Sticky Date Pudding

Ingredients

• 250 g pitted dates, chopped
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• 125 g unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups self-raising flour, sifted
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 300 ml thickened cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 60 g unsalted butter

Instructions

1. 1

   --- Method ---

2. 2

   Step 1

3. 3

   Preheat oven to 180C. Grease and line the base of a 7cm deep, 22cm (base) cake pan.

4. 4

   Step 2

5. 5

   Place dates and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Pour over boiling water. Allow to stand for 20-30minutes.

6. 6

   Step 3

7. 7

   Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until pale and creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Using a large metal spoon, fold through date mixture and flour until well combined.

8. 8

   Step 4

9. 9

   Spoon mixture into prepared cake pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Turn onto a plate.

10. 10

    Step 5

11. 11

    Make sauce Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until sauce comes to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 2 minutes.

12. 12

    Step 6

13. 13

    Pierce pudding all over with a skewer. Pour 1/4 cup of warm sauce over warm pudding. Stand for 10 minutes. Cut into wedges. Serve with remaining sauce.