Kathy’s Date Cake with Whisky Sauce & Ginger Gelato

Cake Ingredients

• 1 pound Khadrawy dates, or another type of fresh soft date, pitted

• 2 teaspoon baking soda

• 2 ⅓ cups very hot water

• 1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise

• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar

• 1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk

• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tsp baking powder

Whisky Sauce Ingredients

• 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter

• 2 cups packed dark brown sugar

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 2½ Tablespoons bourbon

Date Cake & Whisky Sauce Instructions

To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 10-by-14-inch glass or metal baking dish or pan.

In a small bowl, combine the dates and baking soda. Pour the hot water over the dates and mix with a fork until they have mostly dissolved and are pulpy, about 5 minutes.

Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into a large bowl. Whisk in the granulated sugar, egg, and egg yolk until the mixture is pale yellow and falls in smooth ribbons when lifted with a spoon. Stir in the date mixture, incorporating it completely.

In a small bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder. Gently fold the flour into the date mixture until just incorporated.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Leave the cake in the pan for about 40 minutes before serving.

To make the whiskey sauce: In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter with the brown sugar. As soon as the sugar has dissolved, gradually add the cream, pouring in a steady stream while whisking constantly. Remove from the heat and whisk in the whiskey.

Pierce the cake all over twelve to twenty times with a butter knife or a skewer. Pour half of the sauce over the top of the cake, guiding it into these holes, and set aside the rest. (The cake can be stored at room temperature in the baking dish, covered with plastic wrap, for 1 day and in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Bring back to room temperature before serving.)

Cut the cake into squares and drizzle with the remaining whiskey sauce. Serve on dessert plates, accompanied by scoops of gelato.

Serves 12

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Ginger Gelato

• ¼ vanilla bean, halved lengthwise

• ½ cup whole milk

• 1 cup heavy cream

• One 4½-ounces piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced ¼ in [6 mm] thick

• Pinch of kosher salt

• 1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk

• ½ cup sugar

• ½ cup Buttermilk Crème Fraîche (basically double cream with a half tsp of buttermilk or a squeeze of lemon)

• 2 Tablespoons honey

Gelato Instructions:

Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into a small saucepan. Add the bean pod, milk, cream, ginger, and salt. Stir over medium-high heat until steaming and bubbles begin to form around the edges. Turn off the heat and let steep for at least 20 minutes, or up to 2 hours.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, egg yolk, and sugar until the mixture is pale yellow and falls in smooth ribbons when lifted with a spoon. Transfer to a large liquid measuring cup or pitcher, and set a fine-mesh sieve over the top.

Discard the bean pod. Pour the warm milk-ginger mixture into a blender and purée on high speed until smooth, about 10 seconds. Pour the mixture through the fine-mesh sieve into the liquid measuring cup. Gradually pour the strained milk-ginger mixture into the egg base, whisking constantly. Whisk in the crème fraîche and honey.

Refrigerate the mixture for at least 4 hours, or up to overnight. Churn according to your ice-cream maker’s directions until frozen.

Makes about 1 pint

Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks

From from Gjelina