Upside Down Sticky Toffee Pudding

By LDenvir

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 5 ounces pitted dried dates
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• Pinch of cloves
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cups light-brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons molasses
• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Maple Toffee Sauce
• 1 1/4 cups coarsely chopped toasted pecans
• Unsweetened whipped cream, for serving

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees with a rack in the middle. Spray one 8 inch-by-3 inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

Place dates and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat to a simmer; simmer until water is almost evaporated. Transfer dates to the bowl of a food processor; pulse until coarsely chopped. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, nutmeg, and cloves.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs, and beat until combined, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Add molasses, maple syrup, vanilla, and date mixture; beat to combine. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.

Pour 1/2 cup maple toffee sauce into bottom of prepared cake pan; sprinkle with pecans. Pour batter into cake pan, smooth top, and transfer to oven. Bake until deep golden and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes.

Remove pudding from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Run a small offset spatula around edge of cake pan and invert pudding onto serving platter. Immediately pour additional maple toffee sauce over cake; let cool slightly. Serve warm with whipped cream.