Date Cake

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups water
• 1.5 cups raisins
• 0.75 cup dates, pitted and chopped
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 0.75 cup white sugar
• 0.5 cup butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 0.5 cup brown sugar
• 0.5 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch square pan.
2. Combine water and raisins in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, then stir in chopped dates and baking soda. Set aside.
3. Cream together white sugar and butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Add flour, salt, and date mixture; mix until combined. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Remove cake from the oven.
5. Set the oven to broil. Meanwhile, make the topping: Melt butter in a small saucepan; stir in brown sugar, walnuts, and cream until combined. Spread mixture over warm cake.
6. Place cake under preheated broiler and cook until top is lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Rotate cake as needed for even browning; watch carefully as the top can burn quickly under the broiler.