The amount in this recipe will make a baking dish approx. 33cm x 22cm and will serve around 20 depending how big your portions are. If you wish to make a smaller amount just halve the recipe.
Ingredients:
500g chopped pitted dates
3 cups water
2 tsp bi- carb soda
250g softened butter
2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cups self raising flour
Method
Pre Heat oven 160c
Put dates and water in saucepan and bring to boil, remove from heat then quickly add and stir in Bi-carb soda this will froth and bubble and double in size, put aside to cool.
In a blow beat butter brown sugar until pale then add one egg at a time and also vanilla. When date mixture has cooled add to butter and sugar mixture and stir in well. When combined add S/R flour fold in until combined just use wooden spoon for this process don't worry if their are some little lumps of flour. The less you work it the lighter the pudding.
I spray my baking dish with canola oil and line the bottom with baking paper, pour your mixture into dish ad cook in moderate oven for approx. 40 min just do the skewer test, you might have to put foil over the so it doesn't burn and sometime I have to turn the oven down. My oven is a hot oven so I always have to keep an eye on things.
Caramel Sauce
600 mls Thickened Cream
2 cups Brown Sugar
250g butter chopped
2 tsp vanilla
Put all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to boil stirring with wooden spoon simmer for approx. 7 to 10 min after all melted. Serve hot over your pudding. This pudding and sauce keeps well in the fridge, just heat in microwave when required so is great if you wanting to make something before hand.
Hope you get the chance to make this it a family favourite in our house.
Maz xx