Soak the dates in the milk for 30 minutes

In a different bowl, mix the sugar, melted butter, and cocoa for 3 minutes then add the eggs with the vanilla and mix again

Add the baking powder and one third of the flour by sifting it in. Mix the cake batter then sift in the remaining flour.

Add all the milk with the dates to the batter with some crushed walnut/pecans

Spread some butter in a baking tray then sprinkle flour over it

Pour in the batter into the tray then decorate with some pecans on the top