Sheet-Pan Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between sticky date pudding and sticky toffee pudding? ›

Sticky toffee pudding, known as sticky date pudding in Australia and New Zealand, is a British dessert consisting of a moist sponge cake made with finely chopped dates (optional), covered in a toffee sauce and often served with a vanilla custard or vanilla ice-cream.

Sticky Date Pudding – you're my favourite and always will be. Also known as Sticky Toffee Pudding, the simple trick that makes all the difference is to pour some Butterscotch Sauce over the warm cake when it comes out of the oven.

Adding bicarbonate of soda to the pud helps it rise. It also helps break down the dates and disperse them through the mixture so they don't sink to the bottom.

For leftovers we recommend storing the sponge and sauce separately in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cover the sponge tightly with clingfilm (plastic wrap) and put the sauce in an airtight container.

Unfortunately though these type of self-saucing puddings do not reheat very well as the sauce tends to thicken and be absorbed by the sponge as the pudding cools. So when you reheat the pudding it will have a sticky base but with very little sauce.

Fun fact: In New Zealand and Australia the dish is called sticky date pudding. Because no one knows exactly where sticky toffee pudding was created, it's unclear how the addition of dates was added, but it's certain you can't make the recipe without them.

A taste of Sticky Toffee Pudding

The Irish love to eat it as a dessert or snack, accompanied by vanilla ice cream (for a touch of freshness!). You'll find them in most local restaurants serving Irish cuisine, but you can also find them in pastry shops.

United Kingdom

Sticky toffee pudding / Origin

The beloved British classic is popping up on dessert menus across the United States, from natural wine bars to Harry Potter World. Sticky toffee pudding is a clear communicator.

If you serve up the pudding the minute it comes out of the oven then it may be slightly on the runny side, but if you let the pudding stand for 5-10 minutes before serving it then the sauce should thicken a little.

Why is my sticky toffee pudding dense? ›

Overmixing can result in a dense and tough pudding due to overdeveloped gluten. Mix until just combined. Baking Time - Keep a close eye on the baking time. Overbaking can lead to a dry cake, so use a toothpick to check for doneness.

You could freeze leftover portions of the pudding in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Freeze the sauce in a separate airtight container. Thaw the sponge and sauce overnight in the fridge. Reheat the sponge in the microwave and reheat the sauce in a saucepan over a low heat, stiring occasionally.

I would eat it, the amount of sugar that is in it would preserve it surely. Eat. Deffo. All sugar and fat.

Make the drizzle by mixing the tahini, date syrup and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Pour over the mini sticky toffee puddings and enjoy! Store in the fridge in an air-tight container. You can reheat in the oven or the microwave if you prefer to enjoy them warm.

Dates sold in packets or resealable bags are only partially dried and can be eaten straight from the packet. Unless they are very dry and chewy, they are suitable for the sticky toffee pudding, as they are chopped and will soften more when they soak in the hot water and bicarbonate of soda (baking soda).

What does sticky toffee pudding taste like? Quite literally, heavenly! If you've never eaten one before, think of a light, moist brown sugar sponge cake covered in a sweet, sticky toffee sauce. Although the sponge itself is light, the dates also add a sticky, slightly chewy toffee like texture.

This traditional English sticky toffee pudding has the texture of a sponge-like cake that is super moist and full of sweet dates. The cake batter is baked on top of toffee sauce, then even more toffee sauce is poured on top.

Like the Christmas pudding and figgy puddings before it, the sticky toffee pudding is usually steamed for maximum moisture. Instead of figs, however, very finely chopped dates are added to the cake, which gets covered in a toffee sauce.

Serve the pudding with ice cream or cream and pour over the caramel sauce.