Chocolate Cake with Dates Recipe

25 g/1 oz/1 square plain (semi-sweet) chocolate
175 g/6 oz/1 cup stoned (pitted) dates, chopped
5 ml/1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
375 ml/13 fl oz boiling water

175 g/6 oz butter or margarine, softened
225 g/8 oz/1 cup caster (superfine) sugar
2 eggs, beaten
175 g/6 oz plain (all-purpose) flour
2.5 ml salt
50 g/2 oz granulated sugar
100 g/4 oz/1 cup plain (semi-sweet) chocolate chips

Method:

Mix together the chocolate, dates, bicarbonate of soda and boiling water and stir until the chocolate has melted. Cream together the butter or margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs. Fold in the flour and salt alternately with the chocolate mixture and stir until well blended. Spoon into a greased and floured 20 cm/8 in square cake tin (pan). Mix the granulated sugar and chocolate chips and sprinkle over the top. Bake in a preheated oven at 160°C/325°F/gas mark 3 for 45 minutes until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.