english sticky toffee pudding

if you're not familiar with sticky toffee pudding..I suggest you familiarize yourself hehehe..it is an absolutely delicious buttery sweet indulgence

not actually pudding (the british seem to call anything desserty, pudding) ...this is really more of a cake..the softest, moistest, most yummiest cake!!
you may think: 'DATES? YUCK!' but trust me..you'd never even know!!

I don't remember where the recipe came from..several years ago I was lookin' for something different to bring to Christmas dinner and came across this somewhere in my travels across the vast internets...it became and instant family favorite..in fact..everyone loves it so much I usually have to make TWO!! - which is cool because it's super easy! (and the dates usually come in a container that is just the right amount for 2 cakes)

ingredients:

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup pitted dates - chopped (if you can find them already chopped, save yourself the trouble!)
1 1/4 cups boiling water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla

TOFFEE SAUCE:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 cup heavy cream, whipped (to top it off)


directions:

preheat oven to 350º

grease a 10-inch round or square baking dish. sift the flour and baking powder together.
chop the dates fine. place in a small bowl and add the boiling water and baking soda; set aside.
in a bowl of electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. add the egg and vanilla; beat until blended.
gradually beat in the flour mixture. add the date mixture to the batter and fold until blended with a rubber spatula.(will be pretty runny)
pour into the prepared baking dish. bake until pudding is set and firm on top, about 35 minutes. remove from oven to a wire rack.



toffee Sauce: combine the butter, heavy cream and brown sugar in a small heavy saucepan; heat to boiling, stirring constantly. boil gently over medium low heat until mixture is thickened, about 8 minutes. 
preheat broiler. spoon about 1/3 cup of the sauce over the cake, spreading evenly on top. place cake under the broiler until the topping is bubbly, about 1 minute.
serve immediately..in slices or spooned into dessert bowls. drizzle with toffee sauce and top with whipped cream