Christmas Date Cake

Submitted by RandiDB

"from Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 35mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Yields: 1 cake
• Serves: 16-20

ingredients

• 2 cups pitted dates, choopped
• 3 cups boiling water
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups flour
• 12 ounces chocolate chips
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup nuts, chopped

directions

1. Pour boiling water over the dates, add the soda (it foams up a bit) and set them aside to cool.
2. While they're cooling, mix together in a large mixing bowl the butter, 2 cups sugar, the eggs, salt and flour.
3. One this is thoroughly mixed, add the cooled date mixture to the bowl and stir thoroughly.
4. Butter and flour a 9x13 inch cake pan (the cake rises about 1 1/2 inches, so make sure the sides are tall enough). Pour the batter in the pan.
5. Sprinkle the following on top, in this order, before baking: the chocolate chips, 1 cup sugar, nuts.
6. Bake at 325 degrees for 80 minutes. A cake tester or long toothpick should come out clean one inch from the center when the cake is done.
7. Let the cake cool in a pan on a wire rack. It can be served slightly warm, at room temperature, or chilled.