For the pudding:
For the moist, sponge-like cake, preheat the oven to 160°C and grease and flour 8 individual pudding moulds.
Cook down the dates and water until they form a paste.
Add bicarbonate of soda, then turn off the heat and mix together.
Place the sweet pudding mix in the moulds and cook at 160°C for 20-25 minutes until a skewer or knife comes out clean.
Place the mix in the pudding moulds and cook at 160°C until a skewer or knife comes out clean.
For the caramel sauce:
To make the toffee sauce, bring the cream and sugar to the boil. Whisk in the butter, then simmer until reduced and thick. You'll end up with an amazing, deeply caramel-hued sauce.
Remove the baked puddings from their moulds and put on a plate. Serve each of your sticky toffee puddings with a drizzle of toffee sauce, and some ice cream or heavy cream. Put any additional toffee sauce in a jug and serve it on the side.