Date & Walnut Cake

With Walnut season upon us Sharon has been cracking a few or a lot of gifted walnuts this week. Her favourite cake is very much front of mind so thought I would share it with you guys.

Ingredients

2 c chopped pitted dates

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/4 c boiling water

150 gm butter

1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 c chopped walnuts (I always add more)

2 c flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp mixed spice

walnut half for decoration

Caramel Icing

2 c icing sugar

2 Tablespoons hot water

1 Tablespoon golden syrup

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla essense

Method

Place dates and baking soda in a bowl. Pour boinling water over. Set aside.

Placr butter and brown sugar in a saucepan large enough to mix all the ingredients. Heat until butter melts. Remove from heat, add dates, chopped walnuts, sifted flour, baking powder and mixed spice. Mix with a wooden spoon until combined. Spread into a baking paper-lined 20cm round cake tin. 

Bake at 180*C fro 40-45 mins or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Leave in tin for 10 mins before turning onto a cooling rack. 

Ice with caramel icing when cold and decorate with walnut halves.

Enjoy