Apple-Date Cake

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 2/3 cup fat-free milk
• 2/3 cup chopped pitted dates
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup coarsely shredded peeled cooking apple
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar (see Tip)
• 1 tbsp butter, softened
• 1 tsp flour
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat an 8x8x2-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a small saucepan, combine milk, dates, and salt; heat until steaming. Remove from heat. Stir in apple and vanilla; cool. Add egg and oil; stir until combined. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl stir together pecans, brown sugar, butter, the 1 teaspoon flour, and the cinnamon; set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the 1 1/2 cups flour, the baking powder, and baking soda. Add milk mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until combined. Spoon batter into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle evenly with pecan mixture.
5. Bake about 25 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool slightly. Cut into 12 pieces and serve warm.