Sticky Date Pudding

Think Sara Lee, but better and better for you! I grew up eating (and loving) the frozen Sara Lee sticky date pudding but I knew there was a way to make it healthier. Oh what a treat these are! Just make sure you make the caramel sauce to go with it because not making it would be like eating vegemite toast without butter.... you just don’t do it.

Ingredients

1 cup dates

1 C wholemeal spelt flour

1/4 C maple syrup

1 tsp bicarb soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 eggs

1/4 C olive oil

1 tsp vanilla

For the sauce

1 cup dates

1 tbsp almond butter

1 tbsp maple syrup

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla

Pinch of salt

Soaking water from dates

Method

1. For the muffins, soak the dates in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Blend the dates, maple syrup, eggs, bicarb soda, baking powder, vanilla and olive oil in a food processor.

2. Pour into a bowl, sift the flour into the mixture and stir until well combined. Spoon into a muffin tray to make individual sticky date puddings and cook for 15-20 mins at 180°C.

3. To make the sticky date sauce, soak the dates in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Take the dates from the liquid (reserve this for later) and add all of the ingredients to a food processor or blender. Add a little bit of the date water at a time until it reaches a drizzle-able consistency.

4. Once the puddings are cooked, heat the sauce in the microwave and spoon over to serve.