Easy Sticky-Toffee Dessert

Recipe courtesy Nigella Lawson, 2007

Show: Nigella Bites Episode: Slow and Steady

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (7)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(7)

Cook Time:
45 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
6 to 8 servings

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 45 min
Total:: 55 min

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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

For the cake:

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and butter a 1 1/2-quart capacity baking dish.

Combine the sugar with the flour in a large bowl. Pour the milk into a measuring cup, beat in the egg, vanilla and melted butter and then pour this mixture over the sugar and flour, stirring with a wooden spoon to combine. Fold in the dates then scrape into the prepared baking dish. Don't worry if it doesn't look very full; it will by the time it cooks.

For the sauce:

Sprinkle the sugar over the cake mixture and dot with butter. Pour over the boiling water (yes really!) and transfer to the oven. Set the time for 45 minutes, though you might find the dessert needs 5 or 10 minutes more. The top of the dessert should be springy and spongy when it's cooked; underneath, the butter, dark brown sugar and boiling water will have turned into a rich, sticky sauce. Serve with vanilla ice cream, creme fraiche or heavy or light cream, as you wish.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Easy Sticky-Toffee Dessert
JAYNA Aberdeen, MD 03-13-2009
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So good and so easy!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I didn't have self rising flour so I added 1 1/2 tsp (plus a little extra) baking powder and a little over 1/2 tsp salt to... all purpose flour and it came out great! The stickiness is perfect and I didn't find it too sweet. I wish we had had some vanilla ice cream to go with it though!Read more
recipe Easy Sticky-Toffee Dessert
Anonymous 08-11-2008
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Do It Again!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Wonderful! My family doesn't usually eat dates, but everyone loves this recipe.
recipe Easy Sticky-Toffee Dessert
Anonymous 04-27-2008
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Delish -- and, yes, sticky!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

This dish was easy to make and ultimately sweet-tooth satisfying. A great holiday dessert, in particular. Might not be for... you if you don't like dates ...Read more
recipe Easy Sticky-Toffee Dessert
Anonymous 04-19-2008
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Don't know where I went wrong!
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

After 45 minutes and even after 2 hours, the water had still not evaporated. I put up the oven temperature and waited... another 30 minutes and finally took the cake out. The topping thickened out of the oven...so maybe I should have taken it out after and hour and let it sit? I don't know. In the end,the cake was obviously a it hard and stuck to the bottom...somewhat of a disaster. I think I need to see her actually make this.Read more
recipe Easy Sticky-Toffee Dessert
Anonymous 04-29-2007
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Simple and delicious
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

This is so easy to make and delicious, a real "comfort" dessert. I found it a touch on the sweet side, I am going to reduce... the sugar in the topping next time I make it.Read more
recipe Easy Sticky-Toffee Dessert
Evelyn North Potomac, MD 04-26-2007
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Wonderful
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This recipe was so easy and it tastes great. I shall make it again for my family.