Blind Date Cake

Blind Date Cake is so named as you cannot see the dates in the cake!

Ingredients

Cake

• 1 cup finely chopped dates
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/4 cups boiling water
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 5 level teaspoons cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Topping

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

1. Add the dates to the boiling water. Stir, mash and cool before adding the baking soda.
2. In a separate bowl, cream the shortening, sugar and eggs.
3. Add the vanilla extract.
4. Add the creamed mixture to the flour, cocoa and salt.
5. Pour into a greased and floured pan.
6. Sprinkle topping over cake and press down.
7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes.