Best Ultimate Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipes

ULTIMATE STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Steps:

• Stone and chop 225g medjool dates quite small, put them in a bowl, then pour over 175ml boiling water.
• Leave for about 30 mins until cool and well-soaked, then mash a bit with a fork. Stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract.
• Butter and flour seven mini pudding tins (each about 200ml/7fl oz) and sit them on a baking sheet. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4.
• While the dates are soaking, make the puddings. Mix 175g self-raising flour and 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda together and beat the 2 eggs in a separate bowl.
• Beat 85g softened butter and 140g demerara sugar together in a large bowl for a few mins until slightly creamy (the mixture will be grainy from the sugar). Add the eggs a little at a time, beating well between additions.
• Beat in 2 tbsp black treacle then, using a large metal spoon, gently fold in one-third of the flour and bicarbonate of soda mix, then half of the 100ml milk, being careful not to overbeat. Repeat until all the flour mix and all the milk is used.
• Stir the soaked dates into the pudding batter. The mix may look a little curdled at this point and will be like a soft, thick batter.
• Spoon it evenly between the tins and bake for 20-25 mins, until risen and firm.
• Meanwhile, put the 175g light muscovado sugar and 50g butter pieces for the sauce in a medium saucepan with half the 225ml double cream.
• Bring to the boil over a medium heat, stirring all the time, until the sugar has completely dissolved.
• Stir in 1 tbsp black treacle, turn up the heat slightly and let the mixture bubble away for 2-3 mins until it is a rich toffee colour, stirring occasionally to make sure it doesn't burn. Take the pan off the heat and beat in the rest of the double cream.
• Remove the puddings from the oven. Leave in the tins for a few mins, then loosen them well from the sides of the tins with a small palette knife before turning them out.
• You can serve them now with the sauce drizzled over, but they'll be even stickier if left for a day or two coated in the sauce. To do this, pour about half the sauce into one or two ovenproof serving dishes.
• Sit the upturned puddings on the sauce, then pour the rest of the sauce over them. Cover with a loose tent of foil so that the sauce doesn't smudge (no need to chill).
• When ready to serve, heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Warm the puddings through, still covered, for 15-20 mins or until the sauce is bubbling. Serve them on their own, or with cream or custard.

THE ULTIMATE MAKEOVER: STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Steps:

• Chop the dates into small pieces, put in a small bowl then pour over 175ml boiling water. Leave to cool, about 30 mins. Oil (using the ½ tsp oil) then flour 7 x 200ml pudding tins (tapping out excess flour). Sit them on a baking sheet.
• Stir the vanilla and treacle into the dates, and mash with a fork to a rough purée.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. To make the puddings, beat the eggs in a small bowl. Mix the bicarbonate of soda and 175g flour together. Stir the 75ml oil and demerara sugar together in a larger bowl, using a wooden spoon. Pour in the eggs a bit at a time, beating as you go. Gently fold in one-third of the flour with a large metal spoon, then half the yogurt. Don't overmix. Repeat, finishing with the last of the flour. Gently stir the mashed dates in to a thick batter. Spoon evenly between the tins. Bake for 20-25 mins.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Put the muscovado sugar and butter into a small heavy-based pan. Heat over a low-medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar starts to dissolve, without bringing to the boil or it may burn. The mixture will be quite thick, like fudge, and the sugar won't dissolve completely at this stage. Take the pan off the heat, then stir in the black treacle and vanilla. Cool for 1-2 mins, then stir in the crème fraîche a spoonful at a time, so it incorporates smoothly into the mixture. If it's a bit lumpy, use a small wire whisk to break them up.
• To serve, loosen around the sides of the puddings with a round-bladed knife, then turn out onto plates. Spoon a little sauce over each one and finish with a drizzle of it on the plate. Puddings and sauce can be made up to 2 days ahead.

THE ULTIMATE STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Steps:

• Put the dates in a bowl and pour ove the boiling water. Leave to stand for about 30 minutes. Drain off any excess liquid and mash them up a bit if they are large pieces.
• Stir in the vanilla extract.
• Butter and flour seven mini pudding tins (about 200ml each) and sit them on a baking sheet.
• Heat oven to 180c/fan 160c/gas 4.
• While the dates are soaking make the puddings.
• Mix the flour and bicarbonate of soda together. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl.
• Beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until creamy, but it will be slightly grainy because of the sugar.
• Add the eggs a little at a time.
• Beat in the black treacle.
• Using a metal spoon, gently fold in a third of the flour, then half the milk. Repeat until all flour and milk is used.
• Stir in the dates.
• The mixture may look a bit curdled, but should be like a soft thick batter.
• Spoon evenly into prepared tins.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes until risen and firm.
• Meanwhile make the sauce.
• Put the sugar and butter in a medium saucepan with half the cream.
• Bring to the boil over a medium heat stirring all the time until the sugar has completely dissolved.
• Stir in the black treacle.
• Turn up the heat slightly and let the mixture bubble away for 2-3 minutes until it is rich toffee colour. Stir it occasionally to make sure it doesn't burn.
• Take the pan off the heat and beat in the rest of the cream.
• Remove puddings from the oven.
• Leave them for a couple of minutes and then turn them out.
• You can serve them now with the sauce poured over, but they get even stickier if you keep them for a day or two covered in sauce.
• Put half the sauce in a serving dish, stand the puddings in there, and pour over the rest of the sauce.
• To serve, heat them in the oven (preheated as above) covered with foil,until they are hot, about 15 minutes.
• Serve on their own, or with cream or custard.
• Can also be frozen -- mine didn't last that long!