Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Sticky Toffee Pudding


Just the name of this dessert makes me think "yes, please, I think I will."
I think I first heard of it reading one of Nigella's cookbooks.  But this isn't her recipe.  Trying to figure out her conversions messes with my brain a little too much.  
I found this recipe randomly from some place called The Schlafly Tap Room somewhere in Missouri.  Supposedly originates from a hotel in Scotland.  Good enough for me!

FYI...when one places a pound of dates in a food processor, it comes out looking a whole lot like the picture below on the left.


No worries though, it all gets smoothed out to a nice consistency like the pic on the right after being combined with boiling water.

I thought the cake looked kinda pretty just as it was straight out of the oven.  Not that I would ever dream of having it without that sauce.  I believe that toffee sauce is the devil's attempt at getting me to stay "off the wagon" for good.  I've been imagining it on everything from waffles to strawberries.  


So without further ado, here is the recipe from somewhere in Missouri, by way of Scotland.

Ingredients:
1 lb pitted dates, chopped in a food processor
2 cups hot water
2 tsp baking soda
5 oz. unsalted butter
1 lb sugar (I used half white, and half brown)
5 large eggs
1 pound all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
2 tsp vanilla extract

for the sauce
1 lb dark brown sugar
1 lb butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup heavy cream

Directions
Preheat oven to 350.  Grease 9x13 pan with butter and coat with flour, shaking out excess.
Combine dates with hot water in sauce pan.  Bring to boil and remove from heat. Add baking soda (I forgot this step).  Set aside to cool.
In mixing bowl cream together butter and sugar for 3 minutes.
With mixer on low speed add eggs one at a time until fully mixed.  Add flour, baking powder, salt and vanilla.
When fully mixed add the dates and their liquid.
Pour into pan and bake 30-45 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Sauce:  Stir first 3 ingredients together on low heat, until blended and brown sugar is melted.  Whisk in heavy cream.
Spoon warm toffee sauce over individual servings of cake.  Serve with whipped cream.

35 comments:

Monica H said...

Ooh that sauce! No wonder you want it eat it on everything :-)

This looks great and I love wher eyou got the recipe. ha ha!

grace said...

mmm...more like 'yes, please, i KNOW i will. repeatedly.' :)

Unknown said...

Oh wow. So pretty! It sounds yummy! I am pretty sure I would love it as there are very few desserts I don't love. Darn it : )

pam said...

Toffee. Be still my heart!

Dorothy at Belle of the Kitchen said...

Wow!!! This looks amazing. It has fruit in it...so it's healthy, right?

Julie said...

Yes, dates...fiber and all that stuff :)

♥peachkins♥ said...

That pudding looks amazing!

blowing peachkisses
The Peach Kitchen
peach and things

Anonymous said...

I love, love, LOVE dates. This looks and sounds so yummy!!!

Wanna Be Chef Mysti! said...

Looks yummy! and thanks for visiting my blog!! :)

June said...

Sticky toffee pudding is just the BEST use of dates ... and that toffee sauce. Ooooya!

Mimi said...

Great way to use of those dates in my freezer.
Mimi

Katrina said...

Mmm, delicious and over the top with the toffee sauce!

The JR said...

After the past couple of days I need a double helping of this!

Karen said...

Whoa! A POUND of sugar! LOL This cake just HAS to be good :)

teresa said...

this looks awesome! great recipe!

Julie said...

To be honest, I think I misread the recipe and used a "cup" of sugar, and it was fine. The sweetness of the dates and the sauce more than makes up for it.

Mary Bergfeld said...

This looks wonderful and reminds of Sunday dessert when I was a child. I especially like the sauce you've fashioned. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

tasteofbeirut said...

When I saw the title I did not imagine dates in it! I am actually just through with a dat-filled pastry, I love dates! You can buy them already in a paste form in middle-eastern grocery stores;
your pudding looks sinfully good; when I make it it will be inhaled over at this end!

Velva said...

Holy cow! This looks delicious. I smiled about the photo that described 'this is what it looks like when you place a pound of dates in a processor"

I forget about how much I enjoy dates and what a great addition they are to baked goods.

Great post!

James said...

The ultimate comfort food. Welcome to the sticky toffee appreciation society!

You're right about the universal sauce. I use it with barbecued bananas, tarte tatin, cheesecake etc. If you chill it it sets and you can spread it on toast (is that too much info?) or add to buttercream icing for cakes (like banoffee cake). But I also use it as a glaze for roasted sweet potatoes, squash and brussel sprouts.

Not everyone likes the sauce so sweet or rich so I add water which lightens it then thicken with cornflour.

La Bella Cooks said...

Oh my goodness....that sauce! Yummy!

Rachel said...

wow. There is nothing more to say.

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Goodness. That looks great!!

Unknown said...

I've only just tried sticky toffee pudding for the first time about a month ago (and I live in england). It was love at first bite. I got to try and make this. Thanks for the recipe.
*kisses* HH

Reeni said...

This looks positively heavenly! It's going on my 'to make very soon' list!

Mary @Delightful Bitefuls said...

You're joking, right!? I'm gaining weight just looking at this! Ohhh this has my name all over it - looks delicious!!!

xxMK

http://delightfulbitefuls.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Sounds so heavenly! What a treat!

noble pig said...

I love dates more than you know...looks amazing.

Kim said...

Oh yes....the sauce :D I could probably bathe in it! Looks like pure indulgence.

theUngourmet said...

Oh how I love dates! This looks so darn good!

Unknown said...

yum...i love sticky toffee pudding...yum again!

Lilly said...

Oh yum, I do so like desserts. I have to try this. I have been in th emood for baking lately which is probably why my backside is gorwing rapidly. I seem to have developed a middleage sweet tooth....ah well there could be worse things.

My Little Space said...

Oh good heaven, you're making hungry! This looks perfect for my sweet tooth. Yummm.... Btw, thanks for stopping by my blog earlier and nice to meet you. Hope to hear from you more often.
Have a nice day!
Cheers, Kristy

Kayleigh said...

these pictures make my mouth water! looks delicious!

stopping by from SITS!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Oh, snap! To think I almost missed this one! I have wanted to try making sticky toffee pudding since the beginning of time!!! (about three weeks ago I even bought dates to give myself a nudge.) Traditionally, I think it is a steamed pudding and always came across as difficult. Not anymore...if you can I can. Thanks for that final nudge. So exciting.
~ingrid