Sticky Date Pudding

(serves 12-16)

Recipe adapted from Marie Clare: Dessert

This is my other classic baked goodie, soft and gooey and lightly drowned in caramel sauce... dedicated to my friend Sririn who has always been a loyal fan of my sticky-date! 

Prep time: 20 min

Cooking time: 40-45 min

Ingredients:  

2 1/2 C chopped pitted dates
1 tsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp bi-carb soda
1 tsp vanilla essence
150g butter
1/4 C caster sugar
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 3/4 C self-raising flour

Caramel Sauce:
1 C cream
1/2 C brown sugar
1 stick cinnamon (optional)

Method:

1. Preheat oven at 180C

2. Boil dates and ginger in 2C water, simmer for 5 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and add bi-carb soda and vanilla. Cool.

4. In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar, add eggs gradually. Stir in the flour.

5. Mix the dates and butter mixture together.

6. Line a deep tray (2-3cm deep) with baking paper. Add mixture and bake at 180°C for 40-50 minutes. NB. Mixture rises.

7. For the sauce, simmer cream, sugar and cinnamon stick (optional) for about 5 minutes, or until thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon.

8. Serve warm with caramel sauce and ice-cream.