Individual Sticky Toffee Pudding Cakes For Two Or Four Recipes

STICKY TOFFEE MINI BUNDT CAKES

Steps:

• For the cakes: Cover the dates with boiling water and allow to rehydrate for 10 minutes, then drain and mash with the banana until smooth. Whisk in the melted butter, brown sugar, brandy, vanilla, salt and egg. Sift in the flour, baking powder and baking soda and stir until just combined.
• Coat a 6-mini Bundt pan well with cooking spray, then coat with a 50/50 mixture of flour and granulated sugar. Tap the excess out, and divide the batter evenly among the cavities. Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place a wire cookie or roasting rack on top. Bake the cakes until they spring back when lightly touched, approximately 20 minutes. Place the pan on the prepared rack to cool for 5 minutes, then flip the pan upside down on the rack and let sit an additional 5 minutes. Gently lift the pan to release the cakes, then cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• For the glaze: In a small saucepan, cook the evaporated milk and brown sugar together, stirring occasionally, until it becomes a thick caramel, about 10 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and salt, then whisk in the brandy. Add some ice water a teaspoon at a time until you have a glaze the consistency of maple syrup.
• Whisk the butter and glaze into the caramel until smooth, and allow to rest to thicken slightly, 10 minutes. Carefully dip the tops of the Bundt cakes halfway into the caramel, then place them back on the wire rack so that the glaze can drip down and coat them completely. Allow the glaze to harden, about 15 minutes.

ULTIMATE STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Steps:

• Stone and chop 225g medjool dates quite small, put them in a bowl, then pour over 175ml boiling water.
• Leave for about 30 mins until cool and well-soaked, then mash a bit with a fork. Stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract.
• Butter and flour seven mini pudding tins (each about 200ml/7fl oz) and sit them on a baking sheet. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4.
• While the dates are soaking, make the puddings. Mix 175g self-raising flour and 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda together and beat the 2 eggs in a separate bowl.
• Beat 85g softened butter and 140g demerara sugar together in a large bowl for a few mins until slightly creamy (the mixture will be grainy from the sugar). Add the eggs a little at a time, beating well between additions.
• Beat in 2 tbsp black treacle then, using a large metal spoon, gently fold in one-third of the flour and bicarbonate of soda mix, then half of the 100ml milk, being careful not to overbeat. Repeat until all the flour mix and all the milk is used.
• Stir the soaked dates into the pudding batter. The mix may look a little curdled at this point and will be like a soft, thick batter.
• Spoon it evenly between the tins and bake for 20-25 mins, until risen and firm.
• Meanwhile, put the 175g light muscovado sugar and 50g butter pieces for the sauce in a medium saucepan with half the 225ml double cream.
• Bring to the boil over a medium heat, stirring all the time, until the sugar has completely dissolved.
• Stir in 1 tbsp black treacle, turn up the heat slightly and let the mixture bubble away for 2-3 mins until it is a rich toffee colour, stirring occasionally to make sure it doesn't burn. Take the pan off the heat and beat in the rest of the double cream.
• Remove the puddings from the oven. Leave in the tins for a few mins, then loosen them well from the sides of the tins with a small palette knife before turning them out.
• You can serve them now with the sauce drizzled over, but they'll be even stickier if left for a day or two coated in the sauce. To do this, pour about half the sauce into one or two ovenproof serving dishes.
• Sit the upturned puddings on the sauce, then pour the rest of the sauce over them. Cover with a loose tent of foil so that the sauce doesn't smudge (no need to chill).
• When ready to serve, heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Warm the puddings through, still covered, for 15-20 mins or until the sauce is bubbling. Serve them on their own, or with cream or custard.

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a bundt pan with a nonstick cooking spray.
• Put the dates in a medium bowl, pour the boiling water over them and let sit 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, beat the granulated sugar, butter and eggs. Add the vanilla. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and mix. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and gently mix. Add the dates with their liquid and mix. Use a light hand; don't overbeat or the cake will be tough.
• Add the batter to the prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes to an hour, making sure to check after 45 minutes to make sure the cake does not get too dry. Let cool for 15 minutes, then unmold the cake and cool on a rack until slightly warm.
• For the pudding: In a medium pot, combine the brown sugar, butter, cream, vanilla and salt. Bring to a boil and then simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 10 minutes.
• Place the cake on a platter, pour the pudding over and garnish with the crushed toffee bar.

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine dates and orange juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat; cool. Pour into a blender; cover and process until smooth., In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, cinnamon and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in date mixture, orange zest and vanilla., Fill six greased 4-in. fluted tube pans two-thirds full. Bake at 375° for 14-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter; stir in brown sugar and cream. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. To serve, invert puddings onto dessert plates. Serve warm with sauce and ice cream or whipped cream.

INDIVIDUAL STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING CAKES FOR TWO OR FOUR

Steps:

• For the pudding cakes:
• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease and flour four 4-ounce ramekins and line bottom of each with round of parchment paper cut to fit.
• Set prepared ramekins in deep-side baking or roasting pan lined with clean dish towel.
• Bring kettle or large saucepan of water to boil over high heat.
• Combine half of dates with water and baking soda in glass measuring cup (dates should be submerged beneath water) and soak for 5 minutes.
• Drain dates, reserving liquid, and transfer to medium bowl.
• Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in another medium bowl.
• Process remaining dates and brown sugar in food processor until just blended, about five 1-second pulses.
• Add reserved soaking liquid, eggs, and vanilla and process until smooth, about 5 seconds.
• With food processor running, pour melted butter through feed tube in steady stream.
• Transfer this mixture to bowl with softened dates.
• Gently stir dry mixture into wet mixture until just combined and date pieces are evenly dispersed.
• Distribute batter evenly among prepared ramekins.
• Fill roasting pan with enough boiling water to come halfway up sides of ramekins, making sure not to splash water into ramekins.
• Cover pan tightly with aluminum foil, crimping edges to seal.
• Bake pudding cakes until puffed and small holes appear on surface, about 40 minutes.