Rich Date And Coconut Cake

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped pitted dates
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 dash salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
• 2 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons milk

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°.
• 2 combine first 5 ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. remove from heat, and let stand 10 minutes or until dates are tender.
• 3 gently spoon flour into measuring cups and level (don't pack). combine flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. stir in date mixture, granulated sugar, vanilla, and egg until well combined. pour batter into a 9-inch spring-form pan coated with cooking spray. bake at 350° for 20 minutes.
• 4 while cake is baking, combine brown sugar and remaining ingredients in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. reduce heat, and simmer 1 minute. pour brown sugar mixture over cake. let it glop into the batter. cover the whole top of cake. bake at 350° for an additional 13 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. (i had to bake mine longer). cool in pan 5 minutes on a wire rack. run a knife around outside edge and remove ring. cool completely on a wire rack before serving.
• 5 this doubles just fine. i used a 10" and a 5" springform. i haven't tried freezing it, but am curious how that would work. super-yummy! both men and women raved over it. very satisfying and rich.