Christmas Date Cake

• pitted dates↗2 cups

  choopped

• boiling water3 cups
• baking soda↗2 teaspoons
• butter↗1 cup

  softened

• sugar↗2 cups
• eggs↗4
• salt↗1⁄2 teaspoon
• flour↗3 cups
• chocolate chips↗12 ounces
• white sugar↗1 cup
• nuts1 cup

  chopped

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Pour boiling water over the dates, add the soda (it foams up a bit) and set them aside to cool.

2. 2

   While they're cooling, mix together in a large mixing bowl the butter, 2 cups sugar, the eggs, salt and flour.

3. 3

   One this is thoroughly mixed, add the cooled date mixture to the bowl and stir thoroughly.

4. 4

   Butter and flour a 9x13 inch cake pan (the cake rises about 1 1/2 inches, so make sure the sides are tall enough). Pour the batter in the pan.

5. 5

   Sprinkle the following on top, in this order, before baking: the chocolate chips, 1 cup sugar, nuts.

6. 6

   Bake at 325 degrees for 80 minutes. A cake tester or long toothpick should come out clean one inch from the center when the cake is done.

7. 7

   Let the cake cool in a pan on a wire rack. It can be served slightly warm, at room temperature, or chilled.