Category: Desserts

1 cup dates, pitted and chopped

1 cup boiling water

3 tablespoons butter; cold,

unsalted, cubed (plus more for

greasing)

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

⅓ cup plus 1 teaspoon

Demerara sugar

⅓ cup plus 1 teaspoon dark

brown sugar

2 eggs

¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 tablespoons butter

1 cup cream

6 tablespoons dark brown sugar

⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt

3 tablespoons butter

1¼ cup cream, plus more for

serving, if you like

3 tablespoons dark brown sugar

⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt

Put the dates in a bowl and cover with the 1 cup boiling

water to soften, at least 5 minutes. Heat the oven to 350

and grease a deep 9-by-13-inch baking dish.

Combine the 3 tablespoons butter, baking soda, a pinch

of salt, Demerara sugar, ⅓ cup plus 1 teaspoon dark

brown sugar, eggs, flour and vanilla extract in a food

processor and pulse until just combined. Add the dates

and ½ cup of the water to the mixture; pulse until nearly

smooth (specks of dates should remain visible).

Pour the mixture into the baking dish and bake for about

30 minutes, until just firm to the touch. (When the

pudding has finished baking, remove from the oven and

heat the broiler. Put the rack about 4 inches from the

heat source.)

Meanwhile, make the topping. Melt 5 tablespoons butter

in a small saucepan over medium heat, then slowly add 1

cup cream and 6 tablespoons dark brown sugar and ⅛

teaspoon salt, whisking continuously until the mixture

bubbles gently and comes together to form a smooth

mixture; turn off heat.

In another small saucepan over medium heat, make the

extra sauce. Melt 3 tablespoons butter, then slowly add

1¼ cups cream and 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar and

⅛ teaspoon salt. Repeat the process above.

Pour the topping (careful not to use the extra sauce) over

the cooked pudding and place the whole thing in the

broiler until it bubbles and looks sticky, 1 or 2 minutes

(watch it closely). To serve, spoon into bowls and cover

with the extra sauce. If you like, add a dollop of whipped

cream.