Warm sticky toffee pudding

Method
Prep:20min  ›  Cook:1hr  ›  Ready in:1hr20min 

1. Preheat oven to 180 C / 160 C fan / Gas 4.
2. Grease the base and sides of a 20cm (8 in) square deep baking tin and line base with a square of baking parchment.
3. Place chopped dates in a bowl and pour over the boiling water. Add bicarbonate of soda and leave to stand.
4. Place all the remaining ingredients for the pudding in a mixing bowl and cream together with an electric whisk for a few minutes until light and fluffy; fold in the date mixture. Spoon into the prepared baking tin and smooth the top.
5. Cover with baking parchment and a double layer of foil. Scrunch edges around rim of the tin to seal.
6. Place pudding in a large roasting tin, and then pour boiling water into the tin until the level is halfway up the pudding.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
8. To make the sauce, add all the ingredients to a small pan and warm gently until all the sugar has dissolved.
9. Serve cut into squares, drizzled with toffee sauce.