Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream – A Delicious Fusion Of Flavours

Turn a classic British dessert into the ultimate frozen treat! This Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream combines rich toffee flavours, buttery sponge, and creamy indulgence – a dessert that’s guaranteed to become a new favourite!

A Family Favourite – With A Frozen Fusion!

Sticky Toffee Pudding has always been a staple in my family. That warm, dense sponge drenched in glossy toffee sauce, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting into the sauce—there’s nothing quite like it. It’s the ultimate comfort dessert, making an appearance at many of our gatherings, especially in the colder months.

But then I thought, as I often do, why not take it one step further? Instead of serving the pudding with ice cream, why not turn it into ice cream? A luxurious, velvety frozen treat infused with deep, caramelised flavours, complete with little chunks of moist sponge folded in. It seemed only right to give this idea a try!

Of course, you don’t have to combine the two – both Sticky Toffee Pudding and Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream are delicious in their own right. Some may prefer the warm, comforting richness of the classic pudding, while others might love the idea of a cool, creamy twist. Either way, we’ve got you covered with recipes for each!

In this article, we’ll take a quick look at the history of this beloved British dessert before sharing two incredible recipes – one for a traditional Sticky Toffee Pudding and one for the ultimate Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream. Whether you enjoy them separately or together, this is indulgence at its finest!

If you’d like to go straight to our recipes, please use the following links, or read along to find out more.

A Brief History of Sticky Toffee Pudding

The exact origins of Sticky Toffee Pudding are debated, but many believe it was popularised in the 1970s by Francis Coulson, who served it at his famous hotel, Sharrow Bay Country House in the Lake District.

Some food historians, however, trace its roots back further, linking it to Canadian wartime desserts that used dates as a natural sweetener.

Regardless of its origins, it’s now a firm favourite on British dessert menus and has even inspired variations such as Sticky Toffee Pudding cheesecake, cupcakes, and now, our Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream!

What is Sticky Toffee Pudding?

Sticky Toffee Pudding is a classic British dessert, consisting of a soft, date-laden sponge cake soaked in a rich toffee sauce. It’s typically served warm, with cream, custard, or ice cream. The dessert has a deep caramel-like sweetness, thanks to the combination of dates, brown sugar, and buttery toffee sauce.

How Sticky Toffee Pudding Freezes & Its Effect on Ice Cream Texture

One of the most exciting things about Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream is how the pudding itself transforms once frozen. Since sticky toffee pudding is a moist, dense sponge soaked in a rich toffee sauce, it retains a soft and chewy texture even when frozen.

When folded into the ice cream, the sponge pieces absorb some of the creamy base, preventing them from becoming too firm. This creates a delicious textural contrast – smooth, velvety ice cream with bursts of soft, slightly chewy pudding throughout. The toffee sauce also stays luscious, adding gooey pockets of caramel flavour that melt on the tongue.

For the best texture, ensure your sticky toffee pudding is fully cooled before incorporating it into the ice cream base. If you prefer a firmer texture, you can slightly dry out the sponge before freezing by toasting the cubes in the oven for a few minutes.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe

So now you have an idea of what a sticky toffee pudding is, let us show you how to make one.

You could, of course, use a shop-bought sticky toffee pudding for your ice cream, but it’s actually very easy to make your own. Plus, by making it from scratch, you know exactly what’s gone into it—no hidden additives, just pure, homemade indulgence. The rich, date-laden sponge and glossy toffee sauce come together beautifully, making it well worth the effort!

Ingredients

(Prep Time: 15 minutes, Cook Time: 30–35 minutes, Total Time: 45–50 minutes)

For the Sponge Cake:

• 200g pitted dates, finely chopped
• 250ml boiling water
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 85g unsalted butter, softened
• 175g dark brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 200g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Toffee Sauce:

• 150g dark brown sugar
• 200ml double cream
• 75g unsalted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of sea salt

Method

1. Make the Sticky Toffee Sponge

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan/gas mark 4) and grease a baking dish.
2. Place the chopped dates in a bowl and pour over the boiling water. Stir in the bicarbonate of soda and set aside to soften for 10 minutes.
3. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
5. Fold in the flour, then stir in the softened date mixture (including the liquid).
6. Pour the batter into the prepared dish and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

2. Make the Toffee Sauce

1. In a saucepan, heat the sugar, butter, and double cream over medium heat, stirring continuously until the sugar dissolves.
2. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3–5 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly.
3. Stir in the vanilla and a pinch of sea salt. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream Recipe

(Prep Time: 15 minutes | Chilling & Freezing Time: 6 hours | Servings: 6)

Once your sticky toffee pudding has cooled sufficiently, you can break it down into small chunks, ready to be folded into the ice cream. These pieces add a delightful texture, with soft sponge soaking up the creamy toffee-infused base. If you’re short on time, a good-quality shop-bought sticky toffee pudding will work just as well!

Ingredients

• 300ml double cream
• 300ml whole milk
• 100g dark brown sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• ½ tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 150ml prepared toffee sauce (see above)
• 150g Sticky Toffee Pudding, cut into small cubes

Method

1. Prepare the Ice Cream Base

• • Heat the cream and milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it begins to steam (but don’t let it boil).
  • In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until pale and creamy.
  • Slowly pour the warm milk mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly.
  • Return the mixture to the pan and heat gently, stirring continuously, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  • Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and salt.

2. Incorporate the Sticky Toffee Flavour

• • Allow the custard base to cool, then stir in 150 ml of toffee sauce.
  • Chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

3. Churn and Freeze

• • Churn in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • In the last few minutes of churning, fold in the sticky toffee pudding cubes.
  • Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.

👉🏽 Note: If you don’t have an ice cream maker, you can still make this ice cream;

Simply pour your ice cream mixture into a freezer-safe container and freeze. Every 30 minutes, stir the mixture vigorously with a fork to break up ice crystals, repeating this process for about 3-4 hours or until the ice cream is firm. Please also check out our post – How to Make Homemade Ice Cream: Without an Ice Cream Maker – to learn more.

Toppings & Pairing Ideas

Take this indulgence to the next level with some delicious toppings:

• Extra Toffee Sauce – Because there’s no such thing as too much toffee!
• Crushed Shortbread – Adds a delicate crunch to contrast with the creamy ice cream.
• Toasted Pecans or Walnuts – A nutty contrast that complements the caramel notes.
• Sliced Bananas – Sticky toffee pudding and banana is an underrated match made in heaven.
• A Scoop of Clotted Cream – For extra decadence.

Alternative Diets & Adaptations

Sticky Toffee Pudding and Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream are classics, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be adapted!

Whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, or just looking for a variation, here’s how you can tweak the recipe to suit different dietary needs.

Vegetarian

Great news! Both the traditional sticky toffee pudding and the ice cream are already vegetarian—no changes needed.

Vegan Adaptation

To make Sticky Toffee Pudding & Ice Cream fully plant-based, you’ll need to swap out dairy and eggs for vegan-friendly alternatives.

Vegan Sticky Toffee Pudding

✔ Replace butter with vegan butter or melted coconut oil.
✔ Use flax eggs (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 2.5 tbsp water per egg, let sit for 5 minutes).
✔ Swap double cream in the toffee sauce for coconut cream or oat cream.
✔ Choose plant-based milk (oat, almond, or soy).

Vegan Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream

✔ Swap double cream & whole milk for full-fat coconut milk or a rich oat cream.
✔ Replace honey with maple syrup or coconut sugar.
✔ Use a cornflour (cornstarch) slurry (1 tbsp cornflour + 2 tbsp plant milk) instead of egg yolks to thicken.
✔ Ensure your caramel sauce is made with vegan butter & coconut cream.

💡 Bonus tip: A dash of miso paste in the caramel sauce adds a buttery depth that mimics traditional dairy-based caramel!

Gluten-Free Adaptation

Both the pudding and ice cream contain gluten, but we can make simple swaps:

Gluten-Free Sticky Toffee Pudding

✔ Swap plain flour for a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend (with xanthan gum for structure).
✔ Ensure your baking powder is gluten-free.
✔ Double-check your vanilla extract & dates—some brands process them with gluten-containing ingredients.

Gluten-Free Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream

✔ No major changes needed! Just make sure any store-bought caramel sauce or mix-ins (like biscuits or toppings) are gluten-free.

💡 Bonus tip: For a crunchy mix-in, crumble some gluten-free shortbread biscuits into the ice cream!

By making these easy adaptations, Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter their dietary needs!

👉🏽 Would you give a vegan or gluten-free version a try? Let us know in the comments below!

The Final Scoop

Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream takes everything we love about this beloved British dessert and turns it into a delicious frozen treat. With its rich, caramelised flavour, buttery sponge pieces, and luscious toffee sauce swirled throughout the cool, creamy ice cream – this is the ultimate treat for any Sticky Toffee Pudding fan.

And with a few simple adjustments, the recipes can cater for alternative diets too. So everyone gets to enjoy this delicious ice cream!

👉🏽 The big question is – would you try Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream? Let us know in the comments section below. We’d love to hear from you.

And if you do give it a go, don’t forget to share your creations with us on social media. We’d love to see how you make this indulgent dessert your own!

We hope that you have enjoyed our article – Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream – A Delicious Fusion Of Flavours – and that we have inspired you to give this deliciously indulgent recipe a go. If you have any questions, please drop us a comment below, and we will be happy to get back to you.

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