Sticky Toffee Cake from Blue Smoke

recipe and photo from marthastewart.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup stout beer
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 pound pitted dates
• 1/2 pound (about 1 1/2 cups) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• Vegetable cooking spray
• Butterscotch Sauce
• Whipped creme fraiche, for serving (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. STEP 1

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12-by-10-by-2 1/2-inch baking pan with vegetable cooking spray, and line bottom with parchment paper; set aside.

2. STEP 2

   In a small saucepan, heat the stout over medium heat, almost to a simmer. Remove from heat, and add the baking soda, then the dates. Let stand until dates are soft, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a food processor, and puree.

3. STEP 3

   Into a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract.

4. STEP 4

   Add the dry ingredients, alternating with the date puree, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Pour into prepared pan, smoothing top with a spatula. Bake until set, about 20 minutes.

5. STEP 5

   Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Turn out onto a cutting board, and cut into nine pieces. Serve, warm, drizzled with butterscotch sauce, and topped with a dollop of creme fraiche.