Sticky Chocolate Date Cake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

7 oz dates, coarsely chopped
1 tsp baking soda
6 tbsp butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 None eggs
1 cup self-rising flour, plus 2 tbsp
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped
None None Butterscotch Sauce
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
6 tbsp butter
1 1/4 cups heavy cream

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350\u00b0F. Grease a deep 8 inch round cake pan and line base with parchment paper.
Combine dates and 1 3/4 cups water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil then remove from heat and add baking soda. Cover then set aside for 5 mins. Blend or process until smooth.
Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Sift flour and cocoa powder over top then fold in. Stir in nuts and warm date mixture. Transfer to prepared pan and bake for 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 mins then transfer to a serving plate.
Meanwhile, to make the butterscotch sauce, stir all ingredients in a saucepan over low heat, without boiling, until sugar dissolves. Simmer, without stirring, for 3 mins. Serve hot sauce with warm cake.