Date Cake (Djamilah) Recipe

Directions:

1. Butter a round 10-inch cake pan; line with waxed paper. Butter waxed paper; set pan aside. Preheat oven to 400ºF.
2. In a blender, process almonds with 3/4 cup sugar until finely ground.
3. In a large bowl, beat egg yolks with remaining 1/4 cup sugar and vanilla. Stir in almond mixture, cornstarch, dates, butter and orange juice or liqueur.
4. In a medium bowl, beat egg whites until stiff; fold into date mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in center of oven 30 to 40 minutes or until center springs back when lightly pressed with your fingers. Invert onto a rack; remove from pan. Cool on rack.