• 180 g (6½ oz) dates, pitted and chopped
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1 cup boiling water
• 50 g (1¾ oz) butter
• 150 g (5¼ oz) soft brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 180 g (6½ oz) self-raising flour, sifted

Toffee sauce

• 150 g (5¼ oz) soft brown sugar
• 250 ml (9 fl oz) light whipping cream
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp butter

Heat oven to 180°C (350°F). Mix dates and bicarbonate of soda in a heat-proof bowl. Pour boiling water on top and leave to stand.

Cream butter and sugar until pale, then add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gently fold in the sifted flour, stir in the date mixture, and then pour into a lightly buttered 18 cm (7 in) square or round cake tin. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until an inserted skewer comes out clean.

Combine sugar, cream, vanilla extract and butter in a saucepan, bring to the boil, stirring, and simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside until ready to serve, then quickly reheat when needed.

Cut pudding into squares and place each square in the centre of a warm dinner plate. Pour hot toffee sauce over each square, and serve with fresh cream, ice cream or custard.

P.S. Traditionally, the toffee sauce is poured over the cake and returned to the oven for the last 5 minutes of baking to get really sticky. I prefer this slightly less gross method, where sticky sauce meets steamy pudding on the plate.