Method

Use a lined 20cm round cake pan or you can make them into cup cakes.

Combine dates, baking soda and boiling water in a pan. Let it soak until it is soft.

Remove from the water and roughly chop.

Cream butter and sugar until smooth.

Add eggs and flour and finally the dates.

Pour mixture into prepared mould.

Bake at 170 degrees C about 12 minutes if in cup cake size or 40 minutes in a cake pan. Check at half way mark the status of the cake. Remove when a skewer comes out clean from the center.

Rest for 10 mins before removing from moulds and then pour the sauce on top. Add a dollop of heavy cream or vanilla ice cream if desired.

Sauce

Combine ingredients in a pan. Stir over low heat until sugar has dissolved and butter melted.