Non-stick cooking spray
1 cup (235 ml) boiling water
1 cup (178 g) chopped dates
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 tablespoons (35 g) nondairy butter
1/2 cup (96 g) Sucanat
1/4 cup (61 g) unsweetened applesauce
1 1/2 cups (180 g) whole wheat pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup (55 g) chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C, or gas mark 4). Lightly coat a 9-inch (23-cm) round pie plate with spray.
Pour water on dates in a medium bowl. Stir in baking soda, let sit for 10 minutes, or until cooled.
With an electric mixer, cream butter and Sucanat.
Stir applesauce, as well as the water and dates mixture, into creamed butter.
Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon on top.
Fold dry ingredients into wet, being careful not to over mix. Fold in pecans.
Place in prepared pie plate.
Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let cool on a wire rack.
Yield: One 9-inch (23-cm) cake
