Sticky Toffee Pudding (with Toffee Sauce)
In short: A moist date sponge baked until springy and soaked in a buttery toffee sauce. Serve warm with ice cream or custard. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 540 kcal
Sticky toffee pudding is a moist, dark sponge made with chopped dates and drenched in a buttery toffee sauce. The dates melt into the batter as it bakes, adding sweetness, color and a soft crumb without any heaviness. It is a pub dessert favorite and a reliable choice for a winter dinner party, since both the pudding and the sauce can be made ahead and reheated. Serve it warm with ice cream or custard.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Butter a 20 cm (8 inch) square baking dish that is at least 5 cm (2 inches) deep.
- Put the dates in a heatproof bowl, add the boiling water and baking soda, and stir. Leave for 15 minutes, then mash roughly with a fork, keeping some texture.
- Beat the butter, sugar and treacle for 2 to 3 minutes until fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a spoonful of the flour with each.
- Fold in the rest of the flour and the vanilla, then stir in the dates with all of their liquid. The batter will be loose.
- Pour into the dish and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until well risen and springy, and a skewer comes out clean.
- Meanwhile, melt the sauce butter with the sugar, cream and salt in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly thickened, then stir in the vanilla.
- Prick the hot pudding all over with a skewer and pour a third of the sauce over it. Let it soak in for 5 minutes.
- Cut into squares and serve warm with the remaining sauce and ice cream or custard.
Tips
- Do not skip soaking the dates, since they provide the moisture. Chopped prunes can replace half of them for a deeper flavor.
- Bake it up to 2 days ahead, covered, then reheat portions in a 160°C (325°F) oven for 15 minutes. The unsauced pudding freezes for 2 months.
Questions and answers
Is there actual toffee in sticky toffee pudding?
No. The name comes from the sauce, made of butter, brown sugar and cream, which is poured over a moist date sponge.
Can I make sticky toffee pudding ahead?
Yes. Bake it and keep the sauce separate for up to 2 days in the fridge. Warm both before serving.
Why is my sticky toffee pudding dry?
It is usually overbaked. Start checking at 35 minutes and take it out as soon as a skewer comes out clean, then be generous with the sauce.
How long does it take to make Sticky Toffee Pudding (with Toffee Sauce)?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Sticky Toffee Pudding (with Toffee Sauce)?
About 540 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 72 g of carbohydrates and 26 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 540 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 72 g |
| Fat | 26 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 53 g |
| Sodium | 330 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
