Double Date Cake With Whiskey Butterscotch Sauce

Double Date Cake With Whiskey Butterscotch Sauce
4.5 from 2 ratings
Fill 202 Print
The bold flavors in this incredible date cake will add a nice contrast to the traditional treats served on your holiday dessert table. This recipe by JeanMarie Brownson was originally published in the Chicago Tribune
Prep Time
30
minutes
Cook Time
60
minutes
Servings
12
servings
Total time: 1.48 hours
Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup diced dates with oat flour
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 tablespoon cacao nibs or small bits of dark chocolate, optional
  • 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice blend
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 package (8 ounces) whole pitted dates, about 1 ¾ cups
  • 2 tablespoon rye whiskey or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoon instant espresso powder
  • 1 1/2 sticks (¾ cup) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • powdered sugar, optional
  • 1 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup dark agave syrup
  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1/2 cup heavy (whipping) cream
  • 1/4 cup rye whiskey
Directions
  1. Heat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Butter a 9-inch springform pan.
  3. For the topping, mix diced dates, walnuts and cacao nibs in a small bowl.
  4. Set aside.
  5. Mix flours, baking soda, spice blend, ginger and salt in a separate bowl.
  6. Put pitted dates, whiskey and espresso powder in a heat-proof bowl.
  7. Add 1 cup boiling water and let stand until dates are super soft, about 10 minutes.
  8. Pour date-whiskey mixture into a food processor; process to a smooth puree.
  9. Let stand to thicken, about 20 minutes.
  10. Meanwhile, put butter into a large bowl of an electric mixer.
  11. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy.
  12. Beat in sugar until fluffy.
  13. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes total.
  14. Add half of the flour mixture and all of the date-whiskey puree.
  15. Beat to combine.
  16. Add the remaining flour mixture and beat just enough to combine.
  17. Do not over-mix.
  18. Scrap the batter into the prepared pan.
  19. Smooth the top.
  20. Sprinkle the reserved diced-dates-and-walnuts mixture evenly over the batter.
  21. Bake until cake is pulling away from the sides of the pan and a wooden pick inserted in several places comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes.
  22. Let the cake cool on a wire rack at least 1 hour.
  23. Remove the sides of the springform.
  24. Cut cake into wedges to serve.
  25. Sprinkle generously with powdered sugar, if desired.
  26. Drizzle with the whiskey butterscotch sauce.
  27. Put sugar, syrup, butter, salt and ¼ cup water into a medium-size deep saucepan.
  28. Heat to a boil over medium heat.
  29. Reduce heat to low, cover the pan and let simmer, 2 minutes.
  30. Uncover the pan.
  31. Add cream and continue to simmer on low, stirring often, until sauce is thick and syrupy, about 10 minutes.
  32. Stir in whiskey, and cook 1 minute.
  33. Remove from heat.
  34. Allow sauce to cool at room temperature.
  35. Transfer to jars or microwave-safe container.
  36. Sauce will keep for up to one month in the refrigerator.
  37. Microwave on medium (50 percent power) to warm the sauce.
  38. Serve warm.
Recommended