The Best Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipes

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Steps:

• Put the dates in a bowl and cover with the 1 cup boiling water to soften, at least 5 minutes. Heat the oven to 350 and grease a deep 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• Combine the 3 tablespoons butter, baking soda, a pinch of salt, Demerara sugar, 1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar, eggs, flour and vanilla extract in a food processor and pulse until just combined. Add the dates and 1/2 cup of the water to the mixture; pulse until nearly smooth (specks of dates should remain visible).
• Pour the mixture into the baking dish and bake for about 30 minutes, until just firm to the touch. (When the pudding has finished baking, remove from the oven and heat the broiler. Put the rack about 4 inches from the heat source.)
• Meanwhile, make the topping. Melt 5 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, then slowly add 1 cup cream and 6 tablespoons dark brown sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt, whisking continuously until the mixture bubbles gently and comes together to form a smooth mixture; turn off heat.
• In another small saucepan over medium heat, make the extra sauce. Melt 3 tablespoons butter, then slowly add 1 ¼ cups cream and 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Repeat the process above.
• Pour the topping (careful not to use the extra sauce) over the cooked pudding and place the whole thing in the broiler until it bubbles and looks sticky, 1 or 2 minutes (watch it closely). To serve, spoon into bowls and cover with the extra sauce. If you like, add a dollop of whipped cream.

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.

THE BEST STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Steps:

• Place chopped dates in bowl with golden syrup, black treacle, coffee essence and bicarbonate of soda, add boiling water and leave to one side.
• In large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar, beat until mixture is light and fluffy.
• Gradually add the eggs a little at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Carefully fold in the self-raising flour using a metal spoon.
• Fold in the date mixture including all the liquid.
• The mixture will be sloppy (this will make the pudding light).
• Place mixture in a greased and lined baking tray and bake in a medium to hot oven for 20-30 minutes.
• Finish pudding should be slightly resilient to touch if not turn down oven and bake for a further 10 minutes.

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/350°F/Gas 4. Butter and line the tin with baking paper.
• Chop the dates into small pieces then add to the hot tea. Put to one side to soak for 15 minutes while you make the sponge.
• Cream together the softened butter and sugar in a large bowl with a wooden spoon (or use a hand-held electric mixer) until pale and light. Scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice to ensure all of the mix is beaten. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition.
• Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda onto the creamed mix and then fold in with a rubber spatula until all of the flour is mixed in. Fold in the dates, along with any tea that hasn't soaked in, until you have a creamy cake batter. Pour into the prepared cake tin and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the pudding is a deep golden brown. To check if it is cooked, insert a skewer into the sponge; if it comes out with just a few moist crumbs the pudding is ready.
• While the pudding is in the oven, make the toffee sauce. Melt the butter in a small pan, then add the sugar and cream and cook over a low heat, stirring every now and then, until the sugar has dissolved. Once the sauce is smooth, increase the heat and let it bubble for a couple of minutes.
• Leave the pudding to cool for 5 minutes in the tin before turning out and cutting into squares. Serve warm with the hot toffee sauce.Photography: David Munns © Hodder & Stoughton

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Steps:

• Sprinkle baking soda over chopped dates in a bowl.
• Cover with boiling water and cool for 1 hour.
• Prepare toffee by heating heavy cream in a saucepan and set aside.
• Heat ½ cup butter or margarine and brown sugar in a medium saucepan to a boil and cook for 2 minutes while stirring.
• Remove from heat, stir in cream and set aside.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease a 13x9-inch baking pan.
• Beat ½ cup butter and sugar in a mixer bowl until fluffy.
• Add eggs and beat 1 minute.
• Alternately beat in self-rising flour and date mixture, beginning and ending with flour.
• Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake for 45 minutes.
• Cool in pan for 1 hour.
• Pour toffee over cake in pan.

ENGLISH STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch round or square baking dish. Sift the flour and baking powder onto a sheet of waxed paper. Chop the dates fine. Place in a small bowl and add the boiling water and baking soda; set aside. In a bowl of electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla; beat until blended. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. Add the date mixture to the batter and fold until blended with a rubber spatula. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake until pudding is set and firm on top, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven to a wire rack.
• Toffee Sauce: Combine the butter, heavy cream and brown sugar in a small heavy saucepan; heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil gently over medium low heat until mixture is thickened, about 8 minutes. Preheat broiler. Spoon about 1/3 cup of the sauce over the pudding. Spread evenly on top. Place pudding under the broiler until the topping is bubbly, about 1 minute. Serve immediately spooned into dessert bowls. Drizzle with toffee sauce and top with a spoonful of whipped cream.