Sticky Date Pudding With Caramel Sauce

I hope you're not counting your calories, because this is going to blow your diet! Very traditional for an Aussie dinner get together, cheap and it makes lots. Serve with ice-cream.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  cup  chopped dried dates (chopped fine)
• 1  teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1  cup boiling water
• 90  g butter
• 1⁄2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2  eggs, beaten
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1⁄2 cups self-rising flour
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped walnuts (optional)

• Caramel sauce

• 300  ml  cream
• 1  cup brown sugar
• 1  tablespoon golden syrup
• 1  tablespoon butter

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, mix the dates (use kitchen scissors to chop the dates rather than a knife), bicarb and water together. Set aside for 10-12 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time.
3. Beat in the vanilla.
4. Fold in the cooled date mix and the flour.
5. Pour into a greased 20cm round cake tin.
6. Bake at 180oC for 40-45 minutes.
7. Cool for 5 minutes, cut and serve from the tin (it keeps it warm).
8. Carmel sauce:
9. Place all the ingredients in a medium pot and stir over a medium heat until combined. Simmer gently until thickened (about 5 -8 minutes).
10. To serve: pour over the pudding and let it soak a little before eating.