Sticky date pudding has to be one of my favourite desserts, ever. But due to my lack of self control, I rarely make a full batch of it, as you better believe I’ll eat the entire thing in one sitting! But fellow pudding fans, let’s rejoice, as I have mastered the single serve mug cake version of this incredible dessert.
I know how much you guys love single serve and microwave recipes – in fact 4 of my 5 most popular recipes fall into one or both of those categories! So making yet another simple yet delicious mug cake was a no brainer.
This one takes slightly longer than my other mug cakes as you need to add and cook things in stages, plus there is a sauce to make. But when I say slightly longer, I mean only 2 minutes longer. And the result? A moist, dense and buttery pudding that is topped with the just the right amount of decadent caramel sauce.
Despite being cooked in the microwave, this pudding turns out surprisingly light thanks to the bicarbonate soda. The dates melt into the batter whilst cooking and produce a lovely sweet, caramel flavour.
This mug cake is phenomenal on its own and even better with a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! You could also try some whipped cream and berries as a lovely contrasting topping.
It’s the perfect single serve dessert to treat yourself during winter (although let’s be honest, you can enjoy sticky date pudding anytime of year!)
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as me, and don’t forget to check out my other microwave mug cake recipes if you need a quick sugar fix! My currently obsession is this banana bread mug cake which takes your favourite breakfast food and transforms into an easy to make dessert. Happy baking!
Single Serve Sticky Date Pudding Mug Cake
Ingredients
Sticky Date Pudding
- 10 dates chopped
- 2 tbsp boiling water
- 1/2 tsp bicarb soda
- 1.5 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1.5 tbsp self raising flour
- 1 egg yolk
Caramel sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp butter
- 1 tsp milk
Instructions
Sticky Date Pudding
- In a large mug place the chopped dates and water. Place in microwave for 1 minute to soften the dates.
- Take the mug out of the microwave, add in the bicarb soda and mash with a fork - it will fizz a bit.
- Add the butter to the mixture and microwave again for 10-15 sec until melted.
- Finally, add in the sugar, flour and egg yolk and mix to thoroughly combine.
- Place in the microwave for a final 1 minute. It may need a further 10 sec to finish it, depending on the strength of your microwave.
Caramel sauce
- In a small microwave-proof bowl, add in the sugar, butter and milk and place in the microwave for 20 seconds.
- Remove and stir and repeat another two to three times until you end up with a dark caramel sauce.
- Drizzle over your sticky date mug cake and top with icecream if desired!
What kind of mug cake recipe would you like to see next on Love Swah?
41 Comments
This is EXACTLY why we’re friends. Brilliant. Just brilliant!! I’m definitely going to have to make this during the week. Deeeelish!
Hope you enjoy it Lucy!!
Swah! This cake looks absolutely heavenly, I need this in my life! Pinned!
Thanks Jess! It is definitely my new favourite mug cake :)
Hi Swah
This look delicious! If I’m multiplying the quantity by 5, can I microwave them all at the same time and multiply the time by 5?
Hi Kate, I would try and triple the time at first, then check on the doneness of the mug cake. If it’s still gooey in the middle then cook in 30 second bursts as you don’t want to risk overcooked pudding!
Hi there! Had my microwave for years and only used it for defrosting and reheating. This is the 3rd mug recipe I tried in the last week or so (from others) and this is the one that turned out right. Didn’t even need the caramel sauce or ice cream.
Thank you! :) Will try the chocolate one next….
That’s great to hear Yen!! It’s one of my fav mug cake recipes. Enjoy the chocolate one as well :)
Hi Swah ,
I tired this recipe , it was really yum :) . Can I increase the dates used this recipe to 15 dates than 10 dates ?
Thank you
I’ve been having a sweet craving all evening and this totally fulfilled it. The best mug cake I’ve had. Thanks!
You’re welcome Jessica, glad you loved it!
This was spot. I don’t keep self raising flour so just used plain flour with about 1/8 of a teaspoon of baking powder. It was DELICIOUS. I’ll never make a sticky date pudding any other way.
So glad you liked it, Dee!
Best mug cake ever!! So glad I found this recipe. I’ve had a hankering for something sweet all evening and this did not disappoint
So glad you like it Michelle!!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I bought some pitted dates that turned out to not be so great. I was looking for something to make with them, but I don’t have an oven. Imagine my surprise when I found your recipe! It’s fantastic, by the way. My husband loved it and couldn’t believe I’d made it in the microwave, he said it was better than the store bought one I’ve been buying him. Thanks so much, I’ll definitely be checking out some of your other recipes!
You are very welcome Sarah, so glad you enjoyed it!
Yum yum
Super easy to make
Amazing! By far the best cake in a mug l have EVER tried! Tastes like a real sticky date pudding but took soooo much less time. Thankyou for a great recipe, this will be my Saturday night ‘go to’ dessert 😄
So glad you liked it Alecia!
Delicious! But it takes a little longer than the 4mins you said… worth it still though 😊
Thanks Gemma!
Hi! Just a quick question, what type of dates should be used? Dried or fresh? I’m glad I found this recipe though! My supermarket has stopped stocking my favourite freezer sticky date portions so I have been on the lookout for one just as quick n easy!
I use dried :) Enjoy!
I Iove this recipe so much, it’s my fave a snack or dessert on a cold day.. Or any day. I’m repairing my gut so sugar flour and marg are out for me at the moment, but I made this with coconut oil and almond flour. Still delish 😋
Thanks Maria! And great to hear the subs worked out well
Absolutely Delicious! If using medjool dates you only need 5 dates as they’re quite large and very sweet.
Great tip, thanks Gabby!
This tasted great and was super easy to make. A reminder that an Australian tablespoon is 20ml and not 15ml.
Thanks for the reminder Doreen and glad you enjoyed it!
Absolutely delicious, thank you for this recipe I love it.
Glad you liked it Rosita!
actually works!!! this was my first microwave cake, (im a keen baker but oven usually) I only wanted one portion so I thought Id give it a go. I couldn’t make the caramel sauce with the milk work because the milk just curdled in the bowl when i was heating it :/ But the cake itself works perfectly.
Oh that’s strange about the milk curdling! I would suggest next time either heat on a lower setting, or making sure the sugar and butter are mixed in quite well as that helps it to stop splitting
Quite nice, great when you have a late night craving. Still very quick to make. For me though, it was just a bit too sweet. Even for sticky date. Next time I would maybe halve the sugar and be sure to chop the dates really finely otherwise it was delish.
this recipe is perfect, quick easy and not dense or flavorless like every other mug cake recipe out there. it truly tastes like the real thing!
So glad you loved it Cinna!
Wow still holds up 5 years later
It’s definitely one of my most popular recipes!
Moist and soft plenty of dates flavour .
Worked really well in a ramekin.
So glad you enjoyed it Sally!