Description
This warm sticky toffee pudding recipe is a classic British dessert featuring a moist sponge cake made with dates, smothered in rich toffee sauce. Perfect for holidays, family gatherings, or a comforting treat any time of year.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (plus more for greasing)
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 8 ounces dried pitted dates (about 1 ½ cups)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Sauce and Serving:
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 ¼ cups packed dark brown sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Optional: Flaky salt for sprinkling
- Optional: Vanilla ice cream for serving
Instructions
Make the Cake:
- Soften butter and bring eggs to room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×9-inch baking dish.
- Soak dates in boiling water with baking soda for 10 minutes, then purée until smooth.
- Whisk together dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
- Cream butter and brown sugar until combined. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each.
- Add date purée and vanilla to the wet mixture, then gradually mix in dry ingredients.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30–35 minutes. Poke holes in the cake once baked.
Make the Toffee Sauce:
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir in brown sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt. Cook until smooth and glossy.
- Pour 1 cup of sauce over the warm cake, letting it soak in.
Serve:
Bake the cake for an additional 5 minutes, then serve warm with the remaining toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat the pudding in the oven or microwave before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 85mg