Sticky toffee pudding is a beloved dessert that has become a favorite comfort food, especially in the colder months. Originating from the UK, this rich, moist sponge cake is drenched in a luscious toffee sauce, making it the perfect indulgence for anyone with a sweet tooth. The combination of warm cake and gooey toffee sauce is simply irresistible, and it’s a treat that has stood the test of time.
The cake itself is made from a simple batter of flour, sugar, eggs, and butter, but what sets it apart is the addition of dates. Chopped dates are softened and blended into the batter, giving the cake a rich, caramel-like flavor and a slightly dense texture that melts in your mouth. The dates also contribute to the cake’s moistness, making it incredibly tender and satisfying.
What truly makes sticky toffee pudding shine is the toffee sauce. Made with butter, brown sugar, and heavy cream, the sauce is simmered until it’s thick and velvety. Once the cake is baked, the sauce is poured over the warm sponge, allowing it to soak into every nook and cranny. The result is a gooey, sticky delight that is both sweet and comforting.
Sticky toffee pudding is traditionally served warm, often with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, custard, or whipped cream. The contrast between the hot, sticky cake and the cold, creamy topping makes every bite a perfect combination of temperatures and textures. It’s a dessert that feels indulgent yet comforting, making it ideal for special occasions, holiday meals, or simply as a treat to enjoy with loved ones.
Whether you’re enjoying it after a festive dinner or as a cozy weekend dessert, sticky toffee pudding is a delicious, heartwarming dish that captures the essence of British comfort food. Rich, sweet, and utterly satisfying, it’s a dessert that will leave you craving more.
Ingredients
- 180 g dates pitted and chopped
- 250 ml water boiling
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 60 g butter softened
- 150 g brown sugar dark
- 2 eggs beaten
- 180 g flour self-raising
- 100 g butter for toffee sauce
- 200 g brown sugar light, for toffee sauce
- 250 ml double cream for toffee sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a baking dish.
- Combine the chopped dates and boiling water in a bowl and add the bicarbonate of soda. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then mash the mixture gently.
- In a separate bowl, cream the softened butter and dark brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the beaten eggs gradually, mixing well.
- Fold in the flour and the date mixture until well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- To make the toffee sauce, melt the butter with the light brown sugar in a pan over low heat. Stir in the double cream and simmer gently for 3-4 minutes.
- Pour the hot toffee sauce over the baked pudding before serving.
Nutrition
This pudding is absolutely amazing! So moist and delicious! My family loves it!
Made this with my kids, and it was a hit! They helped with everything and had so much fun. Will make again for sure!
Honestly, I found it too sweet. The toffee sauce was overkill for me. Might skip the sauce next time.
Sticky toffee perfection! Just needs a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! 🍦
Tastes good but what’s up with all the butter? I mean, I used margarine instead and it worked just fine. LOL.
Lol, just made it and ate half the pan! 😋 So good!
It’s good but way too sweet for my taste. I had to drink water after every bite! 😂
Haha, I know right? It’s so addictively good! I can’t believe I’ve never tried it before this! 😍
I didn’t have dates, so I used raisins instead… still turned out good though!
This was AMAZING! I’ve been searching for the right sticky toffee pudding recipe and I finally found it. Thank you!
Really? I found it too sweet. Did you use less sugar or somethin?
So glad you loved it! This is my go-to dessert recipe now, too! 😊
Absolutely delicious! This recipe made my day. The toffee sauce is heaven!
Hmmm, I think I messed up coz my pudding didn’t rise. More flour or what?
No thanks. Didn’t like it at all. The texture was weird for me.
okay but I substituted dates with raisins, unfortunately it was NOT good lol
This recipe ain’t right! I used regular cream instead of double and it turned out okay. What’s the deal with you fancy cooks? LOL
I agree! Sometimes recipes are too fussy. Regular cream might work just fine, as long as you like it!
But isn’t double cream supposed to make it better? I don’t know, I never tried it with regular cream. Still, LOL!
Sticky toffee pudding is the best! My grandma made it all the time. This recipe is spot on!
I found the dates kinda weird in this. Tasted sweet but not what I expected.
WOW! This is dessert heaven! Next time, I might try putting nuts in for crunch. Yum! 🤤
My grandma always made this, but hers was way better. This is just okay.
Yum! Perfect for cold nights. I doubled the sauce though. Can’t get enough!
I love that you doubled the sauce! It’s the best part, right? Can’t wait to try this recipe myself. Thanks for sharing!
Sounds good, but isn’t doubling the sauce a bit too much? I mean, how would it not drown the pudding? Just curious.
It’s good but way too sweet. Like, who needs that much sugar? 😬
Totally agree! I had to add extra cream just to balance it out. 😅
It’s a dessert, it’s supposed to be sweet! Just eat it with some ice cream and you’ll be fine. 🍦
Omg so good! 10/10 would eat again. Also, I accidentally used self-raising flour instead of all-purpose. Oops!
Sticky toffee pudding is a classic but I think it’s too rich! My husband loved it though, so maybe it’s just me.
I dunno, this pudding is OK, but my mom’s recipe is better. Plus where do you even find dates? 🥴
Great recipe! I added nuts as a variation and it was crunchy and tasty! I’ll make it again for sure!
I don’t get why people rave about this dessert. It was okay but not the best. Maybe too sweet for my taste.
I thought it was too sweet too! Maybe just a drizzle of sauce next time? That might help balance it out.
Not sure what you mean. This is like one of the best desserts! Maybe you just need a better recipe?
First time making this! It came out kinda soggy. Did I do something wrong? Followed the instructions.
Sticky toffee pudding? More like sticky disappointment. Won’t do this again.
I’m sorry to hear that! Maybe the dates were overcooked or too ripe? They can definitely change the pudding’s flavor.
This was the best sticky toffee pudding I’ve ever made! So rich and sticky, just like the ones from the pubs! 😍
Mine came out kinda dry. Gonna try again, but maybe less flour? IDK.
I tried it but it didn’t turn out right. Maybe I mixed it too much? 🤔
Came out kinda dry for me. Maybe I should’ve took it out sooner? Not bad but not great.
Sounds like it might have needed a bit less time in the oven. Next time, just check it a few minutes earlier. But hey, at least it wasn’t a total flop!
I thought sticky toffee pudding was supposed to be moist. You sure the oven temperature was right? It can mess things up!
Yummy, but I don’t get why we have to mash the dates? Can’t we just chop them? 🤷♂️
Who cares if you chop or mash? It’s still gonna taste good! Just do your own thing! 🍰
I think mashing helps to release the natural sweetness and makes it smoother in the pudding. Chopping might leave clumps? 🤔
Why do you add bicarbonate of soda? Does it really do anything? Seems odd to me.
Bicarbonate of soda helps to tenderize the dates and makes the pudding light and fluffy! It’s a common trick in many baked goods. Trust the science! 😊
This was absolutely delicious! The toffee sauce makes it heavenly. 🍰✨
5 stars! I love this dessert! Can’t get enough of it! So sweet and sticky! 🍮💖