The first time I had sticky date pudding was when I was in England with my daughter, Rebecca. One bite and I was hooked! It’s sweet and soooo comforting. If you love dates and molasses like I do, you’ll fall in love with this one. The orange zest and homemade caramel sauce give it a brightness that keeps every bite balanced.
This rich holiday dessert has become a favorite at my house, especially when we have company. It’s the kind of thing I’ll bring to a get-together, and everyone always asks for the recipe. Every spoonful is pure joy!
What is sticky pudding?
Sticky pudding, also known as sticky date pudding and sticky toffee pudding, is a traditional British baked dessert recipe. It’s soft like a moist cake and usually served with a rich, gooey, sticky sauce. It’s cozy, old-fashioned, and perfect for anyone who loves caramel!
What is sticky date pudding made of?
It doesn’t matter whether you call it sticky date pudding, sticky toffee pudding, or something else. The best sticky pudding recipes are made with dates, for a deep, natural sweetness. Then comes the butter, brown sugar, molasses, and a mix of warm spices to tie everything together. For the sauce, I use maple syrup, orange liqueur, and a pinch of sea salt, which creates this beautiful balance of sweet and citrusy flavor.
Tips and Tricks for Making the Perfect Sticky Date Pudding
When to pour the sauce over sticky date pudding?
Right after it comes out of the oven! Let the pudding cool for about ten minutes, then poke holes all over the top with a skewer or fork and pour the warm caramel sauce over the pudding so it can soak in. The sauce will disappear into the dessert and thicken as it cools, so keep a little extra on the side for serving!
How to reheat sticky date pudding?
This is a true comfort dessert—right out of the oven and leftover too. And it reheats wonderfully! Just cover it with foil and warm it up in the oven at 300 °F for about 10 minutes, or until heated through. You can also microwave individual portions for about 30 seconds. Spoon a little caramel sauce over the top first to keep it nice and soft.
Can you make sticky date pudding batter ahead of time?
Yes! You can make the batter a day in advance, cover it, and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. The caramel sauce can also be made ahead and gently reheated when it’s time to serve. It’s a great make-ahead dessert for the holidays.
What do you eat with sticky pudding?
My favorite way to serve my homemade sticky pudding is with a big spoonful of crème fraîche—it adds a little tang to cut through the sweetness. Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream would be lovely too! And if you have extra sauce (and I recommend making a little extra), you can drizzle it over pancakes or into your morning coffee. It’s really yummy!
Sticky Date Pudding Recipe with Maple and Orange Caramel Sauce
This cozy sticky pudding recipe is made with dates, molasses, and warm spices, then topped with a buttery maple-orange caramel sauce. A rich, classic dessert that’s perfect for the holidays—or any time you want something sweet and comforting!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 °F.
- Grease a heatproof 6-cup pudding bowl or casserole dish with 1 tablespoon of butter.
- In a separate heatproof bowl, combine the chopped dates and baking soda. Pour the boiling water over them, stir, and let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes. Once softened, mash the dates to form a chunky paste and set aside.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the molasses and then the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gently stir in the vanilla extract and the orange zest, followed by the date mash.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and baking powder. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the batter.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, smooth out the surface, and bake for about an hour. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into multiple different areas—the date mash can stay a little soft in some areas, and you want the toothpick to come out clean no matter where you stick it.
- While your pudding bakes, prepare the sauce! In a saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add the cream, maple syrup, orange liqueur and dark brown sugar, stirring constantly until the sauce comes to a simmer. Let it simmer for 3 to 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in a pinch of flake sea salt.
- Once the pudding is baked, allow it to cool for 10 minutes. Using a skewer or fork, poke holes all over the pudding, then pour ½ cup of the warm caramel sauce evenly over the top, letting it soak in.
- Using a large spoon, serve the warm sticky date pudding straight from the baking dish. Drizzle with more caramel sauce if you like. I recommend topping it off with a healthy dollop of crème fraîche and a sprinkle of toasted pecans. Yum!
