Sticky Date Pudding

Ingredients (Pudding):
200g dates, chopped
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
250ml boiling water
75g butter, softened
100g brown sugar
2 eggs
175g self-raising flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
Ingredients (Toffee Sauce):
100g butter
100g brown sugar
150ml double cream
Method:
Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Grease a baking dish.
Pour boiling water over dates and bicarb; let stand 10 mins.
Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla. Mix in flour, then fold in date mixture.
Pour into dish and bake 35–40 mins until golden.
For sauce: melt butter and sugar in a pan, stir in cream and simmer 2–3 mins.
Pour warm sauce over pudding to serve.
