The awesome healthy(ier) sticky date pudding.

I want to write something funny and engaging to accompany this recipe but sorry, I can’t.

I am currently in a situation of what you would call, “being in a rut”, where I self-loath and watch a lot of America’s Next Top Model, subsequently hating myself even more due to the inability to stop myself from watching such a pointless, vapid show.

Tyra Banks in a white leotard speaking in robot voice to welcome her new recruits. Yeap.

Anyway, this is a recipe for a sort of healthy sticky date pudding. I say “sort of”, because while there’s no cream there are still loads of sugar involved and hence the puddings are ridiculously tasty.

# – The awesome healthy(ier) sticky date pudding.

The black treacle and yogurt give the pudding a depth of flavour that you can’t find in ordinary sticky date puddings.

Here’s the recipe!

For the pudding:

  • 200g pitted whole dates
  • 175ml of boiling water
  • 75ml of cooking oil (plus some for oiling ramekins)
  • 175g of flour, plus some for dusting
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon of black treacle
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
  • 100g of brown sugar
  • 100g of plain yogurt


  • For the toffee sauce:

  • 100g of brown sugar
  • 25g of butter, cut into pieces
  • 1.5 teaspoon of black treacle
  • 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 100g of plain yogurt
  • # – First pour 175ml of boiling water over the chopped pitted dates. Leave to cool for 30 minutes.

    # – In the meantime, oil the ramekins with a paper towel and dust with flour.

    # – When the dates have cooled down, add vanilla extract. Followed by black treacle. Mash with a fork to form a rough puree.

    # – In a bowl, mix brown sugar and oil together with a wooden spoon.

    # – Add beaten eggs to the mixture and stir to combine.

    # – In a different bowl, add the bicarb soda to the flour and mix with a spoon.

    # – Pour 1/2 the flour into the sugar mixture and stir lightly to combine.

    # – Followed by 100 grams of plain yogurt. Also stir to combine.

    # – Next, tip the rest of the flour into the mixture and fold until combined. Don’t overmix!

    # – Now, pour in the date puree into the mixture and stir until combined.

    # – Divide the mixture into 6 oiled/floured ramekins.

    # – Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees celcius for 20-25 minutes.

    # – While waiting for the puddings to bake, get on with making the toffee sauce. First, heat up the brown sugar and butter in a saucepan over medium heat, constantly stirring.

    # – When the sugar has completely melted, add vanilla essence. Followed by black treacle. Stir to combine.

    # – Remove the saucepan from heat. Then, stir in the yogurt. Toffee sauce is now done :)

    # – Remove puddings from the oven.

    # – Serve in a bowl with the toffee sauce drizzled all over.

    # – Awesome healthy(ier) sticky date pudding, DONE!

    The pudding tasted absolutely sticky, luxurious and delicious. It’s also much lighter than it looks.

    They freeze well too! When you have a craving, just pop it back into a ramekin, cover with clingfilm (but making sure pudding doesn’t touch the clingfilm) and nuke for 3 minutes at Medium High.

    # – So glad I have a box of pitted dates right now in my fridge cause I need to make more!!!

    6 thoughts on “The awesome healthy(ier) sticky date pudding.”

    1. Hi there, May I ask where you got your vanilla essence from? I am using Queen’s Imitation Vanilla, my bottle looks different from yours. I wonder if it is the same thing. Just a friendly reminder to all who are using Queen’s Imitation Vanilla, check the bottle before buying, I had accidentally picked up Queen’s Organic Vanilla essence/extract once & it was RM 15/bottle! Luckily, I noticed it when I was unpacking my groceries & got an exchange the next day. Btw, the Toffee sauce looks yum! Might try out the recipe to drizzle it over my choc muffins in sitting in the fridge now.

      1. Hiya A, I got mine from Jaya Grocer near Tropicana. It’s called Natural Vanilla Essence, Extract of Organic Vanilla Beans…it’s the RM15 one I reckon lol. It’s good but I agree it’s too expensive. I find the generic ones sold in Bake with Yen (google it for address) pretty similar quality but at much cheaper price, RM2.50!!! Look for the one that says from “France”. Cheers!

    2. Hi Kim,

      Never explored sticky date pudding before.

      Your recipe seems fun and easy.

      May I know what type of dates you use?
      Those dried ones usually sold at middle eastern stores?

      Thanks,
      Samantha

      1. i used ordinary pitted dried dates from grocery stores, the ones that are normally eaten during ramadan month. i believe the ones from middle eastern stores would be even better :) thanks!

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