Method

• Preheat the oven to 180°C. Brush the insides of a brownie tray or individual molds if using, then lightly dust with a little flour, shaking out any excess. Set aside until needed.
• Place the dates in a pan with 300ml water. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes until the dates are soft.
• Add the baking powder to the date mixture, which will cause it to foam up, then set aside to cool a little. Place the date mixture in a food processor and blend for 2 minutes. Pour into a bowl.
• Make the caramel by melting the sugar in a saucepan until golden and caramelised. Now add the cream and stir until well combined. You can add more cream if the mixture is too thick. Season with some sea salt.
• Meanwhile, cream the brown sugar, 150g of butter and the vanilla seeds together in a bowl for about 10 minutes, until light and fluffy.
• Add 1 tablespoon of the flour to the butter and sugar mixture, then slowly add the eggs and beat well to combine. Add the blended date mixture with the remaining flour and combine everything gently to give a smooth dropping consistency.
• Pour the pudding batter into the prepared tray or molds, arrange on a baking sheet.  Bake for 30-35 minutes, until slightly risen and firm to the touch.

To serve, leave the pudding to settle for a minute or two. Spoon over the toffee sauce. Add a scoop of cream or ice cream to each serving.

Note - Cook Ahead: The pudding can be made up to 2 days in advance once it has been cooked and kept covered in the fridge until needed. To serve, just warm them in the oven for about 10 minutes. This sauce will keep for 2 weeks in the fridge.