Cook dates, water and vanilla to soft mass. Cream margarine, sugar and egg. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Add date mixture. Pour into a 9 x 9 greased pan and bake at 325F for 35 minutes.

While cake is baking, put all the topping ingredients into a small pot and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes. When cake is baked, remove from oven, spread topping on it and place under the broiler to brown. Watch carefully, because it could burn. Helen Peagram, F-Cooking