This is a super indulgent dessert and a firm favourite of mine.
Ingredients
- 90g softened salted butter, room temp
- 140g soft brown sugar
- 230g self raising flour
- 1 level tsp baking powder
- 2 medium eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 150g Medjool dates, chopped 1cm pieces
- 50g plump sultanas
- 275mls boiling water
- 1 tbsp black treacle
- For the Sauce
- 115g salted butter
- 140g light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp black treacle
- 275mls double cream
- dash lemon juice
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
Method
- Pre-heat the oven to Gas Mark 5, 190 C.
- Mix the baking powder and flour together and sieve well.
- Pour the boiling water over the fruit and add the black treacle, stir well.
- Cream the butter and sugar together.
- Next add the beaten the egg in small amounts along with the vanilla.
- Add 2 tbsp sifted flour to the creamed butter.
- Carefully mix in the rest of the flour, do not overwork or the sponge will be chewy.
- Gently mix in the chopped dates, sultanas, boiling water and treacle.
- Pour into a well buttered 30cm square dish.
- Bake for about 40 minutes until well risen and cooked through.
- I pour a little sauce over the sponge and return to the oven for 5 minutes to bubble slightly.
- This is very important, serve with PLENTY of sauce (chefs never serve enough, it should come halfway up the pudding in the bowl) thick double cream and vanilla ice cream (Carte D’Or)
For the sauce:
- Make the sauce by placing the butter, sugar, treacle and cream together into a saucepan and bring to the boil, whisk well until you have a thick butterscotch sauce.
- Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice and vanilla extract.