

Whether you call it Sticky Date Pudding or Sticky Toffee Pudding, it’s really a cake. The dates make it moist, the caramel sauce makes it sticky and that’s what makes it holiday worthy!
Sticky Date Pudding is popular in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. The British fondly call it STP, short for Sticky Toffee Pudding. When an entire country has an acronym for a dessert it’s probably worth making so that’s what I did.
Often referred to as a modern British classic most sources follow the roots of this dessert all the way back to Canada. Who knew! I can trace my relatives back to England and Scotland but my mom never made this dessert and I hadn’t either.
It was on our trip to Australia that my friends served us Sticky Date Pudding so when I got home I wanted to try it. Making it gluten free was a piece of cake!
After a bit of research I often try new recipes using my EGFG flour blend. When it works I celebrate my success and quit experimenting. That’s what happened with this recipe, it was perfect to my taste the first time I made it.
The more recipes I can make with my flour blend the easier it is to bake gluten free. It feels like I do 80% of my baking with this blend and I’m happy about that.
If you’re not happy with the flour blend you’re baking with you need to learn a little more about flour. On my blog I have several posts about gluten free flours and you can start by looking at these two.
When I hear pudding I think of the creamy smooth, often milk-based, desserts my mom made. As we got older she spooned them out of a can or sometimes we made them from a box. Some countries refer to that dessert as a custard but to me it’s still pudding.
Of course you’ve heard of Christmas pudding, plum pudding, figgy pudding and even Yorkshire pudding. Clearly there is more than one definition for pudding. This dessert is a moist date cake. It’s a traditional dessert in many countries served with caramel sauce and topped with whipped cream. (My Australian friend insists the strawberry is mandatory.)
I’m calling this dessert Sticky Date Pudding but you can call it anything you want.
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Caramel sauce is what makes this cake sticky and I love this easy version. With only three ingredients it can be made in a jiffy and makes a great last minute gift! Kids can make it so if you’re looking for a homemade gift that’s easy and edible, here it is.
Technically toffee is cooked to a higher temperature than caramel and will get to the hard, brittle stage. Next time I visit the UK I’ll be sure to have my own Sticky Toffee Pudding tasting. In the meantime I’m sticking with this easy caramel sauce that I use on many desserts.
For the best presentation I like to use a pedestal serving tray whenever possible. I think it elevates your dessert (pun intended)!
Let me know in the comments below if you have a story about Sticky Date Pudding, STP or if you tried it for the first time.
Originally posted November 2016, updated December 2021.
Click on the text on the image(s) to go to the recipe/blog post.
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I see I got a few mentions here 😂. So glad you were able to make a gluten-free version. I think this is my favourite dessert.
Your Canadian friend who lived in Australia!
Yes Wendy, you are my mystery friend who inspired me to try Sticky Date Pudding and I’m hooked too. Delicious! Let’s make another Australian dessert for Australia Day, January 26, 2022. Let me know what it will be!
I would like to give this recipe a try for Christmas but not quite sure what gluten flour to buy for it to be a success. If l went to the Bulk Barn and bought the flour would that be ok.Not used to baking gluten free but now I’m going to give it a try as my daughter in law is gluten free.
Hi Jackie! That’s the catch with gluten free baking, there are so many flour blends available. You could ask your daughter-in-law what blend she recommends if she bakes. But have a look at my post called “11 Gluten Free Flour Recipes”. You don’t have to make your own flour blend but you’ll see some similarities and learn a little about gluten free flour from reading that post. Then go to Bulk Barn and just pick one. Making a cake like this one is pretty safe (cookies are more challenging) but my single best recommendation is to make it now before your event and see what you think. Best of luck and let me know how it turns out. https://everydayglutenfreegourmet.ca/2020/05/29/11-gluten-free-flour-recipes/