Vegan date sponge

Treat yourself to this indulgent vegan sponge cake. Rich and sticky, this warming pudding is served with a velvety caramel sauce.

Puddings
Vegan date sponge on a plate with caramel sauce poured over
  • Preparation time 30 mins (prep. time)
  • Cooking time 20 mins (cooking time)
  • Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 200g plain flour
  • 100g caster sugar
  • 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 
  • 100g dates, pitted and chopped 
  • 1/2 tbsp golden syrup 
  • 200ml water 
  • 50ml vegetable oil 

 

For the caramel sauce

  • 75g caster sugar
  • 100ml coconut milk 
  • 1/4 tsp salt 

Method

  1. Place the dates, syrup, water and vegetable oil in a pan, bring to a boil and simmer for around 5 minutes. 
  2. When the dates have dissolved and the mixture has thickened, remove from the heat and leave to cool.
  3. Place the flour, sugar, bicarbonate of soda, salt and cinnamon in a bowl and mix together.  
  4. Once cold, add the date mixture to the dry mix and stir to incorporate. Pour into six lined mini loaf tins and place into the oven at 170C for around 45 minutes. Check with a skewer and continue to bake if necessary.
  5. Remove from the oven and use a skewer to make a few holes in the top.
  6. For the caramel sauce: Place the sugar and a little water in your saucepan over a high heat and swirl the pan gently until the sugar starts to colour around the edge. 
  7. Start swirling the pan a little more until all the sugar has dissolved and you have a dark caramel.
  8. Keep on the heat and add the coconut milk, stirring from the point it hits the caramel. Bring the mixture to a boil and stir gently until the caramel has dissolved into the coconut milk.
  9. Spoon the sauce over the cakes whilst still warm, leave to soak in.