Merry Christmas + English Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe

Hello friends – happy Monday and happy (almost) Christmas.  Before I head out to spend some down-time with my family, I want to take a moment to tell you how much I LOVE YOU!  Writing this blog brings so much joy into my life.  What makes the effort most meaningful is knowing that people actually read what I write and even like it (for the most part).  Thank you for your emails and messages of kind words over the past 2 and half years.  I hope that you have a Merry Christmas filled with good times, great friend and family and yummy food!

On the last note, last night my friend Caroline hosted a FABULOUS holiday dinner.  We devoured a delicious, decadent sticky toffee pudding for the dessert.  I can still feel it melting in my mouth and have been craving more all morning.  So, I searched around for promising British Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe that I could share.  I’m going to attempt to make a batch today and bring it to my family’s Christmas Eve gathering.  It takes only 40 minutes to prepare and serves about 6.  We won’t talk about the calories 🙂

Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe

by: Elaine Lemm, British and Irish Food Expert

INGREDIENTS
  • 8 oz/225g cooking dates, stoned and chopped small
  • 6 fl oz/175ml boiling water
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 6 oz/ 175g self-raising
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 2 large, fresh eggs, lightly beaten
  • 3 oz/85g butter , softened, plus extra for greasing
  • 5 oz/140g demerara sugar
  • 2 tbsp black treacle 
  • 3 ½ fl oz/100ml milk
  • SAUCE
  • 6 oz /175g light muscovado sugar
  • 2 oz/55g butter , cut into pieces
  • 8 oz/ 225ml heavy/double cream
  • 1 tbsp black treacle 

INSTRUCTIONS – to make the cake

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F/160°C/Gas 3
  • Butter 6, 7fl/oz/200ml individual pudding tins or use an 8″ x 8″ x 2 ½” deep (20cm x 20cm x 6.5cm deep) square baking dish and dust lightly with flour.
  • Put the chopped dates into a large glass bowl, cover with boiling water, leave for 20 minutes to swell and soften. Once soft, add the vanilla extract.
  • Sieve the flour and bicarbonate of soda into a large baking bowl.
  • In another baking bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and creamy, don’t worry about grains of sugar, they will melt during cooking.
  • Little by little, add the beaten eggs, mixing really well between additions. Add the treacle and beat well.
  • Using a large metal spoon carefully fold in one third of the flour, then carefully stir in one third of the milk. Repeat until all the flour and milk is used up.
  • Add the chopped dates (including any liquid in the bowl) and stir gently. The pudding mixture will resemble a thick batter.
  • Divide the mixture between the six pudding tins, place on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20 – 25 mins for individual puddings or 45 – 50 mins for the large square. The cake should be raised and firm to the touch, if not cook a little longer but take care not to burn. Once ready, remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tins for 10 minutes before turning out.

INSTRUCTIONS – to make the sauce (meanwhile)

  • Over a medium heat, melt the butter, sugar and half the cream in a saucepan. Raise the heat slightly and bring to the boil stirring constantly until all the sugar has dissolved. Add the treacle and allow the sauce to bubble for 2 mins. Remove from the heat and leave to cool for 1 minute then stir in the remaining cream.
  • Place a portion of the cake onto warm individual serving dishes, and drizzle generous amounts of sauce over.
  • Serve with custard or ice cream.
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Brit’s Tastiest Top 5 Healthy Holiday Treats: Lower Calorie Dessert Options

I don’t know about you guys, but starting this weekend my schedule is jam-packed with holiday parties – LOVE IT!  Many of the parties are “pot luck – style.” So in an effort to avoid overindulging in high calorie desserts, I’ve been researching some “Healthier Holiday Treats” that I can prepare and bring to the festivities.  Below are my Top 5 Favorites!  Hope you love them too.  Enjoy! xoxo, Brit

1. Rocky Road Almond Butter Balls

almondbutterballs

Source: http://livglutenfree.com/recipes/rocky-road-almond-butter-balls

2. Strawberry Santa Hats

strawberry santa hats

Source: http://www.snack-girl.com/snack/light-holiday-snack/

3. Maple Cinnamon Roasted Almonds

MapleCinnamonRoastedAlmonds620-12

Source: http://thehonoursystem.com/2013/04/26/maple-cinnamon-roasted-almonds/

4. Sugar and Gluten Free Ginger Snaps

Ginger-Snaps

Source: http://realhealthyrecipes.com/2011/12/20/real-healthy-ginger-snaps/

5.Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint

dark chocolate covered peppermint

Source: http://shadandlizzie.blogspot.com/2011/12/dark-chocolate-covered-peppermint-joe.html

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