STICKY DATE & COCONUT CAKE

CAKE:
1 cup chopped pitted dates
1 cup water
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons butter
Dash of Salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
TOPPING:
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup flaked sweetened coconut
2 1/2 tablespoons butter
2 tsp. milk

--Preheat oven to 350 degrees
--To prepare cake, combine first 5 ingredients in a small saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat
    and let stand 10 minutes or until dates are tender.
--Spoon flour into a dry measuring cup and level with knife. combine flour, baking powder, and 1/2 tsp. salt in a bowl. Stir in date
   mixture, sugar, vanilla and egg until well combined.
--Pour bater into a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
--To prepare topping, combine brown sugar and remaining ingredients in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 1
   minutes. Pour brown sugar mixture over cake; bake at 350 degrees for an additional 13 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in
   center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes on a wire rack. Run knife around outside edge. Cool completely on wire rack
--Yield: 12 servings