Orange Date Cake

Submitted By: Tillie Richardson

Ingredients

• 1 stick butter
• 1/4 cup Crisco shortening
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1 1/2 teaspoons orange extract

1 cup dates, chopped and coated with flour

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 tablespoon orange rind, grated

Glaze:

1/2 cup orange juice

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon grated orange rind

Frosting:

8 ounces whipped topping

3 ounces cream cheese

3/4 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

Cream butter and shortening. Gradually add sugar; beat well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Combine flour, soda, and salt; add to creamed mixture, alternating with buttermilk, starting and ending with flour mixture. Beat for three minutes. Stir in dates, pecans, orange rind, and orange extract. Bake in a tube pan at 350° until wooden toothpick comes out clean.
Combine 1/2 cup orange juice, 1 cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon grated orange rind in a small saucepan; boil for one minute, stirring constantly. Punch holes in cake while it’s hot in the pan and drizzle glaze over top.
Mix whipped topping, cream cheese, and powdered sugar; frost cake.

Note: Best if made a day ahead.