This recipe was a favorite of Sandy’s Granny Haley. Sandy remembers how Granny Haley would serve this cake whenever anyone would come by for a Sunday afternoon visit over coffee or tea. The subtly sweet cake was the perfect snack and accompaniment to their ever sweeter conversation. Most people don’t have sour milk on hand, so here’s a simple way to make some. Combine 2/3 cup milk and 2/3 teaspoon white vinegar or lemon juice, and let it sit for 10 minutes before using.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 8 to 10 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish.
Step 2
Put the dates in a bowl and cover them with hot water. Let them soak for 1 hour.
Step 3
In a separate bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and eggs.
Step 4
Sift the 2 cups flour, the baking powder, and baking soda into a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture alternately with milk, adding a third of each at a time and mixing thoroughly before adding the next. Drain the dates and stir them in with the orange zest and nuts. Pour the batter into the prepared casserole dish. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick when inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Step 5
Meanwhile, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and orange juice, making sure to break up any lumps. The consistency should be such that it can be easily drizzled or poured over the cake. If it’s too thick, thin it with a little more orange juice; if it’s too thin, add more confectioners’ sugar, a teaspoon at a time, making sure to mix thoroughly before adding more. Drizzle the orange glaze over the cake while it is still warm. Cut into squares and serve while warm.
Step 6
Store leftover pieces in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days.
note
Step 7
There were many funny stories that came out of these visits at Granny Haley’s, but this one takes the cake—literally! Sandy’s Uncle Dale and his friend Kiefer were cooks in the army. One day, they discovered that their kitchen was being raided every night by hungry soldiers with a sweet tooth. To teach the thieves a lesson, Kiefer made a special cake full of shrimp shells. But in an unexpected turn of events, some high-ranked officers stopped by for a special meeting and the cakes meant for the thieves got served to the VIPs. Kiefer and Dale just knew they were going to be discharged, but not one word was ever mentioned. Maybe the officers were simply used to eating bad mess-hall food.
