Chocolate Date Cake

This chocolate date cake was my grandmother’s. When my mother would bring this cake out I knew it was autumn. Served with coffee when guests came over, it was the perfect treat. In addition, we got to pretend we were eating healthily. It has dates in it after all!

1cup chopped dates 
1tsp baking soda
1cup hot water
1cup butter
1cup sugar
2eggs 

1/2 cup toasted walnut pieces
1 ¾ cup flour
2Tbs Cocoa 
1/2 tsp salt

2 cups dark chocolate chunks

Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl.

Add the eggs.

Mix the dates, baking soda, and hot water together in a separate bowl.

In a third bowl, mix the flour, cocoa, and salt.

Alternate adding flour and date mixture in the mixing butter with creamed butter and sugar mixture. Alternate pouring the flour mixture and date mixture.

Mix well.

Pour into a greased 9x13 baking pan.

Dot with chocolate chunks, and more nuts if desired.

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes, or until the cake tester comes out clean.