 | |
| Alternative names | Sticky date pudding |
|---|---|
| Type | Pudding |
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | England |
| Region or state | Northern England |
| Main ingredients | Sponge cake,dates,toffee |
Sticky toffee pudding is an Englishdessert consisting of a moistsponge cake covered in atoffeesauce, often served with a vanillacustard or vanillaice cream.[1] It is widely served in theLake District in northwest England, where it is a culinary symbol.[2]
Sticky toffee pudding has two essential components, sponge cake and toffee sauce. The first is a moistsponge cake which contains finely choppeddates.[2] The sponge is usually light and fluffy, closer to amuffin consistency rather than a heavier traditional English sponge, and is often lightly flavoured with nuts or spices such ascloves.[2][3] The toffee sauce is usually made from double cream and different dark sugars (brown sugar,jaggery,molasses sugar,muscovado,panela,peen tong).[3]
Sticky toffee pudding is most commonly served withcustard orvanilla ice cream, the vanilla flavour of these complementing the richer flavours of the pudding.[3] It may also be served withsingle cream.
The pudding was invented in 1907 by the landlady of the Gait Inn inMillington, East Riding of Yorkshire, but was popularised in the 1970s by Francis Coulson and Robert Lee, who developed and served it at theSharrow Bay Country House Hotel inCumbria.[4][5]
A take-home version to heat, either in oven or microwave, was developed in 1989 by the owners of the Village Shop inCartmel, Cumbria.[2][6] Their dish became popular, and by the late 1990s was being sold in supermarkets across the UK.[6] The dish is today widely available in England from multiple manufacturers to bake at home.[7]
