Sticky Toffee Pudding

Although this is known as a classic British dessert, the truth may be as sticky as the glorious, sweet sauce drizzled all over the baked treat. Indeed, there are stories to suggest it’s a Canadian invention! Wherever it came from, we couldn’t be happier to put out our version, including our exceptional Demerara Style Sugar, for complex flavours and earthy sweetness. And keep those Canadian roots strong by using your favourite local whisky!

Prep Time
20 minutes
Bake Time
20 to 25 minutes
Servings

For the pudding:

  • 1½ cups (233 g) pitted dates, roughly chopped 1½ cups (233 g) pitted dates, roughly chopped
  • 1 tsp (5 g) baking soda 1 tsp (5 g) baking soda
  • ¾ (188 ml) cup hot coffee, preferably freshly brewed ¾ (188 ml) cup hot coffee, preferably freshly brewed
  • 3 tbsp (45 ml) whisky 3 tbsp (45 ml) whisky
  • 1 tsp (2 g) orange zest, finely grated 1 tsp (2 g) orange zest, finely grated
  • 1½ cups (188 g) all-purpose flour 1½ cups (188 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1¼ tsp (7 g) baking powder 1¼ tsp (7 g) baking powder
  • ⅔ cup (145 g) Redpath® Demerara Style Sugar, packed ⅔ cup (145 g) Redpath® Demerara Style Sugar, packed
  • ½ cup (113 g) butter ½ cup (113 g) butter
  • 2 eggs 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp (10 ml) pure vanilla extract 2 tsp (10 ml) pure vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp (3 g) salt ½ tsp (3 g) salt
  • ½ cup (56 g) candied ginger, preferably in syrup (drained), finely chopped ½ cup (56 g) candied ginger, preferably in syrup (drained), finely chopped

For the toffee sauce (makes approximately 3¾ cup / 938 ml):

  • 2¼ cups (563 ml) heavy cream 2¼ cups (563 ml) heavy cream
  • 1½ cups (326 g) Redpath® Demerara Style Sugar 1½ cups (326 g) Redpath® Demerara Style Sugar
  • ½ cup (113 g) butter, cubed ½ cup (113 g) butter, cubed
  • ½ tsp (3 g) salt ½ tsp (3 g) salt
  • 3 tbsp (45 ml) whisky 3 tbsp (45 ml) whisky
  • 1½ tsp (7 ml) pure vanilla extract 1½ tsp (7 ml) pure vanilla extract

Garnishes (optional):

  • Flaky sea salt Flaky sea salt
  • Whipped cream Whipped cream
  • Candied ginger, finely chopped or slivered Candied ginger, finely chopped or slivered

Equipment:

  • Standard muffin tin (12-holed) OR 12 ½-cup ramekins on a baking sheet Standard muffin tin (12-holed) OR 12 ½-cup ramekins on a baking sheet
  • Parchment paper (cut into rounds the size of the bottom of the muffin tin and a sheet for the baking sheet) Parchment paper (cut into rounds the size of the bottom of the muffin tin and a sheet for the baking sheet)
  • Scale OR dry measuring cups Scale OR dry measuring cups
  • Liquid measuring cup Liquid measuring cup
  • Measuring spoons Measuring spoons
  • Medium or large bowl OR bowl of a large food processor fitted with the metal blade Medium or large bowl OR bowl of a large food processor fitted with the metal blade
  • Microplane OR fine grater Microplane OR fine grater
  • Small bowl Small bowl
  • Whisk Whisk
  • Stand mixer with paddle attachment OR large bowl with a hand mixer Stand mixer with paddle attachment OR large bowl with a hand mixer
  • Immersion blender (if not using a large food processor) Immersion blender (if not using a large food processor)
  • Rubber spatula Rubber spatula
  • Digital thermometer (optional) Digital thermometer (optional)
  • Heat-proof spatula Heat-proof spatula
  • Toothpicks OR skewers Toothpicks OR skewers
  • Wire cooling rack Wire cooling rack
  • Small offset spatula Small offset spatula
  • Baking sheet Baking sheet
  • Medium heavy-bottomed saucepan Medium heavy-bottomed saucepan
  • Serrated knife (if needed to level cakes) Serrated knife (if needed to level cakes)

Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly grease a standard muffin tin, and line the bottoms with parchment rounds. Set aside.

Step 2

In a medium or large bowl, add chopped dates and sprinkle with baking soda. Pour the hot coffee, whisky (see Chef’s Tips), and orange zest over the mixture. Let sit for 15 minutes or until slightly cooled.

Step 3

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder until well combined.

Step 4

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the Redpath® Demerara Style Sugar and butter until creamy and pale in colour; 3 to 5 minutes. Add in eggs 1 at a time, mixing until fully incorporated before adding the next. Add in the vanilla extract and salt, creaming until combined.

Step 5

Using an immersion blender, process the cooled date mixture until almost completely smooth. Pour the date mixture into the bowl of the stand mixer. Mix until incorporated. Add in half of the dry ingredients. At low speed, mix flour mixture into the batter until just combined before adding the remaining dry ingredients and the candied ginger (see Chef’s Tips); do not overmix.

Step 6

Evenly divide batter amongst the wells of the muffin tin, filling to the top of each well. Place into the preheated oven and bake until a skewer inserted into the centre of the pudding comes out clean or when gently pressed, the tops spring back (see Chef’s Tips); 20 to 25 minutes.

Step 7

Remove from oven and increase oven temperature to 400°F (204°C).

Step 8

With a pair of toothpicks or skewers, poke the surfaces of the mini cakes while the cakes are hot (at least 10 pokes all over each cake). Drizzle the entire surface of each cake with a tablespoon (15 ml) of the warm toffee sauce. Place tin back into the preheated oven, and heat just until the tops look glossy and sticky; 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 9

Remove from oven and place pan onto the wire cooling rack to cool slightly; 10 minutes.

Step 10

Using a small offset spatula, carefully go around each pudding to loosen them from the sides. Remove the cakes by gently tipping the tin on its side over a parchment-lined baking sheet.

For the toffee sauce:

Step 1

While the cakes are baking, make the sauce. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine heavy cream, the Redpath® Demerara Style Sugar, butter, and salt. Place over medium heat until butter is melted, stir to ensure the brown sugar has completely melted, becomes homogeneous, and sauce begins to simmer.

Step 2

Reduce heat to low and stir in the whisky and vanilla extract. Cover pan to keep warm.

To serve:

Step 1

Place a pudding onto a dish (if serving bottom side up, it may be necessary to slice off the rounded part of the cake to make it level) and spoon another tablespoon of the warm toffee sauce over the cake. Allow sauce to absorb into the cake.

Step 2

If desired, sprinkle tops with flaky sea salt, add whipped cream (or ice cream), and garnish with candied ginger. Serve with more warm toffee sauce, if desired.

Two sticky toffee puddings on plates served with toffee sauce and whipped cream with more puddings on a cooling rack in the background.

Chef's Tips

*Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature before proceeding with the recipe, except for the hot coffee.

*If whisky is unavailable, dark rum, brandy, or bourbon will also work well. If an alcohol-free version is desired, replace whisky with an equal amount of hot coffee or hot water, and increase the amount of vanilla extract by 1 teaspoon (1 tablespoon / 15 ml of extract in total in the pudding). For an alcohol-free version of the sauce, omit whisky and increase the amount of vanilla extract by 1 teaspoon (5 ml).  

*Toss the chopped candied ginger in the remaining dry ingredients to prevent ginger pieces from clumping together before adding to the batter.

*It can be challenging to determine whether a sticky toffee pudding is baked through, due to the dates and high moisture content. If a thermometer is available, insert the tip of the thermometer into the centre of a pudding, being careful not to touch the bottom of the pan. If it reads 180°F (82°C), the puddings are done.

*Redpath® Demerara Style Sugar can be replaced with either Redpath® Dark Brown Sugar or Redpath® Golden Yellow Sugar. Note that the resulting product will be less complex in flavour and paler in colour.