Date Cake with Caramel Icing - Maya Kaimal

Ingredients

• 3 T sliced almonds, lightly toasted
• 8 oz Medjool dates, pitted
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces
• 2 t baking soda, divided
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 t vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 t ground cardamom
• ½ t fine sea salt
• 6 T unsalted butter
• 6 T dark brown sugar
• 3 T whole milk
• 1/2 to 2/3 cup confectioner’s sugar