Date & Walnut Cake

Ingredients

• 250 ml boiling water
• 225 g dates, chopped
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 225 g demerara sugar
• 75 g butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 275 g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 50 g walnuts, chopped
• For the topping: 75 g soft brown sugar
• 2 tbsp milk
• 25 g butter

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cover the chopped dates with boiling water, stir in the bicarbonate of soda and leave to soften.
2. Cream 75 g butter with the demerara sugar; beat in the egg and vanilla.
3. Fold in the self-raising flour, baking powder, walnuts and softened date mixture until combined.
4. Transfer the batter into a lined baking tray and spread evenly.
5. Bake in a fan oven at 160°C for about 30 minutes, or until the centre is cooked through.
6. Warm the topping butter, soft brown sugar and milk gently in a pan for around three minutes.
7. Allow the glaze to cool slightly, spread over the cake, then cool and portion into squares.

Gary’s Kitchen Notes

• Chop dates into small pieces so they soften evenly.
• Test the middle with a skewer before removing the cake from the oven.
• Let the topping set before cutting neat squares.