Date and lime cake

Ready in 50 minutes, makes 1 cake

• 100g butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 lime
• 1 cup pitted dates
• 1 cup sour cream

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC.

2. Cream the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy.

3. Gradually add the lightly beaten egg, mixing well after each addition. Sift the flour and baking soda into another bowl.

4. Cut lime in half, removing any seeds. Chop, then grind in a blender or food processor together with the dates. (Yes, you read correctly. The whole lime, minus the seeds, is used in this recipe.) Add lime and date mixture to the creamed butter.

5. Add the flour and soda alternately with the sour cream.

6. Place in a greased 23cm ring cake tin and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean. Allow cake to cool before icing.

Icing

• 3 tbsp butter
• 2 cups icing sugar
• 3 tbsp sour cream
• 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
• 1 tsp lime juice, or more, according to taste

Cream the butter, add the other ingredients and beat well.