Imagine a dessert so decadent, so irresistibly rich, that it instantly transports you to a cozy Australian café with just one spoonful. The Sticky Date Pudding is not just a dessert; it's a warm, luxurious experience that promises to tantalize your taste buds and comfort your soul. With its moist, date-packed sponge and luscious caramel sauce, this classic Australian treat is about to become your new obsession – a dessert so good, you'll want to bookmark this recipe immediately!
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Total Time: 1 hrs 5 mins
Cuisine: Australian
Serves: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 200g pitted dates, chopped
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 100g unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a 23cm square baking dish or 8 individual ramekins thoroughly with butter.
- In a medium bowl, place chopped dates and pour boiling water over them. Sprinkle baking soda and let sit for 10 minutes, allowing dates to soften and create a smooth mixture.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened butter and brown sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually fold dry ingredients into the butter mixture, being careful not to overmix.
- Gently fold the softened date mixture into the batter, ensuring even distribution of dates throughout the mixture.
- Pour the batter into prepared baking dish or ramekins, spreading evenly with a spatula.
- Bake in preheated oven for 35-45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While pudding is baking, prepare the caramel sauce by combining butter, cream, and brown sugar in a saucepan, simmering until smooth and glossy.
- Once pudding is cooked, remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Pour warm caramel sauce over the top before serving.
- Serve warm, optionally accompanied by vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Tips
- Use fresh, high-quality dates for the best flavor and texture. Ensure they are pitted and chopped evenly.
- When soaking dates with boiling water and baking soda, let them sit for the full 10 minutes to soften completely and create a smooth mixture.
- Be careful not to overmix the batter – this can lead to a tough, dense pudding. Mix just until ingredients are combined.
- For perfect caramel sauce, stir constantly and watch the heat to prevent burning.
- Check the pudding early – ovens can vary, so start checking doneness around 35 minutes.
- Serve immediately after adding caramel sauce for the most decadent experience.
- For a professional touch, warm your plates before serving to keep the pudding at the perfect temperature.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 380kcal
Carbohydrates: 58g
Protein: 5g
Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Cholesterol: 85mg
