Ingredients

• 1 cup dates, pitted and chopped
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup soft brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups self-raising flour, sifted
• 3/4 cup whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.

2. Mix the dates and baking soda in a bowl.

3. Pour boiling water on top and leave until needed.

4. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs one at a time, beat well after each addition.

5. Fold in the sifted flour, stir in the date mixture, and pour into a greased 18cm or 7" square or round cake tin.

6. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean.

7. For the sauce: Combine sugar, cream, vanilla essence and butter in a saucepan, bring to the boil, stirring, and simmer for five minutes.

8. Set aside until ready to serve.

9. Cut pudding into squares and place each square in the centre of a warm dinner plate.

10. Pour hot toffee sauce (reheat if neccesary) over each square and serve with ice cream.