California Sticky Toffee Pudding

Each fall, Sunset’s food editor Margo True looks forward to making her recipe for this spicy, tender cake with plump Medjool dates from the West. “They make it totally irresistible,” she says. (Several Test Kitchen tasters are still licking their fingers.)

This recipe, and others like it, can be found in the story “25 Fall Desserts That Make Magic in Your Kitchen.”

Dark Toffee Sauce

6 tbsp unsalted butter

¾ cup packed dark brown sugar

3 tbsp molasses

¾ tsp vanilla extract

Large pinch fine sea salt

Sticky Toffee Pudding

3 tsp baking soda, divided

10 oz Medjool dates, halved, pitted, and coarsely chopped

1 ½ cups flour, plus more for pan

¼ tsp fine sea salt

5 tbsp softened unsalted butter, cut into chunks, plus more for pan

1 ¼ cups toasted walnut pieces

1 cup packed dark brown sugar

1 tbsp each dried, instant espresso and vanilla extract

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Make toffee sauce: Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Whisk in whipping cream, brown sugar, and molasses. Cook at a low boil, whisking occasionally, until dark reddish-brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in vanilla and salt and set aside.

Preheat oven to 325° with a rack in the center.

Make pudding: Bring 11/4 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tsp. baking soda; then stir in dates. Let cool.

In a medium bowl, whisk 11/2 cups flour with remaining 2 tsp. baking soda and the salt; set aside. Butter bottom of an 8-in. square baking pan and line with a piece of parchment paper cut to fit, smoothing out wrinkles. Butter and flour pan, including parchment. Cover bottom evenly with walnuts, rounded sides down; then pour 3/4 cup Dark Toffee Sauce evenly over nuts to barely coat.

Meanwhile, in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream 5 tbsp. butter and the sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Dissolve espresso in vanilla, then beat into bowl along with eggs. Reduce speed to low and, in 2 batches, beat in flour mixture. Stir in date mixture (with liquid). Pour batter into pan.

Bake cake until a skewer inserted in center emerges with a few crumbs sticking, about 45 minutes. (It will look very dark when done.) Let cool 15 minutes in pan on a wire rack, then invert onto a rimmed platter. Peel off parchment and let cool at least 15 minutes more.

Cut cake into squares and serve with remaining Dark Toffee Sauce, for drizzling.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 slice, 2 tbsp. of sauce

Servings 0

Amount Per Serving
Calories 553Calories from Fat 273

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 31g48%

Saturated Fat 15g75%
Cholesterol 93mg31%
Sodium 1050mg44%
Total Carbohydrate 69g23%

Dietary Fiber 2.8g12%
Protein 6g12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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California Sticky Toffee Pudding