Dates and Chocolate Chip Cake with Chocolate Frosting

I bookmark quite a few recipes on a daily basis.But then there are those recipes which capture my attention straightaway.This,my friends,is one such recipe.I saw this recipe in one of my favorite magazines (for recipes) Vanitha.Somehow I couldn't bake it the first time I saw the recipe and as always after a while I forgot it completely.

I have this yearly tradition of collecting all the recipe pages from Vanitha and getting it bound by hardcover.My collection is getting huge by the year and those books occupy a prime position,on my bedside table.So as I was browsing through it few nights back,I saw this recipe and believe me when I say this,I had the urge to bake it right away.Better sense and lack of ingredients prevailed and I slept on it.

Next day,I purchased all the required ingredients and waited for the li'l one to nap so that I could start baking it.By the time the cake was inside the oven and I was getting ingredients for the icing ready,he got up.It is a joy,however,to have him as company while I bake.He is fascinated by all the mixing and folding and waiting in anticipation for the goodie from the oven!

Coming back to the cake,it is a simple cake batter with the addition of Dates topped with a chocolate-chip streusel and a chocolate butter icing.It does seem like too much going on but that itself was what made me try it.Worry not,the cake serves a crowd so you do not have to feel guilty about all the calories in it.Perfect for a potluck or during family get-togethers.

Dates and Chocolate Chip Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients

Dates - 1 cup,finely chopped

Baking soda - 1/2 tsp

Boiling water - 1 1/4 cup

Maida/Flour - 1 3/4 cup

Sugar - 1/2 cup

Brown sugar - 1/2 cup

Baking soda - 1 tsp

Salt - 1/2 tsp

Sunflower oil - 1/3 cup

Eggs -2

Vanilla extract - 1 tsp

For the Streusel topping

Chocolate chips - 1/2 cup

Brown sugar - 1/4 cup

Flour- 1/4 cup

Butter - 2 tbsp

For the Chocolate Frosting

Butter - 75 gms / 1/3 cup

Milk chocolate - 100 gms,melted

Icing sugar - 2 cups

Vanilla extract - 1 tsp

Milk - 2 tbsp

Method

Preheat oven to 175C.Butter and flour a 11/9 inch rectangular cake pan.

Mix together Dates,baking soda and boiling water in a pan and let it rest while you gather other ingredients(about 5 minutes).

In another bowl,mix together flour,sugars,baking soda,salt,oil,eggs and vanilla.Mix it well-it would be crumbly.

Add the softened dates mixture into the bowl and mix well till you get a smooth,lump-free batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking tin.

Mix ingredients for the streusel topping and sprinkle it evenly on top of the cake batter.

Bake the cake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

While the cake is baking,prepare the frosting.

Mix together softened butter,melted chocolate and icing sugar mixing in the milk and vanilla.

Once the cake is just warm to the touch apply the frosting evenly on top of the cake.Let the frosting set for a while.You could refrigerate the cake for about 30 minutes and then cut to get neat,even slices.

Step by Step Pictorial

Preheat oven to 175C.

Butter and flour a 11/9 inch rectangular cake pan.

Mix together Dates,baking soda and boiling water in a pan and let it rest while you gather other ingredients(about 5 minutes).

In another bowl,mix together flour,sugars,baking soda,salt,

oil,eggs and vanilla.Mix it well-it would be crumbly.

Add the softened dates mixture into the bowl and mix well till you get a smooth,lump-free batter.Pour the batter into the prepared baking tin.

Mix ingredients for the streusel topping and sprinkle it evenly on top of the cake batter.

Bake the cake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

While the cake is baking,prepare the frosting.

Mix together softened butter,melted chocolate and icing sugar mixing in the milk and vanilla.

Once the cake is just warm to the touch apply the frosting evenly on top of the cake.Let the frosting set for a while.You could refrigerate the cake for about 30 minutes and then cut to get neat,even slices.