Whisky & Date Steamed Pudding

Makes 8

Ingredients

• 1 cup dates (stones removed)
• ½ cup dark chocolate pieces
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup orange juice
• 1 t baking soda
• ½ t baking powder
• 1 cup plain flour
• t salt
• 50g butter
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• ½ t cinnamon
• ½ t ground nutmeg
• 5 sundried Turkish figs (roughly chopped)
• 40ml whiskey

Method

Chop dates and simmer in a pan with water, chocolate and orange juice for two minutes, stirring constantly Remove from the heat and leave to sit for five minutes. Stir in baking soda and whiskey. Set mix aside for 20 minutes.

Sift flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one by one. Add flour mixture to the batter in three batches, beating after each addition until just combined. Add date mixture and figs.

Use a wooden spoon to stir the batter until just combined. Pour batter into moulds and cover each with tin foil Sit the moulds in a bain-marie with enough hot water to reach halfway up the moulds.

Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a knife can pierce the pudding and come away clean.