Sticky Date Pudding with toffee sauce

This dessert is very special to me  and one of my favorites. In 2014 my family and my sister's family were having a holiday trip to the Great Barrier reef, Australia, where we got to enjoy this dessert together. We were delighted with the presentation and taste was just awesome. 
I always wanted to try making this at home, so when I came across this recipe, I decided to prepare it and was very happy to share this dessert with my family and  friends.
My son was so helpful in helping me make the toffee sauce, it came out delicious!
Do try out this easy dessert and wow everyone :))
The taste of this desert is unforgettable!!! 
First you bake date cake, and then prepare the toffee sauce using light brown sugar, butter , full cream and very little vanilla essence.

Chop pitted dates

Add baking powder and water 

Add baking powder to flour 

Beat butter and sugar

Add one egg at a time 

Add sieved flour 

Add dates 

Add mixture to a greased cake loaf tin

Prepare toffee sauce 

Sticky date cake with  toffee sauce 

Ingredients (For Date cake)
1 cup pitted dates, chopped 
1 1/2 cup water to boil  dates
1 stick butter 
3/4  cup light brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
2 eggs
2 cups flour 
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder

Ingredients (For Toffee Sauce)
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup full cream
1/2 stick butter
1/2 tsp vanilla essence


Method
1. Take pitted dates and chop finely. Add water and baking soda. Heat for about 5 to 6 minutes till they appear softened. Close burner and allow to cool. Keep aside. 
2. Take flour , add baking powder and sieve, keep aside.
3. Soften  butter and brown sugar in a medium size bowl, using a wooden spoon or electric hand beater. As it appears creamed, start adding in  eggs, one by one and mix together.
4. Add in vanilla essence to  butter and sugar mixture. 
5. Add in  flour slowly and next add dates mixture.  Mix gently and pour this cake mixture into a greased cake loaf tin. Bake at 350 F for about 40 to 50 minutes. Check later by sticking in a tooth pick, that comes out clean showing the cake has cooked well from inside too.
6. Prepare toffee sauce by heat, butter and brown sugar, allow to bubble, slowly add in full cream and vanilla essence. Cook about 5 to 6 minutes and close burner as sauce bubbles.
7. Allow baked cake to stand for about 5  minutes, next using a fork pierce gently on the cake surface to make tiny holes. Pour 1/4 of toffee sauce over the cake. 
8. Keep remaining  toffee sauce, while serving the cake. Vanilla ice cream goes well too with this awesome dessert. The warm toffee sauce, along with warmed cake and cool ice cream , great combination. Enjoy !