DATE PUDDING WITH TOFFEE SAUCE (STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING)

Steps:

• For the pudding: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a squate 9 inch baking pan. In a small saucepan mix together dates and water, bring to a boil. Add baking soda and stir until the dates begin to break down and mixture thickens slightly, 1 to 2 minutes, set aside.
• In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, baking powder, allspice, and salt, set aside. In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
• On low speed gradually add flour mixture alternating with date mixture and beat until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 40 minutes. Let pudding cool in pan on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Meanwhile make toffee sauce.
• For the sauce: In a small saucepan mix together butter, sugar, and cream. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and mixture boils. Reduce heat to low and cook without stirring for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in alchohol.
• Cut pudding into squares and serve warm with sauce.