almond spelt sticky date

Nourish
almond spelt sticky date

Serves 12

A delicious dessert from our Co-Founder and Nutrition Director, Louise Keats.

This is a recipe I developed for my regular monthly Naughty v Nice column in Taste magazine. It’s where I do a lighter, healthier version of a traditionally decadent recipe. You can find the recipe on their website over here along with 50,000 other delicious recipes!

For a lighter version still, skip the caramel sauce. The pudding is still delicious without it.

Vegetarian

INGREDIENTS

  • 200g fresh dates, pitted
  • 250ml (1 cup) boiling water
  • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
  • 200g (1 1/4 cups) wholemeal spelt flour
  • 70g (1/3 cup) rapadura sugar or brown sugar
  • 60g whole almond meal (see tip)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 100g (1/3 cup) unsweetened apple puree
  • 80ml (1/3 cup) melted coconut oil (or olive oil)
  • 2 eggs
  • Natural yoghurt, to serve

Caramel Sauce

  • 3 tablespoons rapadura sugar or brown sugar
  • 160ml (2/3 cup) pouring cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

METHOD

  1. Preheat oven to 180C (160C fan). Grease a round 20cm cake pan. Line with baking paper.
  2. Place dates in a large heatproof bowl. Pour over the boiling water. Stir in the bicarb. Set aside for 10 minutes to soften, then use a fork to lightly mash.
  3. Combine flour, sugar, almond meal, baking powder and spices in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre. Add apple, oil, eggs and date mixture. Stir until combined. Spoon into the prepared pan.
  4. Line the base of a roasting pan with a tea towel. Place cake in the prepared roasting pan. Pour enough boiling water into the roasting pan to reach two-thirds up the side of the cake pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from roasting pan.
  5. Meanwhile, for the caramel, cook sugar and 125ml (1/2 cup) water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened and reduced by half. Stir in cream and vanilla. Cook for a further 1-2 minutes, until smooth.
  6. Spoon half the sauce over the pudding. Serve with yoghurt and remaining sauce.