Sticky Toffee Pudding for Two

Make date night at home even more special by plating up sticky toffee pudding for two with homemade toffee sauce.

The roast chicken is in the oven, you’re searching for the wine opener and the table is fully set—the two of you are mere minutes away from a romantic date night in. And the best way to end the meal is with an equally high-end (but easy) dessert: a restaurant-worthy sticky toffee pudding … made just for two!

As far as date night desserts go, sticky toffee pudding for two hits all the right notes. It’s a minimal-effort, high-reward recipe that presents beautifully as a plated dessert. I love making my desserts for two ahead of time so I can pop them in the oven as soon as we sit down to eat, timing it so they’re done baking just before we finish our romantic dinner.

Make the effort to invert the sticky toffee puddings onto pretty dessert plates and serve them warm with the toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients for Sticky Toffee Pudding for Two

• Dates: Every sticky toffee pudding recipe starts by softening dates to blend into a puree. They give the dessert sweetness, a caramelly depth and an unmistakable stickiness. Be sure your dates are pitted before softening!
• Orange juice: Warming the dates with orange juice softens them, and the bright sweetness of the juice enlivens the flavor.
• Butter: Soften the butter so it creams easily with the sugar. For this recipe, you’ll need only half a stick of butter.
• Brown sugar: While you can use granulated sugar, brown sugar has a desirable caramel-molasses flavor that we use to mimic the typical treacle syrup found in authentic sticky toffee puddings in the UK.
• Egg: We’ll need only one egg to bind the ingredients together.
• All-purpose flour: No need for any fancy flour here. All-purpose flour adds just the right amount of strength and tenderness to make two truly perfect sticky toffee puddings.
• Leavening agents: Test the baking powder and baking soda if they’ve been sitting in the pantry for a while.
• Spices: Sweet cinnamon and spicy ground ginger add zip and warmth to this fall dessert.
• Orange zest: Zest an orange the same way you’d zest a lemon: Grate just the colorful skin and avoid going deeper and getting the bitter white pith.
• Toffee sauce: Making homemade toffee sauce is super simple. All you need is half a stick of butter and equal parts brown sugar and heavy whipping cream.

Directions

Step 1: Soften and puree the dates

Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, combine the pitted dates and orange juice. Microwave in 30-second increments until the dates are soft, one to two minutes. Let the mixture cool slightly at room temperature.

Process the dates and orange juice together in a small food processor or use an immersion blender until mostly smooth.

Step 2: Make the batter

In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, five to seven minutes. Add the egg, beating well.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon and baking soda. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture.

Stir in the date mixture, orange zest and vanilla until combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure everything is combined.

Step 3: Bake

Fill two well-greased 4-inch fluted tube pans two-thirds full of the batter. Bake the sticky toffee puddings until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool the puddings at room temperature for 10 minutes on a wire rack.

Step 4: Cook the toffee sauce

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan, then stir in the brown sugar and heavy whipping cream. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once the sauce is thick and combined, remove the saucepan from the heat.

Step 5: Plate and serve

Invert the sticky toffee puddings onto dessert plates. Serve them warm with the toffee sauce and scoops of the best vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream. Enjoy!

Recipe Variations

• Include more baking spices: Sticky toffee pudding is a classic fall dessert filled with warming fall spices like cinnamon and ginger. A tiny bit of cloves or nutmeg can punch up those flavors even more.
• Add other toppings: Whipped cream and vanilla ice cream are classic sticky toffee pudding toppings, but sour cream, crème fraiche, flaky salt or candied nuts would really elevate the dessert.

How to Store Sticky Toffee Pudding for Two

To store any leftovers from sticky toffee pudding for two, allow the desserts to cool to room temperature, then stash them in an airtight container. They can be refrigerated for up to four days.

Can you make sticky toffee pudding for two ahead of time?

Yes, you can make sticky toffee pudding for two ahead of time. Either make the batter the day before or fully bake the sticky toffee puddings the day before and store them in the fridge, rewarming them just before serving. You can also make the toffee sauce the day before, store it in the fridge and rewarm it when you’re ready to serve.

Sticky Toffee Pudding for Two Tips

Can you bake these two sticky toffee puddings in ramekins instead?

Yes, you can bake the sticky toffee puddings in well-greased ramekins instead of fluted tube pans. Adjust the baking time as necessary, and toothpick-test the puddings before pulling them out of the oven.

Can you use store-bought salted caramel sauce instead of homemade toffee sauce?

Yes, feel free to use store-bought or homemade salted caramel sauce instead of the homemade toffee sauce. The British dessert will not be quite as authentic, but it will still be tasty.

Can you make sticky toffee pudding for two gluten-free?

Yes, you can make sticky toffee pudding for two gluten-free. Use one of the best gluten-free flour blends from the store as a substitute for the all-purpose flour. For anyone who’s especially sensitive to gluten, check all other packaged ingredients for a gluten-free certification.

Test Kitchen Approved