Sticky Toffee Pudding

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly butter an approximately 8 ½-by-6 ½-by-2 ½-inch baking dish. 

For the pudding, bring the dates and water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, then simmer until moist and gooey, about 5 minutes. Stir in the baking soda, remove from the heat and allow to cool. 

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together your butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in an egg at a time until completely incorporated, then add the vanilla extract. Mix in the flour and baking powder until you have a smooth, thick batter. Pour the date mixture into the batter and fold gently to mix in. 

Pour and scrape the batter into your prepared dish and bake for 45 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. 

Meanwhile, make the toffee sauce. Melt the butter with the dark brown sugar in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over low heat. Once the butter has melted, stir until the sugar melts. Stir in the cream and simmer for a couple minutes.  

As soon as the cake is out of the oven, turn it out onto a wire rack and leave for 5 minutes to cool. Trim the sides, if you like, cut into squares and serve with the toffee sauce.