Sticky toffee pudding time

Hello friends & followers ...

Do you find yourself finding leftover festive food bits in the cupboards still? I love dates & bought in some large, juicy medjool dates to use over Christmas but they were still lurking in the cupboard today so I thought it is time to use them up.

Instead of my usual date, banana & cranberry treats, I decided on  Nigella's sticky toffee pudding instead.

Easy Sticky Toffee Pudding by Nigella

for the cake

• 100 grams dark brown muscovado sugar
• 175 grams self-raising flour
• 125 ml full fat milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 50 grams unsalted butter (melted)
• 200 grams chopped dates

for the sauce

• 200 grams dark brown muscovado sugar
• approx. 25 grams unsalted butter (in little blobs)
• 500 ml boiling water

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/gas mark 5/375ºF and butter a 1½ litre / 6 cups capacity pudding dish.
2. Combine the 100g / ½ cup of dark muscovado sugar with the flour in a large bowl. Pour the milk into a measuring jug, beat in the egg, vanilla and melted butter and then pour this mixture over the sugar and flour, stirring - just with a wooden spoon - to combine. Fold in the dates then scrape into the prepared pudding dish. Don't worry if it doesn't look very full: it will do by the time it cooks.
3. Sprinkle over the 200g / 1 cup of dark muscovado sugar and dot with the butter. Pour over the boiling water (yes really!) and transfer to the oven. Set the timer for 45 minutes, though you might find the pudding needs 5 or 10 minutes more. The top of the pudding should be springy and spongy when it's cooked; underneath, the butter, dark muscovado sugar and boiling water will have turned into a rich, sticky sauce. Serve with vanilla ice cream, creme fraiche, double or single cream as you wish.

It is quick & easy to make & I feel really pleased that those luscious dates will be used & enjoyed.

I confess that it is the first time I have made sticky toffee pudding; surprising as it is my favourite winter pudding.

I look forward to surprising the family with this treat which I know will be enjoyed as the temperature has dropped this week.

So friends - own up, do you buy in more than you need over the holidays & use it up?

Thanks for stopping by, your feedback is always welcome
Dee ~♥~