Date And Walnut Cake

Ingredients

• 1½ cups chopped dates ((up to 2 cups))
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup boiling water
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 4 oz applesauce
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cardamom
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• ¾ cup chopped walnuts
• 3½ oz Ghirardelli dark chocolate bar ((chopped))
• ⅓ cup flaked coconut ((toasted))
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ⅓ cup half and half
• 2 Tbsp butter
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• pinch sea salt