Add the dates to a bowl with the bicarb and water and sit for ten minutes before blending until smooth
Beat the butter and sugar together in a new bowl
Add the eggs and mix
Add the blended date mixture, flour, treacle and vanilla and mix
Pour into a lined 2lb loaf tin and bake at 160ºc fan for 50-60 minutes and cool fully
Whilst baking, add the sauce ingredients to a pan
Melt on low and then boil for one minute and leave to cool
Beat the butter on it's own until smooth
Add the icing sugar and toffee sauce and beat
Pipe onto the cake however you like
Drizzle over the sauce and add a sprinkles
