Sticky Date Pudding with Cream Sauce

Warm cake with shiny cream sauce on a cold winter day is just divine... Try it out... simple indulgence!!!

Preparation time - 10 mins

Cooking time - 5 - 7 mins

Baking time - 20 - 25 mins

INGREDIENTS

FOR CAKE

• Dates - 250 gms / 20 to 25 pieces - chopped
• Water - 300 ml
• Cooking soda / Soda Bicarb - 1 tsp
• Butter - 60 - 70 gms
• Raw Sugar - 1/3rd cup (use less if you prefer your cakes a lil less sweet)
• Eggs - 2 - lighty beaten
• Self raising flour - 1 cup
• Walnuts / almonds - roughly chopped - half cup (optional)

FOR SAUCE

• Thickened Cream - 300 ml
• Raw sugar / Brown Sugar - half cup
• Butter - 60 gms
• Vanilla essence - half tsp (optional)

METHOD

CAKE

• Add the chopped dates and water to a pan and bring to boil
• Now add the cooking soda and mix well... You will see that the mix fizzes up.
• Add the butter to this and let it melt completely. After the butter melts turn off the gas add the eggs, sugar, nuts and mix well
• Take a round or a loaf tray and grease with oil or butter and pour the mix in.
• Bake this in a 180 degree oven for 20 mins or till its done... poke a skewer / fork in... if it come out clean the cake is ready!

SAUCE

• Put the cream, sugar & butter in a pan and mix well till the butter melts
• Add the vanilla essence towards the end. I like the vanilla flavour... If you are not a big fan you can avoid this.

Serve the cake with the sauce on top or on the side with a dollop of cream or ice cream and strawberry or cherry. Preferably heat up the cake just a little bit before you serve it! 

VARIATIONS

• You could replace the dates with any other dried fruit of your choice... It might increase the cooking time and the sweetness level... so adjust the sugar accordingly.
• I used wholemeal self raising flour... you could also use gluten free flour.