1. Home
  2. Recipes
  3. Sticky Toffee Treat

Sticky Toffee Treat

Featured in Sweet Endings: Irresistible Desserts.

Moist caramel cake packed with dates, topped with rich sauce. Enjoy warm for the best flavor. Ready in about an hour!
Pin it Share it Send it Print it Jump To Recipe
A chef holding a plate of food.
Updated on Sat, 05 Apr 2025 22:19:52 GMT
A square of soft, spiced cake topped with cream and sitting in a pool of golden sauce. Pin it
A square of soft, spiced cake topped with cream and sitting in a pool of golden sauce. | linacooks.com

I wanna tell you about my take on Sticky Toffee Pudding, that famous British sweet treat that'll make you swoon. This moist cake packed with dates and soaked in gooey toffee sauce is comfort food at its finest. Nothing beats watching that warm sauce meet melting ice cream as you serve it up - these are the moments folks remember long after dinner's done.

Why This Sweet Treat Stands Out

This isn't your average dessert - it's comfort wrapped in cake form. I've kept all the traditional goodness while making it super easy to whip up at home. When that soft sponge meets the rich sauce, something wonderful happens. It's perfect for celebrations or just when you need something warm and sweet to brighten your day.

Your Shopping List

  • Dried Dates: Chop up one cup - they're the secret to amazing moisture.
  • Hot Water: You'll need three quarters cup to soften those dates.
  • Unsalted Butter: Get six tablespoons nice and soft for the cake.
  • Brown Sugar: Three quarters cup brings that lovely caramel flavor.
  • Eggs: Grab two large ones at room temp for extra fluffiness.
  • Vanilla Extract: One teaspoon adds wonderful flavor.
  • All-Purpose Flour: One cup forms our base.
  • Baking Powder: One teaspoon helps everything puff up nicely.
  • Spices: We'll use cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves for warmth.
  • Heavy Cream: One cup makes our sauce silky smooth.
  • Dark Brown Sugar: Half cup gives the sauce its deep flavor.
  • Butter: Two more tablespoons for a shiny sauce.
  • Vanilla Extract: Another teaspoon finishes the sauce perfectly.

Cooking Steps Simplified

Prep Your Dates
Soak those dates in hot water and blend until they're smooth - this trick keeps everything moist.
Blend Wet Ingredients
Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy, drop in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla and your date mush.
Combine Dry Ingredients
Mix flour, baking powder and all those warm spices, then gently stir them into your wet mix.
Get Baking
Pour everything into your pan and bake for around 30-35 minutes until it's done just right.
Whip Up The Sauce
While waiting, melt butter with sugar, then add cream and vanilla, stirring until it looks glossy and amazing.
Finishing Touch
Poke holes all over your warm cake, pour half the sauce on top, then pop it back in the oven for 5 minutes - it'll blow your mind.

Insider Tricks

Don't skip warming up those eggs - it really changes how your cake turns out. Take your time with the dates, they need that soaking period. Watch your cake closely while it bakes. And always serve with ice cream or whipped cream - the cold cream against that warm sauce is what makes this dessert so fantastic.

Background Story

This yummy pudding took off in Britain during the 70s, though folks still argue about where it first came from. The dates are key - they bring moisture and that hint of caramel everyone loves. Down in Australia and New Zealand they call it sticky date pudding instead, but it's basically the same delicious treat.

Easy Substitutions

Want it gluten free? Just swap in your favorite flour mix with a bit of xanthan gum. Going vegan? Try some plant butter, flax eggs, and coconut cream instead. What's great is how this dessert stays amazing even with these changes - all that wonderful richness remains.

Prepare In Advance

You can totally make this ahead of time. Both cake and sauce stay good in your fridge for up to five days if you keep them apart. Wanna be super prepared? The cake freezes well for up to three months - just warm everything up before you dish it out.

A square piece of dessert topped with a pat of butter and covered in a glossy brown sauce, served in a white dish. Pin it
A square piece of dessert topped with a pat of butter and covered in a glossy brown sauce, served in a white dish. | linacooks.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What’s the deal with soaking dates?
Soaking them with baking soda softens the texture, and hot water helps blend them smoothly into the batter.
→ What’s the point of the poked holes?
The holes let the sauce sink deep into the cake, keeping it moist and full of toffee flavor all the way through.
→ How do I keep leftovers fresh?
Put the cake and sauce in their own airtight containers, refrigerate up to 4 days, and reheat them before enjoying again.
→ Can this be prepared earlier?
Absolutely! Store the cake and sauce separately, reheat when ready to serve, and drizzle the sauce over before eating.
→ Why use butter without salt?
It’s so you can better manage the saltiness. Kosher salt in the recipe brings just the right balance of flavor.

Sticky Toffee Treat

Sweet, date-filled cake soaked in warm caramel sauce, perfect with a scoop of ice cream for that cozy dessert craving.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
45 Minutes
Total Time
65 Minutes
By: Paolina

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: British

Yield: 9 Servings (1 cake)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 6 tbsp of unsalted butter, plus extra for the pan.
02 2 eggs, large.
03 A half pound of dried, pitted dates.
04 1 tsp of baking soda.
05 A cup of water, freshly boiled.
06 1 and 1/2 cups of regular flour.
07 One and a half teaspoons of baking powder.
08 1/2 tsp kosher salt.
09 Half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
10 1/4 tsp of cloves, ground.
11 1/8 tsp of nutmeg, ground.
12 3/4 cup of dark brown sugar.
13 1.5 tsp vanilla extract.
14 8 tbsp butter for the sauce.
15 1 and 1/4 cups of dark brown sugar for the sauce.
16 Heavy cream, 1 cup.
17 For the sauce: 2 tsp of vanilla extract.
18 1/2 tsp of kosher salt for the sauce.

Instructions

Step 01

Let both the eggs and butter warm up to room temp. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x9 pan with butter.

Step 02

Combine dates and baking soda with boiling water—let sit 10 minutes. Blend until smooth in a processor.

Step 03

Stir together flour, spices, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

Step 04

Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time. Stir in the pureed dates and vanilla. Fold in the dry mixture.

Step 05

Transfer to the greased pan and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until done. Poke holes all over the surface.

Step 06

Melt butter in a pot. Add sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt. Stir until smooth. Drizzle a cup over the cake and bake 5 more minutes.

Notes

  1. Store cake and sauce apart.
  2. Can be refrigerated for up to four days.

Tools You'll Need

  • 9x9 pan, greased.
  • Mixer (stand or hand).
  • Blender or food processor.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains dairy.
  • Contains eggs.
  • Contains gluten.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 450
  • Total Fat: 22 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 65 g
  • Protein: 4 g