Sticky Date Pudding

A sticky date pudding recipe that your guests will LOVE!

Pudding ingredients

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup dates, chopped
100g butter
3/4 cup self-raising flour
1/2 cup dessicated coconut
1/2 cup soft brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 cup all-purpose/ plain flour
1/4 cup golden syrup
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

Sauce ingredients

80g butter
1 cup cream
1/4 cup soft brown sugar, firmly packed
2 tablespoons golden syrup

Pudding method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celcius (moderate).
Grease a deep square baking dish.
Line the base and sides of dish with baking paper.
In the base of the baking dish, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of dessicated coconut and 2 tablespoons brown sugar.
In a large bowl, sift the flours and bi-carb soda.
Add remaining coconut and make a well in the centre.
In a skillet, combine remaining sugar, butter, golden syrup, dates and orange juice.
Stir over a medium heat until sugar is dissolved and butter has completely melted.
Remove pan from heat.
Fold the date mixture into the dry ingredients.
Add eggs and stir.
Continue stirring until mixture is smooth.
Pour sticky date pudding mixture into baking dish.
Bake at 180 degrees C for approximately 35 minutes (test with skewer).
When cooked, leave the pudding in the baking dish for a few minutes to rest before turning out onto a plate.

Sauce method

In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients.
Stir over a low heat until sugar has completely dissolved and butter has melted.
Stir for another couple of minutes.
Serve immedately over slices of hot sticky date pudding.

To garnish, sprinkle a small amount of sifted icing sugar over sauce, and serve with a scoop of icecream and a small sprig of mint.