Healthier Sticky Toffee Pudding

A healthier sticky toffee pudding made with better-for-you-ingredients and made into individual portions for ease and a shorter baking time. They’re just the right level of sweet and really easy to make. 

Cold rainy weather calls for something warming, cosy and comforting. I think it’s safe to say this healthier sticky toffee pudding ticks all those boxes! Serve warm with my three ingredient drizzle for the ultimate dessert to satisfy your sweet cravings this winter. 

In case you’re not already familiar with it, sticky toffee pudding is a classic British dessert that consists of a moist, dense sponge cake made with dates, covered in a rich toffee sauce. It’s a popular and indulgent dessert known for its sweet and sticky texture.

The pudding itself is typically made by blending dates with flour, eggs, sugar, and butter to create a sweet and moist cake. After baking, it’s served warm and topped with a generous amount of toffee sauce, which is made from butter, sugar, and cream. The sauce is often heated and poured over the pudding just before serving, creating a warm and gooey dessert that is both sweet and comforting.

Why I love this healthier sticky toffee pudding recipe:

This is my healthier take on a sticky toffee pudding. I used oat flour instead of plain flour and only used 1 tbsp of added sugar in the form of date syrup. I did this to add a deep/dark colour to the pudding more than anything else as the whole dates work perfectly on their own to add enough sweetness. I also used some tahini (in the pudding itself + the drizzle) as a healthier source of fat. 

I prefer making individual sticky toffee puddings as I think they look so much prettier/more appetising when served. It also means I’m less likely to overindulge and go back for seconds ? I find it difficult to stop eating anything with dates, so this is a good way to keep my appetite in check. Making individual portions also means they’ll need less time to bake in the oven. Great for saving electricity, plus it means I don’t have to wait longe before I can enjoy them (I can be very impatient when it comes to waiting for desserts to bake, I just want to dig in asap!).

They’re best served warm, but you can enjoy them at room temperature as well. To make these healthier sticky toffee puddings more indulgent, you always have the option of serving them with a dollop of vanilla ice cream, although I find they’re indulgent enough. Especially with the three ingredient drizzle on top. 

As well as being vegan, this healthier sticky toffee pudding is also gluten-free (make sure you use gluten-free oats), nut-free and dairy-free. 

What you need to make this healthier sticky toffee pudding recipe:

Dates – I love using Palestinian Medjool dates. They have the best combination of taste (caramelly) and texture (soft & fudgy). You can use other dates – if they’re on the drier side, you may need to add a little more milk when cooking them to achieve the same consistency.  

Tahini – runny tahini works best when it comes to baking/using in desserts. I always buy Lebanese tahini as it’s made the authentic way and has the best consistency. 

Coconut oil/butter – I find that a combination of tahini and coconut oil gives the best texture. You can use butter/dairy-free butter instead. Or you can substitute with more tahini for an even healthier option. 

Date syrup – as I mentioned before, I used this to add colour more than anything. You can use another form of liquid sweetener like maple syrup, rice syrup, honey, etc. 

Milk of choice – to add moisture to the mixture. 

Cinnamon – this adds more warmth & depth to the flavour. 

Baking powder – to help the pudding rise a little as it bakes in the oven.

What you need to make the drizzle for this healthier sticky toffee pudding recipe:

This is probably the easiest drizzle/sauce you’ll ever make! You only need three ingredients – tahini, maple syrup and a pinch of salt. That’s it! The combination of those ingredients creates the taste and consistency of a salted caramel sauce with less sugar and more healthy fats. You can also use a date syrup instead of the maple syrup to enhance the date flavour. Other liquid sweeteners will also work like agave, rice syrup, etc.  

This healthier sticky toffee pudding recipe is:

• Vegan
• Dairy-free
• Nut-free 
• Gluten-free (if using gluten-free oats)
• Healthier than you average sticky toffee pudding recipe
• Great for dinner/Christmas parties

If you enjoyed this healthier sticky toffee pudding recipe, you may also like the following:

• Tahini Date Freezer Cups
• Healthy Date Oat Squares
• Date & Pistachio Rolls