Sticky Toffee Pudding

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups chopped pitted dates
• 1 1/4 cups orange juice
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 60 g butter (just over 2 ounces)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon allspice
• whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, for serving
• caramel sauce, for serving (Caramel Sauce)

Directions

1. 1

   Preaheat oven to 170°C.

2. 2

   Butter and flour 6 1-cup ramekins.

3. 3

   Put the dates and orange juice in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, pressing down on dates with a fork to mash them. Remove from heat and add bicarbonate of soda. The date mixture will foam, just mash it in . Cool for 1/2 an hour before proceeding with recipe.

4. 4

   Cream butter, sugar, eggs and spice together for 3-4 minutes. Add flour on low speed and then mix in the date mixture. Mix just until combined.

5. 5

   Spoon into prepared ramekins, place in a larger pan or on a cookie sheet and bake for 45-50 minutes (cover with foil if browning too quickly), or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool 15 minutes before turning out.

6. 6

   To plate: Turn out each pudding onto a dessert plate. Garnish with whipped cream or ice cream and serve with warm Caramel Sauce.