Australian Sticky Date Pudding

G'day from Australia, I have here the recipe for Australian classic Sticky Date Pudding, one of the richest desserts, perfect for any occasion! Serves about 8-10 people (but it’s so good you could eat it all yourself!)

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon butter
• 9 ounces dates chopped 
• 2 cups water 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 cup butter, room temperature 
• 5 tablespoons raw sugar 
• 2 eggs
• 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 3⁄4 tablespoons baking powder
• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 1⁄2 cup heavy cream
• 1⁄2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 

Optional: add some chocolate chips; chopped walnuts; chopped hazelnuts; raisins
Serve with cup heavy cream, whipped Butter your round or square baking dish (need one with quite a bit of depth).

Preparation
Put the chopped dates in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring this to the boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 3 minutes. Add the baking soda and allow to cool. In a separate bowl, cream the ½ cup of butter, the raw sugar and the eggs (added one at a time). Mix well after each egg. Ever so gently, fold in the flour, the salt and the vanilla. Stir in baking powder and ½ cup of the date-cooking liquid. Drain the rest of the liquid from the dates, and stir them into the flour mixture. Pour into the baking dish, oven set to 350°F, and cook for around 30-40 minutes or until it’s cooked in the center.

For the sauce, combine ½ cup of butter, ¼ cup of heavy cream, brown sugar and the rest of the vanilla into a medium saucepan. Bring to the boil, then reduce and allow it to simmer for 3 minutes, or until it is a fantastically gooey consistency.

Drizzle some over the pudding as it cools, and leave some for serving. It’s so good, you should make double! Serve with some cream and strawberries Australia welcomes you with warm arms! Until then, Lucy

Submitted by Lucy Bashfield