Categories: Cakes 
      Yield: 1 servings 
  
      1 c  -Boiling water 
      1 c  Dates;chopped 
      1 ts Baking soda 
    1/2 c  Butter 
      1 c  Sugar,granulated 
      1    Egg 
      1 ts Vanilla 
  1 1/2 c  Flour,all purpose 
      1 ts Baking powder 
    1/2 ts -Salt 
 
------------------------------BROILED TOPPING------------------------------ 
    1/4 c  Butter 
    1/2 c  Brown sugar;packed 
    1/4 c  Light cream 
    3/4 c  Coconut;shredded;half nuts 
           -if desired 
  
  Pour water over dates and soda; let stand until lukewarm. In bowl, cream 
  butter with sugar; beat in egg and vanilla. Mix together flour, baking 
  powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with date mixture. 
  Spread in a greased and floured 9 inch square cake pan. Bake in 350F oven 
  for 40 minutes or until tester comes out clean. 
  BROILED TOPPING: In a small heavy saucepan, combine butter, packed 
  brown sugar, light cream and coconut (half nuts if desired). Bring to 
  a boil, stirring; boil gently for 1 minute. Spread over warm baked 
  cake; broil until bubbly and lightly browned, watching carefully.