Alright, let’s dive into making a truly irresistible dessert: Sticky Toffee Pudding! This classic treat is surprisingly easy to make at home and will definitely impress your family and friends.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
What makes this Sticky Toffee Pudding so special? Well, it’s incredibly moist, rich, and intensely flavorful. The combination of dates, brown sugar, and butter creates a deep caramel-like taste that’s simply divine. Plus, the warm toffee sauce is truly the star of the show, soaking into the sponge and making every bite so delicious. This homemade sticky toffee pudding is far superior to any store-bought version, and it’s perfect for a cozy night in or a special celebration.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to bake your own delicious Sticky Toffee Pudding:
For the Pudding:
- 1 cup chopped dates
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Toffee Sauce:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these easy steps to create your very own Sticky Toffee Pudding:
1. Prepare the Dates:
Place the chopped dates in a bowl. Add the baking soda and pour the boiling water over them. Stir well and let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes. This softens the dates and brings out their sweetness.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar:
In a separate bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. You can use a stand mixer or a hand mixer for this.
3. Add Eggs:
Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
5. Incorporate Date Mixture:
Stir in the date mixture until everything is well combined. The batter will be quite wet.
6. Prepare Baking Pan:
Grease and flour an 8-inch square baking pan. This prevents the pudding from sticking and makes it easier to remove after baking.
7. Bake the Pudding:
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Make the Toffee Sauce:
While the pudding is baking, prepare the toffee sauce. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
9. Add Cream and Salt:
Pour in the heavy cream and add the salt. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly, and cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly.
10. Poke Holes in Pudding:
Once the pudding is out of the oven, use a fork or skewer to poke holes all over the top. This helps the toffee sauce soak into the pudding.
11. Pour Sauce Over Pudding:
Slowly pour the warm toffee sauce over the warm pudding, making sure to cover the entire surface. Let the pudding sit for at least 15 minutes to allow the sauce to soak in.
Serving Suggestions
Sticky Toffee Pudding is best served warm, either on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. The contrast between the warm, gooey pudding and the cold ice cream is simply perfect.
For a beautiful presentation, you can sprinkle a bit of sea salt on top to enhance the caramel flavors. This dessert is ideal for special occasions like birthdays, holidays, or even just a comforting treat on a chilly evening.
Storage and Reheating
To store leftover Sticky Toffee Pudding, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, you can microwave individual portions for about 30-60 seconds, or until warmed through. Alternatively, you can reheat the entire pudding in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through. Be sure to cover it with foil to prevent it from drying out. The moist banana bread flavor holds up well.
Key Details
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Servings: 8
- Equipment:
- 8-inch square baking pan
- Mixing bowls
- Saucepan
- Mixer (optional, but recommended)
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped dates
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place the chopped dates in a bowl. Add the baking soda and pour the boiling water over them. Stir well and let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes. This softens the dates and brings out their sweetness.
- In a separate bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. You can use a stand mixer or a hand mixer for this.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Stir in the date mixture until everything is well combined. The batter will be quite wet.
- Grease and flour an 8-inch square baking pan. This prevents the pudding from sticking and makes it easier to remove after baking.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While the pudding is baking, prepare the toffee sauce. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
- Pour in the heavy cream and add the salt. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly, and cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Once the pudding is out of the oven, use a fork or skewer to poke holes all over the top. This helps the toffee sauce soak into the pudding.
- Slowly pour the warm toffee sauce over the warm pudding, making sure to cover the entire surface. Let the pudding sit for at least 15 minutes to allow the sauce to soak in.
