Sticky Toffee Pudding
Sticky Toffee Pudding is the ultimate comfort food all year round and this classic cooks beautifully in the Rayburn.
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225g stoned chopped dates
300 ml boiling water
115g soft butter
175g soft brown sugar
225g self-raising flour
4 large eggs, beaten
1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
1 tbsp Camp coffee essence
For the Sticky Toffee Sauce:
115g butter
175g soft brown sugar
150ml double cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
A little boiling water
To decorate:
3 tbsp chopped pecan nuts
Serves 8
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Step 1: Pour the boiling water over the dates and leave to soak in a pan on the warm top plate for five minutes before removing and leaving to cool a little.
Step 2: Cream the butter and sugar together. Sieve the flour and stir a tablespoon into the butter and sugar mixture before gradually adding the beaten egg, a tablespoon at a time. Fold in the remainder of the flour, then add the Bicarbonate of Soda and coffee essence to the slightly cooled dates and water and stir this into the mixture to form a soft batter.
Step 3: Pour into a well-buttered 25cm oval baking dish and cook on a grid shelf on the lowest set of runners in the main oven at 180°C (350°F), Gas mark 4, for 1¼ -1½ hours.
Step 4: While the pudding is baking, make the sauce. Melt the butter, sugar and cream in a small pan on the simmering end of the hotplate. Once the butter has melted and the sugar dissolved, bring to a gentle simmer for a few minutes.
Step 5: Cool a little before adding the vanilla and add a little boiling water to thin to a suitable consistency before pouring over the cooked pudding. Sprinkle with the nuts and return to the hot oven to heat through and allow the sauce to bubble before serving with extra sticky toffee sauce.
R5 Series 2-oven AGA: Bake in the AGA roasting oven on the grid shelf on the floor with a cold plain shelf on the 3rd set of runners above, for the same cooking time, as the recipe states, or start off on the grid shelf on the floor of the roasting oven for 20 mins then transfer to the AGA simmering oven for 40 mins or until cooked, when a skewer comes out clean. With all AGA baking, it's worth having a peek 2/3rds of the way into the cooking time to check and turn the dish round for even baking.
AGA Tip: Cooking ahead and serving: cook the pudding fully, cool in the tin then remove from the tin and wrap well in foil. At this point the pudding can be frozen for several weeks or chilled for several days until needed. Defrost at room temperature for 4 - 6 hours if necessary. Reheat gently while wrapped in foil by placing on the top of the simmering plate lid for an hour or two, protecting the lid with a chefs pad or folded tea towel.
