Date Cake

Ingredients

250g pitted dates, chopped
5ml (1 teaspoon) bicarbonate of soda
250ml (1 cup) boiling water
180g butter or brick margarine
375ml (1½ cups) Huletts White Sugar
30ml (2 Tablespoons) Huletts Golden Syrup
2 eggs
15ml (3 teaspoons) vanilla essence
780ml (3 cups & 2 Tablespoons) flour
15ml (3 teaspoons) baking powder
125ml (½ cup) finely chopped nuts (to decorate)

Method


Place chopped dates and bicarbonate of soda in a bowl, pour over the boiling water. Leave to cool.
Cream the butter, sugar and syrup until light and fluffy. Add one egg at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla essence.
Stir in the flour and baking powder until thoroughly mixed.
Lastly fold in the cooled date mixture. Spoon the mixture into a 20cm x 26cm greased and lined cake pan.
Bake at 180ºC for 50 - 60 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. This cake can be served plain or iced with either a vanilla butter icing or cream cheese icing.