Dates Walnut Rum Cake

Ingredients
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• All purpose flour - 11/2 cup
• Baking powder-1/2 tsp
• Baking soda- 1/4 tsp
• Cinnamon powder-1 pinch
• Nutmeg powder - 1 pinch
• Eggs -2
• Vanilla essence -1/2 tsp
• Sugar- 3/4 cup
• Milk- 1/4 cup
• Rum/Brandy - 4 tbsp+ 1 tbsp
• Orange rind- 1 tsp
• Orange juice - 3 tbsp
• Melted butter-1/4 cup
• Oil - 1/4 cup
• Salt- 1/2 tsp
• Finely chopped Dates -1 cup
• Caramel sugar syrup - 5 tbsp
• Chopped Walnut- 1 cup

Method
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1. Preheat an oven at 350F (180C). 
2. Sieve together flour,salt,baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and cinnamon powders 2 times.
3. Make caramel syrup by heating 3 tbsp sugar.When the sugar melts and becomes brown, add 6 tbsp water and mix well so as to form a caramel syrup. Allow it to cool completely. 
4. Chop dates into small pieces and  soak in rum/ brandy and  orange juice. 
5. Beat 2 eggs in a large bowl with 1/2 tsp vanilla essence until fluffy .
6. Add the sugar and beat well.Now gently fold in the dry ingredients little by little till no lumps are found.
7. Add 1/4 cup milk  if the batter becomes too thick.
8. Add the oil and melted butter and mix well till it is incorporated well into the mixture.
9. Add  soaked dates orange rind and gently fold in.Finally add the caramel syrup and mix well.
10. Add chopped walnuts and gently mix.
11. Pour the batter on a lightly greased dusted baking pan.
12. Garnish with the nuts of your choice. I used chopped walnuts and almonds.
13. Bake for  30 -35 mins.Check if the cake is done when a toothpick inserted at the center comes out clean.
14. Take out the cake and brush little rum on top of the  hot cake.It gives a nice flavor to the cake
15. Allow to cool and slice and enjoy.