Sticky toffee pudding

Randy Feltis' take on this traditional holiday dessert is a perfect ending to your festive meal.

Randy Feltis’ take on this traditional holiday dessert is a perfect ending to your festive meal.

Sticky toffee pudding

Ingredients:
1/3 cup dates, pitted and roughly chopped
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup boiling water
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup dark sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2/3 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch ground cloves
1/3 cup walnuts

Sauce:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 oz dark sugar
1/2 cup double cream
pinch of salt

Method:
1.  Pre-heat the oven to 180C. Butter a baking dish approximately 24cm x 24cm.

2. Make the sauce by putting all the ingredients into a pan with a pinch of salt and heating slowly until the butter has melted, then turn up the heat and bring to the boil. Boil for about 4 minutes, until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Pour half the sauce into the base of the dish and then put it in the freezer while you make the rest of the pudding.

3. Put the dates and baking soda in a heatproof dish and cover with the boiling water. Leave to soften while you prepare the rest of the pudding.

4. Beat together the butter and sugar until fluffy, and then beat in the eggs, a little at a time. Stir in the flour, baking powder, cloves and a pinch of salt until well combined, and then add the dates and their soaking water, and the walnuts, and mix well.

5. Take the dish out of the freezer and pour the batter on top of the toffee sauce. Put into the oven for 30 minutes, until firm to the touch, and then take out of the oven.

6. Poke a few small holes evenly over the surface with a skewer or fork, and then pour over the rest of the sauce. Put briefly under the grill, keeping an eye on it as it can easily burn. Serve with vanilla ice cream

Courtesy Randy Feltis, www.oscarsbarrie.com