Sticky toffee pudding… easy and delicious tips! (2024)

What is sticky toffee pudding?

Sticky toffee pudding is a popular British dessert sometimes known internationally as “sticky date pudding”. This is because finely chopped or pureed dates are one of the main ingredients and give the dish its distinctive flavour and texture. The sponge pudding is topped with a toffee sauce and usually served with cream or vanilla ice cream.

Tip!

Never leave your pudding in the oven any longer than the recipe states (unless your test skewer is still coming out with batter on it), as it will quickly dry the pudding out. When reheating, do not leave the pudding in the oven for more than 10-15 minutes at 180 degrees celsius.

What are the ingredients in sticky toffee pudding?

The ingredients in a traditional sticky toffee pudding are medjool dates, boiling water, self-raising flour, Eggs, butter, demerara sugar, treacle and bicarbonate of soda for the pudding, and muscovado sugar, butter and cream for the toffee sauce.

Allergen alert!

Flour (Cereals containing Gluten), butter (Milk), cream (Milk) and Eggs are all among the 14 major food allergens.

Tip!

Leave the pudding for at least 30 minutes after adding the sauce to the top. Sticky toffee pudding is best served warm rather than hot, and after the sauce has had a chance to sink in.

Tip!

If you prefer a smoother texture to your stick toffee pudding, add ¼ - ½ teaspoon of corn syrup to your pudding batter.

Who invented sticky toffee pudding?

No one can be sure who invented sticky toffee pudding. It is known to have originated in the UK, and various reports attribute its creation to pubs and inns, in locations such as Yorkshire and Aberdeenshire, as far back as the early 20th century.

The pudding had a boom in popularity in the 70s after being served at a popular hotel in Cumbria.

Tip!

After baking, pop the pudding under a hot grill for a couple of minutes to give it a crunchy crust and a soft, moist middle.

What do you serve with sticky toffee pudding?

Sticky toffee pudding is most commonly served with either cream or vanilla ice cream, and sometimes custard.

All of these pair very well with the ingredients in sticky toffee pudding, and their creaminess complements the pudding’s sweetness.

Allergen alert!

Cream, ice cream and custard all contain Milk, one of the 14 major allergens and some variations will also contain Egg, another major allergen.

Tip!

Sticky toffee pudding is a great dessert to make in advance - as it tastes just as good once reheated. The sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead of use so long as it is kept refrigerated.

The pudding is best made around 24 hours prior to serving and should also be kept in the fridge to prevent its temperature hitting the food poisoning danger zone (between 8 and 60 degrees celsius).

Tip!

Nuts make a great additional ingredient to sticky toffee pudding.They can be chopped roughly to add texture, or used to make the pudding less sweet (especially varieties like walnuts) or extra butteriness (vareties such as pecans).

Allergen alert!

All vareties of (Tree) Nuts - including walnuts and pecans, are within the 14 major food allergens. Peanuts are also a major allergen.

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Can you make sticky toffee pudding without dates?

Sticky toffee pudding can be made without dates, but as they are one of the dish’s main ingredients and give it that chewy texture and toffee flavour it is better to use a substitute than forgo them entirely.

Prunes can be used instead of dates, as they have the same texture and a certain amount of sweetness. You can also use caramel sauce in place of dates, but this will make the pudding incredibly sweet, and more chewy.

Tip!

To maximise moistness and toffee flavours, chill the sauce to make it firm, then add a layer of it to the baking tin before adding the pudding batter.

Is sticky toffee pudding vegan?

No, traditional sticky toffee pudding is not vegan, as it contains butter, Eggs, Milk and cream - all of which are derived from animals.Sticky toffee pudding is suitable for vegetarians.

Tip!

Add a teaspoon of ginger or allspice to the pudding for a festive twist, or some extra flavour.

Does sticky toffee pudding contain any allergens?

Yes, sticky toffee pudding usually contains multiple allergens. These are Eggs, Milk (via both cream and butter) and wheat flour (a Cereal containing Gluten). You can check the allergen content of products using the .

Tip!

To keep your pudding tasting fresh, store it in a cool, dry place, with a piece of buttered foil secured over the top.

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