Sticky carrot & date cake with tahini maple icing - Good Food Middle East

Ingredients

• 200g stoned dates
• 200g softened butter
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 300g self-raising flour
• 1½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 200g light muscovado sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ fresh nutmeg , finely grated
• 300g carrots (about 3), washed well and coarsely grated (no need to peel)
• 75g pecans , roughly chopped, plus a few whole to decorate
• 60g sesame snaps
• 100g soft cheese
• 1 tbsp tahini
• 200g salted butter , softened
• 600g icing sugar
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract