Walnut Date Cake

Serves 10 people

Ingredients

For the Cake

10 Medjool dates (7 ounces), pitted
3/4 cup water
1 tablespoon unsulfured molasses
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup half and half
1/2 cup walnut halves
1/2 cup pecan halves
2 tablespoons corn syrup

For the Buttercream

2 egg whites
pinch salt
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter cut into pieces
at room temperature

For the Toffee Sauce

2 cups cream
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter (half a stick)
3 T Bourbon or Brandy

For Streusel

1/2 cup chopped pecans or pecan pieces
1/4 cup butter
1/4 plus 2 T brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 T light corn syrup
1/4 tsp baking soda
4 Tbsp almond meal or flour

Special Equipment

Hand mixer
Cake pans
Mixing bowls
Candy thermometer
Measure cups
Whisk
Cookie sheet
Dessert plates

Instructions

For the Cake

Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter a 9-inch round cake pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper and butter the paper.

In a small saucepan, simmer the dates in the water over moderately low heat until the liquid is reduced by half and the dates are very soft, about 10 minutes. Scrape the dates and liquid into a food processor. Add the molasses and puree. Let cool.
In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. In another bowl, using an electric mixer beat the butter with 1/2 cup of the brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla, half and half then beat in the dry ingredients. Beat in the date puree.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the cake is springy to the touch. Let cool for 10 minutes then turn the cake out onto a rack. Peel off the parchment paper and return the paper to the pan.
Meanwhile, spread the walnuts and pecans in a pie plate and bake for about 9 minutes, until fragrant and golden. Let the nuts cool slightly, then chop them very coarsely. In a small bowl, stir the corn syrup with the remaining 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

Scatter the nuts over the parchment in the cake pan and drizzle the corn syrup mixture on top. Carefully return the cake to the pan (the same way it came out) and bake for 15 minutes. Let cool slightly then invert the cake onto a plate, replacing any nuts stuck in the pan.

For the Toffee Sauce

Put all ingredients in sauce pan and cook until boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 8 minutes or until slightly thick and caramel color.

For the Buttercream

Place egg whites, salt and brown sugar in a heat proof bowl and whisk until well combined.
Place over a pot of simmering water and whisk until hot or 160 degrees

Whip with whisk attachment on mixer or with hand mixer until glossy and bowl is cool.
Whip in chunks of soft but not too soft butter. Whip well and it might start to curdle for a second but keep whipping until smooth and delicious. Scrape down bowl and whip thirty seconds until smooth.