1 cup light cream. 2 tablespoons light corn syrup. 2 squares unsweetened chocolate.
14. Combine sugar, salt, cream, corn syrup and chocolate. Cook over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cover saucepan for 2-3 minutes. Remove lid and cook to the soft-ball stage (234 degrees). Cool.
15. Beat until spreading consistency. Add a little hot water if too stiff, sifted confectioners sugar if too thin.