• Start by removing the pits from the dates and place them in a pot together with the water, butter and sugar. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer.
• Cook the dates until they start to break apart (around 20 minutes).
• Take the pan off the heat and set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, prepare a bundt cake pan by greasing the inside with butter and sprinkling the sides and bottom with cocoa powder and/or flour.
• Preheat the oven to 150° C (300° F).
• Pour the date mixture into a mixing bowl and whisk in the egg, and the milk or cream until homogenous.
• In another bowl, combine the flour, vanilla sugar, baking powder and baking soda until homogenous then gradually add it into the date mixture until a creamy batter forms.
• Pour into the cake pan and bake for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the cake in multiple places comes out clean.
• Take out of the oven and allow to cool before upturning it onto a platter. Optionally you can dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar.

Enjoy!