Queen Elizabeth Cake

Directions

1. 1
   Lightly grease 8 inch square baking pan.
2. 2
   For cake, combine dates, boiling water and baking soda in bowl until well blended.
3. 3
   In separate larger bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. 4
   Stir in vanilla.
5. 5
   In third bowl sift together, flour, baking powder and salt.
6. 6
   Add date mixture and flour mixture alternately in two batches to butter mixture.
7. 7
   Stir in walnuts if using.
8. 8
   Pour into prepared pan.
9. 9
   Bake in preheated 350F (180C) F oven 30 minutes.
10. 10
    While cake is baking, make topping.
11. 11
    In small saucepan, melt butter, brown sugar and cream; bring boil, stirring constantly.
12. 12
    Remove from heat; stir in coconut.
13. 13
    Spread over warm cake.
14. 14
    Preheat broiler; broil cake until topping is bubbly, watching constantly to keep from burning.
15. 15
    Cool; cut into squares.