Easy Vegan Sticky Date Pudding Recipe
Dec 04, 2024 • Updated Feb 05, 2025
This page may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission for products purchased through my link.
This vegan sticky date pudding recipe is a twist on a classic British dessert. It’s a warm, comforting dessert that will make you happy with every bite. The natural sweetness of Medjool dates and the rich vegan caramel sauce create a dessert that’s just as decadent as a traditional sticky toffee pudding—but entirely plant-based. It’s the perfect dessert for special occasions, holiday parties, or just a sweet treat at home!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Sweet Holiday Dessert
Whether you’re vegan or non-vegan this plane-based sticky date pudding is sure to impress! Medjool dates are the main ingredient and the star of the show! They’re naturally sweet and create the pudding’s rich caramel-like flavour and soft texture. The silky smooth caramel sauce is made from maple syrup which adds a natural sweetness and a hint of maple flavour. The rest of the ingredients help with the pudding’s overall texture and flavor – making it an impressive dessert that everybody will love!
This treat is so simple to make – requiring simple ingredients and only 10 minutes of prep time. Serve it along with other holiday desserts at any holiday gathering along with gingerbread jellycat cookies, miso caramel apple pie, or pecan pie bliss balls.
Ingredient Notes
Sticky Date Pudding
- Medjool dates: Add a natural sweetness and the perfect sticky texture.
- Unsweetened almond milk: Gives the pudding moisture and binds the ingredients without overpowering the flavour. You can use your favorite dairy-free milk if you prefer!
- Water: Helps soften the dates.
- Baking soda: Reacts with the dates to tenderize them and gives the pudding a light, airy texture.
- Vegan butter: Gives the pudding richness and moisture. Vegan margarine or coconut oil can be substituted if needed, just keep in mind the texture and flavor of the pudding will be a bit different.
- Coconut sugar or light brown sugar: Sweetens the pudding while enhancing its deep, caramel tones, and either option works beautifully.
- Gluten-free 1:1 flour: Gluten-free flour creates structure without gluten, but if you’re not gluten-free, regular all-purpose flour works too.
Caramel Sauce Ingredients
- Maple syrup: A natural sweetener for the sauce. Also helps keep the sauce smooth.
- Coconut sugar or brown sugar: Forms the caramel base, providing that signature rich sweetness, and both options are equally delicious.
- Vegan butter: Helps with the sauce’s creamy texture. Coconut oil can be used if needed but as I mentioned above, the texture/taste will be different.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavours with a warm touch.
- Kosher salt: Balances the sweetness and deepens the caramel notes. Sea salt is a fine alternative.
For exact ingredient amounts and instructions, see the printable recipe card below.
How to Make Vegan Date Pudding
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375F and grease your ramekins. Set aside. Add dates, water, and milk to a small saucepan over medium heat and simmer until the dates are softened and broken down, about 3-5 minutes. Use your spatula to help break the dates down as needed.
Step 2: Remove the pot from the heat and add baking soda. Stir immediately and continuously for about a minute. The mixture will froth up, but that’s ok. Set aside to let cool.
Step 4: Add the wet ingredients to a large bowl. Beat the sugar and butter until light and creamy. Pour in the cooked date mixture and stir until everything’s smooth and well combined. Gently fold in the flour and mix until just incorporated.
Step 5: Transfer the mixture into your ramekins and bake in your preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.
Step 6: Make the caramel sauce. Add maple syrup, sugar, and butter to a pot and bring to a boil then immediately drop to a simmer and let cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla and salt.
Step 7: Once the puddings are baked, spoon about a tablespoon of caramel sauce over each one and allow the sauce to soak into the pudding. Flip out onto a plate to serve. Top with dairy-free ice cream and more caramel sauce as desired!
Secrets to Success
- For best results, make sure the dates are fully softened during the simmering process for a smoother batter.
- For an even smoother date mixture, use your food processor to blend the dates after simmering.
- When adding the flour, mix until just combined to keep the pudding light and tender. For a non-gluten-free version, all-purpose flour can be substituted in equal measure.
- If your dates are dry, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes to soften before using.
- For a thicker caramel sauce, allow it to simmer a bit longer until it reaches the desired consistency.
Serving Tips
- Serve with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream or a dollop of coconut whipped cream.
- A sprinkle of chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, can add a very yummy crunch.
- Sprinkle an extra pinch of salt on top for even more flavour.
- Enjoy as a midday pick-me-up with a glass of a matcha chai latte.
- If you’re feeling super festive set up a dessert bar and serve vegan sticky date pudding with chewy chai snickerdoodle cookies, creamy vegan hot chocolate, and matcha madeleines.
Storage Tips
Let any leftover pudding come to room temperature and then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Wrap individual portions in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Soy milk, oat milk, or even coconut milk can be used as alternatives to almond milk.
Yes! Store the pudding and the sauce separately in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat before serving.
If you don’t have ramekins, a standard muffin tin or a small baking dish can be used. You might have to adjust the baking time a little bit.
More Sweet Treat Recipes
If you make this recipe, be sure to let me know what you think with a star rating and comment below! Follow me on Instagram for more delicious recipes!
Easy Vegan Sticky Date Pudding Recipe
Equipment
- 4 small ramekins
- saucepan
Ingredients
Sticky Date Pudding
- 1/2 cup medjool dates pitted
- 1/2 cup almond milk unsweetened
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 cup vegan butter
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar or use brown sugar
- 2/3 cup gluten free 1:1 flour
Caramel Sauce
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2/3 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 1/3 cup vegan butter
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt kosher
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375F and grease your ramekins. Set aside.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add dates, water and milk and simmer until dates are softened and broken down, about 3-5 minutes. Use your spatula to help break the dates down as needed. Remove the pot from the heat and add baking soda. Stir immediately and continuously for about a minute. The mixture will froth up but that's ok. Set aside to let cool.
- In a mixing bowl, cream sugar and butter together until smooth and creamy. Add the cooked date mixture to the bowl and stir to combine until smooth. Add the flour and stir to combine again.
- Transfer the mixture into your ramekins and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.
- To make the caramel sauce, add maple, sugar and butter to a pot and bring to aboil then immediately drop to a simmer and let cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla and salt.
- Once the puddings are baked, spoon over about a tablespoon of caramel sauce over each one and allow the sauce to soak into the pudding. Flip out onto a plate to serve. Top with dairy free ice cream and more caramel sauce as desired.
Notes
- For best results, make sure the dates are fully softened during the simmering process for a smoother batter.
- For an even smoother date mixture, use your food processor to blend the dates after simmering.
- When adding the flour, mix until just combined to keep the pudding light and tender. For a non-gluten-free version, all-purpose flour can be substituted in equal measure.
- If your dates are dry, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes to soften before using.
- For a thicker caramel sauce, allow it to simmer a bit longer until it reaches the desired consistency.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
