Warm and Gooey Sticky Date Cake

Name: Warm and Gooey Sticky Date Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups pitted dates, chopped; 1 1/4 cups boiling water; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 cup brown sugar for the sauce; 1 cup heavy cream for the sauce; 1/4 cup unsalted butter for the sauce

A classic, comforting dessert packed with sweet dates and a rich caramel sauce that everyone loves.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 British· July 18, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

35 minutes

Total

50 minutes

Serves

There is nothing quite like a warm slice of sticky date cake on a chilly evening. The secret is using soft, chopped dates that melt into the batter, giving the cake a lovely deep flavor and a moist texture that keeps you coming back for seconds.

My favorite trick for this recipe is to pour half of your warm caramel sauce over the cake while it is still fresh from the oven. This helps the sauce soak deep into the center so every bite is perfectly sweet and gooey.

🧺 Ingredients

1 1/2 cups pitted dates, chopped
1 1/4 cups boiling water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup brown sugar for the sauce
1 cup heavy cream for the sauce
1/4 cup unsalted butter for the sauce

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a square baking pan.
2
Place the chopped dates in a bowl and pour the boiling water over them. Stir in the baking soda and set this mixture aside to soften for about ten minutes.
3
In a separate large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
4
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then gently stir in the flour and baking powder.
5
Fold the date mixture into your batter until everything is well combined.
6
Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7
While the cake bakes, combine the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until the sugar dissolves and the sauce thickens slightly.
8
Poke holes in the warm cake with a fork and drizzle about half the sauce over the top. Serve the remaining sauce on the side.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If you want to make it extra special, serve each warm slice with a big scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

#dessert #cake #comfort food #sweet #vegetarian

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