Gary Rhodes - Sticky Toffee Pudding

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup dates, stoned and chopped
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/3 cups self-raising flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Sauce

• 1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons molasses or dark corn syrup

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 11x7 inch baking dish.

2. 2

   Boil the dates in the water for about 5 minutes until soft, then add the baking soda.

3. 3

   Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, then add the eggs and beat well.

4. 4

   Mix in the dates, flour and vanilla, then pour into the greased baking pan and cook in the preheated oven for about 30-40 minutes, or until just firm to the touch.

5. 5

   To make the sauce, simply place all the ingredients in a pan over a low heat and stir together until blended, then bring to the boil.

6. 6

   Some of this can be poured over the pudding and finished under the broiler, or it can be kept totally separate and ladled over the pudding when served.