Burnt Sugar Cake

1 ½ cup pitted dates, cut up 1 cup water ⅓ cup sugar ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ cup Burnt-Sugar Frosting (not syrup) ¼ cup chopped toasted walnuts

Burnt-Sugar Syrup

⅔ cup sugar ⅔ cup boiling water

Burnt-Sugar Frosting

1 ¾ cup sugar 3 egg whites ⅓ cup cold water 3 tablespoon Burnt-Sugar Syrup ⅛ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla