Make-ahead sticky toffee pudding recipe
 A classic version of sticky toffee pud – some versions put sauce on the bottom too – but it doesn’t need it. Serve with extra cream or ice cream. 200g/7oz pitted dates, roughly chopped1 tsp bicarbonate of soda300ml/10fl oz boiling water50g/1¾oz butter, plus extra for greasing75g/2¾oz light soft brown sugar75g/2¾oz dark muscovado sugar2 free-range eggs175g/6oz self-raising flour 200g/7oz pitted dates, roughly chopped 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 300ml/10fl oz boiling water 50g/1¾oz butter, plus extra for greasing 75g/2¾oz light soft brown sugar 75g/2¾oz dark muscovado sugar 2 free-range eggs 175g/6oz self-raising flour 125g/4½ oz butter75g/2¾oz light soft brown sugar50g/1¾oz dark muscovado sugar200ml/7fl oz double or whipping creampinch salt 125g/4½ oz butter 75g/2¾oz light soft brown sugar 50g/1¾oz dark muscovado sugar 200ml/7fl oz double or whipping cream pinch salt Method Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Butter an ovenproof dish – either a large traditional oval one or a brownie tin of around 20x30cm/8x12in.Put the dates and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl and cover with the boiling water. Leave to stand. Cream together the butter and sugars in a bowl until very soft and fluffy. Add the eggs, one a time, adding a heaped tablespoon of flour with each addition, then add the rest of the flour. Add all the dates and their soaking water and stir briefly to combine. Pour into the prepared dish. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until springy to the touch and slightly shrinking away from the sides.While the pudding is baking, make the sauce. Put all the ingredients into a saucepan, stirring until the butter has melted and the sugars have dissolved. Turn up the heat and bring to the boil, then simmer for a few minutes, until the sauce has thickened to the consistency of a light custard (that is it should coat the back of a spoon).While the pudding is still hot, poke holes over the surface and pour over half the sauce. Set the rest of the sauce aside. Leave to stand for a while – the pudding can be left for a couple of days and will just get stickier. Serve warmed through again with the rest of the sauce, also warmed through. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Butter an ovenproof dish – either a large traditional oval one or a brownie tin of around 20x30cm/8x12in. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Butter an ovenproof dish – either a large traditional oval one or a brownie tin of around 20x30cm/8x12in. Put the dates and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl and cover with the boiling water. Leave to stand. Put the dates and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl and cover with the boiling water. Leave to stand. Cream together the butter and sugars in a bowl until very soft and fluffy. Add the eggs, one a time, adding a heaped tablespoon of flour with each addition, then add the rest of the flour. Cream together the butter and sugars in a bowl until very soft and fluffy. Add the eggs, one a time, adding a heaped tablespoon of flour with each addition, then add the rest of the flour. Add all the dates and their soaking water and stir briefly to combine. Pour into the prepared dish. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until springy to the touch and slightly shrinking away from the sides. Add all the dates and their soaking water and stir briefly to combine. Pour into the prepared dish. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until springy to the touch and slightly shrinking away from the sides. While the pudding is baking, make the sauce. Put all the ingredients into a saucepan, stirring until the butter has melted and the sugars have dissolved. Turn up the heat and bring to the boil, then simmer for a few minutes, until the sauce has thickened to the consistency of a light custard (that is it should coat the back of a spoon). While the pudding is baking, make the sauce. Put all the ingredients into a saucepan, stirring until the butter has melted and the sugars have dissolved. Turn up the heat and bring to the boil, then simmer for a few minutes, until the sauce has thickened to the consistency of a light custard (that is it should coat the back of a spoon). While the pudding is still hot, poke holes over the surface and pour over half the sauce. Set the rest of the sauce aside. Leave to stand for a while – the pudding can be left for a couple of days and will just get stickier. Serve warmed through again with the rest of the sauce, also warmed through. While the pudding is still hot, poke holes over the surface and pour over half the sauce. Set the rest of the sauce aside. Leave to stand for a while – the pudding can be left for a couple of days and will just get stickier. Serve warmed through again with the rest of the sauce, also warmed through. Recipe tips After you’ve added the sauce, you can put the pudding under the grill to make it go crunchy and sticky.