Easy Sticky-Toffee Dessert Recipe

This Easy Sticky-Toffee Dessert is a sticky and rich recipe, which is made with chopped dates and dark brown sugar. It’s the ultimate comfort food recipe, ready in about an hour.

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Easy Sticky-Toffee Dessert Ingredients

For the cake:

Butter, for baking dish plus 1/4 cup, melted
Scant 1/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons self-rising flour
1/2 cup whole milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped, rolled dates

For the sauce:

3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
Approximately 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in little blobs
2 1/4 cups boiling water

How To Make Easy Sticky-Toffee Dessert

Prep the oven and mix the batter: Preheat the oven to 375°F and butter a 1 ½-quart capacity baking dish. In a large bowl, combine the scant ⅓ cup of brown sugar with the self-rising flour. In a separate measuring cup, beat together the milk, egg, vanilla, and melted butter.
Combine and assemble: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined. Fold in the chopped dates, then scrape the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
Create the sauce layer: Sprinkle the ¾ cup of brown sugar evenly over the top of the cake batter. Dot the top with the little blobs of butter.
Bake and serve: Carefully pour the boiling water over the back of a spoon onto the batter. Do not stir. Transfer the dish to the oven and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until the top is springy and spongy. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving warm with the rich, sticky sauce from the bottom of the dish spooned over the top.

Recipe Tips

How does the sauce form on the bottom? It’s a bit of kitchen magic! As the cake bakes, the lighter batter rises to the top, and the heavier sugar, butter, and water sink to the bottom, creating a delicious, self-made toffee sauce.
Can I use a different type of sugar? Dark brown sugar is key for that classic, rich toffee flavor. You could use light brown sugar, but the sauce will be lighter in color and flavor.
How do I know when it’s done? The top of the dessert should be firm, spongy, and spring back when you press it lightly with a fingertip.
Can I make this ahead of time? This dessert is at its absolute best when served warm, fresh from the oven, so the sauce is hot and gooey.

What To Serve With Sticky-Toffee Dessert

This is a very rich and sweet dessert that is perfectly balanced by something cool and creamy.

A scoop of high-quality vanilla ice cream
A dollop of crème fraîche
A drizzle of heavy or light cream

How To Store Sticky-Toffee Dessert

Refrigerate: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave before serving.

Sticky-Toffee Dessert Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 450 kcal
Fat: 18g
Carbohydrates: 70g
Protein: 5g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Is this the same as sticky toffee pudding?

It’s very similar in flavor, but the method is different. A traditional sticky toffee pudding is a steamed date sponge cake that has a toffee sauce poured over it after it’s cooked. This is a “self-saucing” pudding, where the cake and sauce are created at the same time in the same dish.

Can I use a different fruit instead of dates?

Yes, you could substitute the chopped dates with an equal amount of finely chopped prunes or figs for a similar sticky, rich fruitiness.

Why pour boiling water over the top?

This is the secret to the self-saucing magic! The hot water dissolves the sugar and melts the butter, allowing them to sink through the batter during baking to form the delicious toffee sauce at the bottom of the dish.