A royal addition to any table. It is said that Queen Elizabeth I herself would go into the kitchen to make this cake. Instead of packaged dates, the inn uses date crystals and additional water. (The crystals are available from Shield’s Date Gardens, Indio, CA 92201.) –Mountain View Inn, Waitsfield, Vermont
Yield:
Serves 10-12Ingredients
1 cup boiling water
1-1/2 cups chopped dates (or 1 cup date crystals plus 1/3 cup water)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/2 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Icing (recipe follows)
Instructions
Pour boiling water over chopped dates (or date crystals and water), stir in soda, and set aside. Cream together sugar and butter. Beat in egg and vanilla. Sift together flour and baking powder and add to batter, along with nuts. Add date mixture and stir until well blended. Pour into well greased and floured 9-inch square pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until cake tests done. While still hot pour icing over top and sprinkle liberally with coconut.
Icing
Ingredients
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup cream
2 tablespoons butter
Shredded coconut
Instructions
Boil brown sugar, cream, and butter together for 3 minutes and pour over cake. Sprinkle with coconut.
