Step 1

Place dates, boiling water and bicarbonate of soda in a saucepan.

Step 2

Stir over low heat until dates are soft and pulpy. Allow to cool.

Step 3

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs and beat well.

Step 4

Stir in date mixture and walnuts.

Step 5

Fold in the flour, salt and baking powder.

Step 6

Pour mixture into a greased 25 x 25cm cake tin and bake at 180C for 40-50 minutes or until cooked .

Step 7

Cool cake on a wire rack. Ice with lemon icing.

Step 8

For the lemon icing, stir icing sugar in top of double saucepan. Stir in softened butter and lemon juice over gentle simmering water until mixture is of good spreading consistency.

Step 9

Remove from heat and spread over cake.