A month ago when I was in Los Angeles to run the marathon, I dined at Gjelina not once but twice. It quickly became my favorite restaurant with the most scrumptious veggies, pizzas, sides and desserts. Immediately upon returning to NYC, I bought the Gjelina cookbook. This past weekend, I decided to make the warm date cake and HOLY SHMOLY HOT DAMN this cake is amazing. It is sweet, moist, and oh so delicious. I highly recommend this cake and can’t wait to eat it all up (and to make it again shortly thereafter).
Ingredients:
* 1 pound fresh soft dates, pitted
* 2 tsp baking soda
* 2 1/3 cups of very hot water
* 1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
* 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
* 1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk
* 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
* 2 tsp baking powder
TOPPING:
* 5 tablespoon unsalted butter
* 2 cups dark brown sugar
* 1 cup heavy cream
* 2 1/2 tablespoon bourbon
Directions to make cake:
![](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-18-at-1.29.19-PM.png)
Pitting the dates
* Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 10 by 14 inch glass dish
* In small bowl, combine dates and baking soda. Pour hot water over dates and smoosh with a fork until the dates have mostly dissolved
![](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-18-at-1.29.30-PM.png)
Dates with hot water.
![](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-18-at-1.30.09-PM.png)
Press with fork
* In a bowl, place vanilla, granulated sugar, egg and egg yolk and whisk together.
![](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-18-at-1.29.43-PM.png)
Egg and sugar.
* Stir in the date mixture until mixed completely
![](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-18-at-1.30.44-PM.png)
Together.
* In a different bowl, mix the baking powder and flour. Gently place the flour into the date mixture.
![](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-18-at-1.31.02-PM.png)
Mix
* pour the batter into the glass dish and bake for 35-40 minutes.
![](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-18-at-1.30.52-PM.png)
Baking dish
Directions to make topping:
* In a large saucepan, melt butter and add sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved.
![](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-18-at-1.30.57-PM.png)
Toffee.
* Then add the cream, whisking it together. Remove from heat, add bourbon and whisk together.
* Once the cake is out of the oven, pierce the top with 12-20 holes. Pour half of the sauce on top of the cake, into the holes and set aside to rest.
![](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-18-at-1.31.32-PM.png)
Out of oven, pre holes.
![](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-18-at-1.31.22-PM.png)
Pour sauce on top.
* Once ready to serve, cut the cake into squares and drizzle the remaining toffee sauce on top. Serve with scoops of ice cream. DELCIOUSNESS.
![](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-18-at-1.31.38-PM.png)
OMG SO GOOD.
![](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-18-at-1.31.42-PM.png)
Eating it in the morning after my run. Too good not to eat.
Let me know if you make it and what you think — I am in love!
How many dies the date cake serve?