Orange Date Nut Cake
1 cup butter or margarine (softened)
4 cups sugar - (divided)
4 large eggs
4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 - 8oz package chopped sugared dates
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
4 teaspoons grated orange rind (divided)
1 cup orange juice
Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Gradually
add 2 cups sugar, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended
after each addition.
COMBINE flour and baking soda; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in dates, pecans, and 2 teaspoons orange rind. Pour batter into a greased and floured 10" tube pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour-10 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Bring orange juice, remaining sugar and remaining rind to a boil in a saucepan; cook 1 minute - stirring constantly.
Gently, run a knife around the edge of the cake; punch holes in the cake with a wooden pick.
Drizzle glaze over warm cake. Let cool in pan on a wire rack.