English Sticky Toffee Pudding

This recipe was given to me by an English coworker, and it is unbelievable! Would make a great dessert for a holiday dinner. It's called a pudding, however, this is a moist cake with a caramel topping (the sticky part). You'll find that the caramel recipe alone is great, and could be used for many different things.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• cake

• 4  tablespoons butter
• 3⁄4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1  egg
• 1  cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1  cup boiling water
• 3⁄4 cup pitted dates
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract

• sauce

• 3⁄4 cup brown sugar
• 6  tablespoons butter
• 1⁄2 cup  cream

Directions

1. Directions for Pudding:
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Chop the dates as finely as you prefer (if you like chunks in your cake, keep them bigger, but I usually like small small pieces).
4. Boil the water and pour over the dates. Add the baking powder, baking soda, and vanilla extract. Let soak for about 5 minutes or so.
5. While the dates soak, cream the softened butter and sugar with a mixer (paddle attachment helps).
6. Add the egg and beat until combined and smooth. Add the flour.
7. Stir in soaked date mixture and mix until combined.
8. Place into 8 x 8 (or something similar) greased baking tray and bake for 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees. Toothpick or knife should come out clean when done. Be sure to check at 30 minutes, since oven times may vary.
9. Directions for sauce:
10. Melt butter in saucepan.
11. Add brown sugar and cream, bring to a boil.
12. Boil for 2-3 mins until texture is slightly fudgy and velvety.
13. Serve cake warm with warm sauce. We add the cooled sauce to the top of the cake and warm in microwave for 20 seconds, then top with a dollop of whipped cream or cool whip.
14. The more sauce you use, the stickier the wicket!