Sticky Date Pudding

Ingredients:

• 250g pitted dates, chopped
• 1 tsp Coles Bicarbonate Soda
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• 125g Lurpak unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups self-raising flour, sifted
• Caramel sauce
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 300ml thickened cream
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 60g butter

Method:

• Step 1Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line the base of a 7cm deep, 22cm (base) cake pan.
• Step 2Place dates and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Pour over boiling water. Allow to stand for 20 minutes.
• Step 3Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until pale and creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Using a large metal spoon, fold through date mixture and flour until well combined.
• Step 4Spoon mixture into prepared cake pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Turn onto a plate.
• Step 5Make sauce: Combine all sauce ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until sauce comes to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 2 minutes.
• Step 6Pierce pudding all over with a skewer. Pour 1/2 cup of warm sauce over warm pudding. Stand for 10 minutes. Cut into wedges. Serve with remaining sauce.