Black Sweets of Vengeance

Contrary to popular belief, no members of the band Nile are from Egypt. Formed in 1993, their hometown is Greenville, South Carolina. Karl Sanders's lyrics reflect his fascination with Egyptology.

The band classifies themselves as "Ithyphallic Metal" in reference to their themes. "Ithyphallic" is a word that means "To have the penis erect." Yowsa!!

When they released their album Ithyphallic in 2007, fans had the opportunity to listen to the album 2 weeks early by deciphering a hieroglyphic message. "Papyrus" was the answer.

Pretty sweet, huh?

Nile is so heavy, that I find they help me concentrate when I'm baking up a new and/or difficult recipe.

This recipe was inspired by my favorite Nile song "Black Seeds of Vengeance."

In keeping with the Egyptian theme, I'm using the most popular fruit of ancient Egypt: Dates!

Nile: Black Sweets of Vengeance

Metal Constituents

• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for tins
• 2 cups All-Purpose Flour, plus more for tins
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup Brandy
• 8 ounces Medjool Dates, halved and pitted
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• black food coloring

For The Glaze:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup Brandy
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Merciless Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Brush a cupcake tin with butter, dust each section with flour, tap out excess, and set aside.
3. Bring water, brandy, and dates to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cover.
5. Cook until dates are very soft, about 5 minutes.
6. Transfer mixture to a food processor or blender, and puree until smooth.
7. Let mixture cool for 15 minutes.
8. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
9. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and brown sugar until pale and fluffy.
10. Add eggs one at a time, beating until each is incorporated.
11. Reduce mixer speed to low, add flour mixture in 3 batches - alternating with 2 additions of date puree, beating until just combined.
12. Add lots of black, vengeful food coloring.
13. Divide batter evenly among sections of prepared cupcake tin.
14. Bake for 23 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of one cake comes out clean. *about 10 minutes before end of baking time, start preparing glaze.
15. To make the glaze: Bring cream, brown sugar, and butter to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally
16. Cook for 3 minutes
17. Stir in brandy and salt, and cook 1 minute more.
18. To serve: pour about 2 Tablespoons of glaze over each cupcake as soon as it's removed from the oven.
19. Allow cakes to sit for 10 minutes in pan, before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
20. Place one cupcake on a plate, and pour about 2 Tablespoons more glaze over cupcake and serve immediately.
21. Destroy these sweets of vengeance, utterly.

Here is some footage of Nile playing "Black Seeds of Vengeance." I hope it helps you concentrate on the task at hand.