Prepare a 7-inch cake pan and line it with butter/oil and line a butter paper. Preheat the oven for 10 minutes at 150 degrees C.
Prepare caramel syrup: Take a pan and add ½ cup sugar and heat, when the color changes add 1 cup boiling water and stir. When it attains the texture similar to honey remove from fire. Allow it to cool
Sieve the dry ingredients, flour, baking soda, cinnamon powder and salt.
Beat egg and sugar until creamy. Add refined oil, caramel syrup, and vanilla essence and Beat until it is incorporated thoroughly.
Using a mixed grinder crush the grated carrot and chopped dates. Add this to the egg mix and mix
Now fold in the flour mix into the wet mix by two times.
Pour the batter in the prepared tin and tap the bake tin to release air bubbles if any. Spread the cashews on top and bake in a preheated oven for 30-45 mins or until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean. Allow it to cool for 5minutes before demoulding it.
Recipe by Kerala Cooking Recipes at https://www.keralacookingrecipes.com/carrot-dates-cake/