Homemade Sticky Date Pudding

Ingredients:
1 cup dates pitted & peeled
1 cup of water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda ( found in Sultan Center Kuwait)
a pinch of nutmeg (if available)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten


Toffee Sauce Ingredients:
7 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup KDD Cream
1&1/3 cups dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons water


Method:

- Preheat the oven at 350 degrees.
- Place the dates in a saucepan with 1 cup of water, vanilla extract, and baking soda. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes. leave to cool.
- Prepare a mini cupcakes baking pan by buttering & flouring it.
- Cream the butter in a mixing bowl, add the date mixture.
- Combine the dry ingredients together: flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and sugar.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter and dates, add the beaten egg and stir gently to combine.
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking pan until half full.
- Bake the mini cupcakes for 25 to 30 minutes.

While the cupcakes are baking, prepare the toffee sauce:
- Combine butter, KDD cream, brown sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and set aside keeping the sauce warm.

- Once the mini cupcakes are done, remove from oven, pour sauce on each mini cupcake individually (be generous) and put it back in the oven to bake for 2 more minutes.

- Remove from oven, set to cool then remove from baking dish to serve.

- Can be served with ready made custard, vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Enjoy...

Dates Cake

Ingredients:


For the cake:

1/2 pound dates, pitted and coarsely chopped
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for the baking dish
1 cup sugar
1&3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg, lightly beaten


For the topping:

3/4 cup light brown sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 tablespoons heavy cream



Method:


Make the cake:

1. Place the dates in a heatproof bowl. Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, pour it over the dates, and let them soak until plumped, 10 minutes. Do not drain.

2. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Coat a 7-by-11-inch baking dish with butter.

3. Cream the butter and sugar together in a mixer. Sift the flour and baking powder together in a bowl and set aside. Combine the dates and their soaking liquid, the baking soda, and the vanilla in a small bowl.

4. With the mixer on medium speed, add the egg and one third of the flour mixture to the creamed butter and beat until incorporated, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the remaining flour and beat until it is mixed into the batter. Add the date mixture and beat until well blended.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake until the cake springs back when tapped with a finger, or when a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Using a fork, poke holes all over the surface of the cake.

6. Preheat the broiler.


Make the topping:

1. Combine the butter, brown sugar, and cream in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring, until it bubbles slightly, about 3 minutes.

2. Pour this caramel syrup over the baked cake and then slide it under the broiler until the surface begins to bubble, about 30 seconds. Immediately remove the dish from the oven. Let the cake cool a bit; then cut it into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.


Enjoy...