sticky date pudding

Why I Love This Recipe
Ingredients You'll Need
250g pitted dates, chopped
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 1/2 cups boiling water
125g butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups self raising flour
caramel sauce
1 cup brown sugar
300ml thickened cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
60g butter
Directions
preheat oven to 180 degrees C. grease and line the base of a 7cm deep, 22cm (base) cake pan.
place dates and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. pour over boiling water. allow to stand for 20 minutes.
using the electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until pale and creamy. add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. using a large metal spoon, fold through date mixture and flour until well combined
make sauce combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. cook, stirring often, until sauce comes to the boil. reduce heat to medium-low. simmer for 2 minutes.
pierce pudding all over with a skewer. pour 1/2 cup of warm sauce over warm pudding. stand for 10 minutes. cut into wedges. serve with remaining sauce.