Sticky toffee pudding is a classic British dessert. The dark, moist sponge cake containing finely chopped dates is usually smothered in a warm toffee sauce and served with ice cream. If you are pressed for time, you can whip up this comforting dessert in just 10 minutes, according to a post on Instagram.
Ryan Miller, better known as Foodiligence, has been working his way through the New York Times' 50 most popular recipes of 2025. This 'speedy' sticky toffee pudding came in at number 29 on the list and is made in a microwave. Ryan was impressed, saying: 'Microwave sticky toffee pudding, better than some of the ones I had in London.'
Recipe Origin and Popularity
The recipe was devised by Ali Slagle, who wrote: 'You are just 10 minutes away from a bowl of soft, date-flecked cake draped in a brown sugary sauce. This speedy take on sticky toffee pudding is made for one or two people and does not require turning on the oven – just the microwave.'
Ryan's video for sticky toffee pudding has had more than two million views in less than a week, attracting almost 30,000 likes and hundreds of comments, reports the Mirror. The recipe seems to divide viewers, with one saying: 'As a Brit. No.' But another said: 'Oh no, this is too easy and too tempting! I have to look away!'
NYT Microwave Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter (about 14g)
- 3 tbsp dark brown soft sugar or dark muscovado
- 3 tbsp double cream
- 2 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 28g plain flour
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon
- Sour cream, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or Greek yoghurt, for serving
Method
- In a small bowl or mug, melt one tablespoon of butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Add two tablespoons of brown sugar and one tablespoon of cream. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until the sugar is melted and the mixture comes together into a sauce (30 seconds to one minute). Set aside; the sauce will thicken as it sits.
- In a microwave-safe bowl or ramekin, combine the dates, remaining butter, remaining cream and the bicarbonate of soda. Microwave until the butter has melted (30 seconds to one minute). Mash the dates with a fork until broken down.
- Add the flour, remaining sugar, cinnamon and a pinch of salt, then stir until combined. Spread into an even layer. Microwave until the top is just set (45 seconds to one minute).
- Serve with vanilla ice cream or your preferred accompaniment and drizzle with the caramel sauce. Eat warm.
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Recommended Microwave Cookbooks
Mug Cakes: Ready in Five Minutes in the Microwave by Lene Knudsen is down to £6.91 on Amazon. More than 30 recipes for quick and delicious cakes that require minimal time and effort.
Ping! by Justine Pattison is less than half price on Amazon, down from £20 to £8.33. Over 100 cost-cutting, time-saving and utterly delicious recipes all cooked in the microwave.
Microwave Mug Soups by Theo Michaels costs £9.45 from Hive. Instead of opening a can, you can have an even yummier home-cooked soup made fresh in just the same amount of time. Prices correct at the time of publication.
