A Little History of Sticky Toffee Pudding
Sticky Toffee Pudding is a beloved British dessert that first gained popularity in the 1970s. It’s traditionally made with dates, creating a rich, moist sponge cake soaked in toffee sauce. Over the years, bakers have created many delicious variations, including nutty additions and different sweet syrups. This Maple Pecan Sticky Toffee Pudding is a North American twist on the classic, swapping in maple syrup and crunchy pecans for a warm, comforting dessert that celebrates fall flavors and holiday indulgence.

Maple Pecan Sticky Toffee Pudding – Easy & Delicious Homemade Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
This Maple Pecan Sticky Toffee Pudding is rich, decadent, and absolutely irresistible. With its moist sponge cake, sweet maple-toffee sauce, and buttery pecan crunch, it’s the perfect dessert for cozy autumn evenings or festive holiday dinners. Served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, it creates a show-stopping finale to any meal. A comforting, elegant twist on the British classic, this dessert is one you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
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1 cup chopped dates
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1 cup boiling water
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1 tsp baking soda
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1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
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1 tsp baking powder
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½ tsp salt
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½ cup unsalted butter, softened
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½ cup brown sugar, packed
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2 large eggs
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¼ cup pure maple syrup
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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½ cup chopped pecans
For the Maple Toffee Sauce:
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½ cup unsalted butter
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1 cup brown sugar
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½ cup heavy cream
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¼ cup pure maple syrup
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Pinch of salt
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.
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In a bowl, combine chopped dates, boiling water, and baking soda. Let sit 10 minutes.
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In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
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Cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla.
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Stir in soaked dates (with liquid), then gently fold in dry ingredients and pecans.
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Pour into baking dish and bake 35–40 minutes until golden and set.
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For sauce: melt butter in a saucepan, add brown sugar, cream, maple syrup, and salt. Simmer 5 minutes until thickened.
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Pour warm sauce over baked pudding. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes
Add extra pecans on top for crunch and presentation.
Can be made ahead; reheat gently and drizzle with sauce before serving.
Try serving with bourbon-spiked whipped cream for a festive twist.
FAQ
1. Can I make this without dates?
Yes! While traditional sticky toffee pudding uses dates, you can replace them with figs, prunes, or leave them out for a slightly less moist but still delicious cake.
2. Can I prepare the sauce in advance?
Absolutely. The sauce can be made 2–3 days ahead and stored in the fridge. Simply reheat on the stove before pouring over the pudding.
3. What’s the best way to serve sticky toffee pudding?
The classic way is warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, but you can also serve it with custard, caramel drizzle, or even a dollop of Greek yogurt for a lighter option.
