Salted Maple Date Cake

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. sea salt

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

3 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

2 cups pitted, chopped dates, divided

1 cup pecan pieces

For the glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

5 Tbsp. pure maple syrup

3/4 tsp. sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13” baking dish and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon. Whisk to combine, and set aside.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to incorporate fully after each addition. Add vanilla and beat to combine. (Alternatively, if you do not have a stand mixer, this step can be done in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer.)
4. To the creamed mixture, add 1/3 of the dry ingredients, and mix gently to combine. Once incorporated, add 1/2 of the almond milk to the batter, and mix to combine. Repeat - add another 1/3 of the dry ingredients, mix, then the remaining half of the almond milk, mix, and end with the final 1/3 of dry ingredients.
5. Gently fold in 1 1/2 cups of the chopped dates (reserving 1/2 cup for the top of the cake).
6. Pour batter into prepare baking dish, and smooth it evenly in the pan. Scatter the reserved 1/2 cup chopped dates over the top of the cake, then scatter the 1 cup pecan pieces evenly over the top.
7. Place cake in the oven to bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake; if it comes out clean, the cake is done.
8. While the cake is baking, make the glaze. Combine powdered sugar, maple syrup, and salt in a bowl and stir until smooth. Set aside.
9. Once the finished cake is cooled, drizzle the salted maple glaze over the top.
10. Slice cake into squares to serve! Enjoy with a hot beverage such as coffee or tea.