Farizal's Pudding Untuk Hari Raya

Ingredients
1 ¾ cups packed pitted dates (about 10 ounces)
1 cup water1 cup orange juice
1 ½ tsps baking soda2 cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp salt¾ stick (6 tbsps) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs

For sauce:
1 ¾ sticks (3/4 cup plus 2 tbsps) unsalted butter
1 ½ cups packed light brown sugar1 cup heavy cream
½ tsp vanilla

Accompaniment: vanilla ice cream