Sticky Toffee Pudding

I hope you all read today’s post title in an English accent.  Actually, go ahead and read the whole post that way.  And I’ll be sure to throw in lots of words like knickers, blimy, and collywobble.  While we’re on this topic, say “Beer Can” in an English accent.  No really, do it.  Out loud.  One more time.  Did you say it?  Now say it again and realize that it comes out the exact same as the word “Bacon” in a Jamaican accent.  You’re welcome.  Now that I have you thoroughly interested in today’s theme- it all has to do with a new movie.  We’ve had so much fun coming up with recipes in conjunction with some major motion pictures.  (Remember my Camp Fire Cookies for The Croods?  One of my favorites.)  Have you guys seen the previews for the new Paddington Movie?  It hits theaters January 16th, from the beloved novels by Michael Bond, and it’s done by the same director who did Harry Potter.  It looks so cute, and it has some of my favorite actors in it.

It hits theaters in January, and looks like a great one for the whole family.  I mean, can you resist that face?

Paddington-Banner

When I started thinking about what recipe to make that might be inspired by the movie, I immediately started thinking of iconically British foods.  I asked all of you readers on Instagram and you came up with some awesome ideas.  Also some weird ones.  But I will look past that and concentrate on the beauty that is Sticky Toffee Pudding. Now, let me just say that every time (we’re talking like, over the past 10 years) I hear the words sticky-toffee-pudding, it sounds amazing and I go look up recipes and then realize a main ingredient is dates and I dismiss it, feeling fooled that someone tricked me into desiring something made with what appear to be giant raisins.  Don’t be fooled by the giant raisins.  Dates are actually delicious.  They’re insanely sweet and sticky, with a warm almost brown-sugary flavor, and just watch what happens to them in this recipe.

These are medjool dates.  Costco carries these little tubs of them in the produce section.

Dates_Our Best Bites

They each have pits in the middle, so you’ll need to remove those and then chop up the dates and place them in a heat proof bowl where you’ll cover them with boiling water and stir in some baking soda.

Boiling Water and Dates

After they sit for a little bit, blend them up until they’re smooth, it looks like cinnamon applesauce.

Processed Dates_Our Best Bites

And then swirl it into an easy cake batter.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Batter_Our Best Bites

The sweet cake bakes up and has a rich, warm flavor of brown sugar.

Baked Cake_Our Best Bites

The sauce is to. die. for. and it’s so easy you might find yourself making it just to pour on random things in your kitchen, like graham crackers, oatmeal, or large spoons.  It’s simply dark brown sugar, butter, and cream.

Caramel Sauce _Our Best Bites

Ya, that’s what I’m talking about.

Pouring Caramel Sauce_Our Best Bites

I think this would be really good as a poke-cake (which some recipes actually call for) where you poke holes all over the cake and then pour over the hot caramel. The cooler the caramel toffee sauce gets, the thicker it becomes (and you start to realize why it’s called sticky toffee pudding).

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake with Sauce_Our Best Bites

So there’s really a number of different ways you could serve this.  You can do as I’m doing in the photos, and cut warm pieces of cake and drizzle on the sauce, or you could invert the whole cake and then cover it in caramel.  Once it cools, it’s kind of like cake squares with soft caramel on top that you can eat with your fingers.  There are really no bad options here.

Sticky Toffee Pudding from Our Best Bites

Definitely serve it with whipped cream.  Or vanilla ice cream.  For cakes with this flavor profile, I like to whip my cream with brown sugar instead of white or powdered.  It adds a really deep flavor profile, especially mixed with vanilla- try it.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake with Whipped Cream _Our Best Bites

That light, sweet cake is absolutely heavenly with the gooey sticky caramel sauce.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake Bite_Our Best Bites

It’s perfect for the holidays and would make such a great ending to a Christmas-y meal.  Just make sure while you’re eating, everyone knows they are to speak with an accent.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake from Our Best Bites

 

 

And definitely keep your eyes out for the cute Paddington movie!  If you want to keep up with the latest, you can follow the film on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Paddington - KeyArt

woman in denim shirt holding a salad bowl
Meet The Author

Sara Wells

Sara Wells co-founded Our Best Bites in 2008. She is the author of three Bestselling Cook Books, Best Bites: 150 Family Favorite RecipesSavoring the Seasons with Our Best Bites, and 400 Calories or Less from Our Best Bites. Sara’s work has been featured in many local and national news outlets and publications such as Parenting MagazineBetter Homes & GardensFine CookingThe Rachel Ray Show and the New York Times.

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Questions & Reviews

  1. I made this yesterday and it is one of the best cakes I have ever had. My family all love it! I don’t think it will make it past today before it is gone.

  2. Your recipe says to use a 9×13″ baking pan but the baking dish in the picture looks square. Would an 8″ square baking dish work?

    Thanks,
    Sheila

  3. I took this to a holiday bake off and won third place! In all reality I deserved second but I kinda missed the “able to eat with your hands” memo and the cake is not really hand eating appropriate 🙂 Worth it though. So delicious.

  4. I am so psyched to make this!! This is going to be my special treat for the holidays, something to eat with tea and cream by candlelight. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

  5. I made this today for my book club and it was a huge hit! Super moist, but not soggy. The sauce on top was amazing. Thanks for posting this!

  6. I’m so excited to try this. I remember having the most delicious sticky toffee pudding in London years ago. Ever since I have wanted to try making it but have never seen a recipe that looked appealing! This certainly does!

  7. Just made this and it is divine! Exactly what I’ve been craving. Plus the toffee sauce is dangerously delicious 🙂

  8. I am way excited to try this. I keep coming back and looking at the recipe. I am currently with out a blender/food processor/bullet of any sorts. But as soon as I get one (i’m hoping for a blender for christmas) I will christen it with this recipe. I’m way excited for the movie too.

  9. Haagen Daz used to have an ice cream flavor of sticky toffee pudding. It had chunks of the cake with the toffee swirl, OMG it was so good! I loved it! I’m thinking I will whip this up for Christmas this year! Thanks for the recipe 🙂

  10. Eeeek ok i am finally going to attempt this! My sister in law ( British) makes it as a special treat once in awhile and it’s my faaaaaav. Yum yum

  11. I am excited for the movie to come out. For some reason I can’t even start to do an English accent under any circumstance. My Mum —trying to be with the program in some way–Ha—–My Mum used to have dates on hand just like she did raisins. It’s not a habit I picked up as an adult. But now I am asking myself why not? This is a wonderful recipe to get me started.