> Skip to content

Recipe  •  2 March 2021

 

Sticky date pudding for everyone

It’s so moreish and delicious everyone will want a slice.

For everyone! Because firstly, it’s so moreish and delicious everyone will want a slice, and secondly, it’s free of dairy, eggs, soy and nuts (also making it vegan), and you can happily sub in gluten-free flour. It’s one of those desserts you can make no matter who you're feeding, and without any compromise on texture or flavour – promise. This recipe might look on the longer side, but I promise it’s really quick and easy – my sister Ellen couldn’t believe ‘that’s it?!’ when she tested it for me, and proclaimed it her new go-to entertaining recipe.

Serves 8
Hands-on time: 10 mins
Total slow cooker time: 5 hours + 10 mins standing

  • 2 cups (280 g) pitted dates
  • 1 cup (250 ml) boiling water
  • 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal*
  • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
  • ½ cup (110 g) brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons light tasting olive oil + extra for greasing
  • 1 ½ teaspoons mixed spice
  • 1 cup (150 g) plain flour**
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

EXTRAS

  • 2 L pudding basin or small casserole dish(preferably with lid) that fits inside slow cooker

FIRST

  1. Place dates, water, flaxseed meal and bicarbonate of soda in a high-powered blender or food processor, stir to combine. Stand for 5 minutes.
  2. Add sugar, oil and spice. Process until well combined and dates are chopped but still a little chunky, 5–10 seconds.
  3. Add flour and baking powder, process on low speed until just combined. Fold any leftover flour in with a spatula.
  4. Grease a 2 L pudding basin with olive oil using a pastry brush. Pour in date mixture. Give it a couple of bangs on the bench to release any air bubbles. Cover pudding with lid or foil, sealing tightly.
  5. Place inside slow cooker, then add water until pudding basin is two-thirds submerged. Cover and cook for 5 hours on high.

5 HOURS LATER

  1. Check a skewer inserted in the pudding comes out more or less clean – not covered in raw mixture. If needed, cover and cook for a further 30 minutes on high.
  2. Once cooked, remove pudding basin from slow cooker and allow to stand for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a serving plate.It’s warm and ready to serve! Cut thick slices and serve with cream, gooey caramel sauce (page 173), poached pears (page 39), ice cream or fresh strawberries . . . or a combination. Just as good served cold, so don't stress if you’re struggling to get the timing exactly right – you can make it up to 3 days in advance and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

*Flaxseed meal is simply flaxseeds (also known as linseeds) milled down to a fine powder. You can buy it pre-milled, but honestly, it’s often not fresh and frankly not very nice – it’s best to mill your own as needed, or mill a couple of tablespoons at a time and store in the fridge or freezer. Use a high-powered blender or coffee grinder, and remember 1 tablespoon of whole flaxseeds will come out as less than 1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal.

**Use gluten-free flour for a gluten-free option.

Feature Title

Modern Slow Cooker
A fresh, modern and meat-free take on slow cooking: the cheapest, easiest way to cook!
Read more

More features

See all recipes
Recipe
Saucy vodka pasta

A delicious, boozy dinner party dish that's sure to impress.

Recipe
One-bowl mushroom spaghetti

Try this quick and easy recipe from Everyday Thermo Cooking.

Recipe
Individual dark chocolate cakes

From Alyce Alexandra’s Everyday Thermo Cooking, try these decadent chocolate cakes…

Recipe
Super-soft courgettes with harissa and lemon

A courgette recipe that will convert even the most courgette-iffy eaters.

Recipe
Plant-based pho

Try your hand at this delicious recipe from Sahara Rose Ketabi.

Recipe
Sesame ginger miso bowl

Perfect for summer, enjoy this quick and delicious recipe from Sahara Rose Katabi.

Recipe
Baked orzo with mozzarella and oregano

A luxurious take on the pasta bake.

Recipe
Turmeric fried eggs with tamarind dressing

A simple but delicious egg recipe that’s perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Recipe
Jenny's famous mince pies from Ranger's Apprentice

Learn how to make the mince pies that Jenny brings to the Harvest Day picnic with her fellow apprentices.

Recipe
Zucchini Noodles with Thai Pesto

A great make-ahead lunch or picnic dish.

Recipe
Honey orange traycake

Almonds, vanilla, yoghurt & a kiss of rose water

Recipe
The Best-Ever Chocolate Brownies

These are the perfect gooey, chocolatey addition to any sleepover (or afternoon tea!)

Looking for more recipes?

See all recipes
penguin pop image
penguin pop image