Sticky Toffee Date Pudding

Sticky Toffee Date Pudding 

Serves 6-8 

This classic sticky toffee pudding, infused with Earl Grey and packed with dates, is topped with a rich caramel sauce—perfect for impressing guests or treating yourself!

Ingredients

For the pudding:

• 100ml water
• 1 Earl Grey teabag
• 125g dates
• ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (plus ½ tsp more for the batter)
• 65g soft butter
• 150g self-raising flour
• 1½ eggs
• 115g light or dark brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons treacle
• 185ml milk

For the sauce:

• 65g butter
• 85g dark brown sugar
• ½ tablespoon treacle
• 200ml cream

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Dates

• Bring 100ml of water to a boil, then add the Earl Grey teabag, dates, and ½ teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda.
• Let it steep for 5 minutes. Remove the teabag and pour off half the water.
• Blend the dates into a chunky paste and set aside.

Step 2: Make the Batter

• In a mixing bowl, combine the butter, flour, eggs, sugar, baking powder, ½ teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda, and treacle.
• Beat the mixture (using an electric beater if you have one) until smooth.
• Gradually add the milk and mix until well incorporated.
• Fold in the blended dates to create a thick batter.

Step 3: Bake the Pudding

• Grease an ovenproof dish and pour in the batter.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 35-40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 4: Make the Sauce

• With 10 minutes left on the pudding, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the cream, treacle, and sugar, stirring to combine.
• Bring the sauce to a boil and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes until thickened.

Step 5: Finish and Serve

• When the pudding is out of the oven, pour ¼ of the sauce over the top while it's still warm.
• Serve with extra sauce drizzled over each portion for that irresistible sticky toffee goodness.

This dessert is best enjoyed warm, perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of cream or maybe some creme anglaise. 

Enjoy, Del x