Sticky Toffee Banana Pudding: A Lush, Moist Twist on the British Classic

Introduction: When Banana Bread Meets Sticky Toffee

A Warm, Gooey Evolution of a British Favorite 🍌🍮

There’s comfort food… and then there’s sticky toffee banana pudding — the lovechild of classic sticky toffee pudding and banana bread. Originally hailing from the United Kingdom, traditional sticky toffee pudding is a steamed or baked sponge cake made with chopped dates and drenched in toffee sauce. Rich, warm, and unforgettably indulgent, it’s a staple at pubs, winter dinners, and Sunday roasts.

Now imagine all that sticky goodness with the added lushness of ripe mashed bananas, giving the cake a fruit-forward aroma, extra moisture, and a naturally sweet flavor that deepens the pudding’s classic richness. This banana sticky toffee cake variation has surged in popularity across the U.S., UK, Australia, and Canada, thanks to its familiar banana bread-like appeal and comforting decadence.

Whether you’re searching for the ultimate cold-weather dessert, a crowd-pleasing dish for your next dinner party, or just a new way to use overripe bananas, this banana toffee pudding is your golden ticket.

Want more banana-based bakes? Try our Banana Bread Breakfast Pastry — a flaky, fruit-filled treat that’s perfect for morning indulgence.

What You’ll Need: Tools, Ingredients & Prep Tips

Essential Baking Equipment 🔧🍌

Before diving into this gooey masterpiece, gather the tools that make banana sticky toffee pudding cake a breeze:

• 8×8-inch baking dish – ideal for a dense, pudding-style cake
• Mixing bowls – at least two (wet and dry)
• Whisk or electric mixer – for combining the batter easily
• Small saucepan – for simmering the luscious toffee sauce
• Fork, masher, or blender – to purée your ripe bananas and soften dates

Optional but helpful: a fine mesh sieve to sift flour and prevent lumps.

Key Ingredients Overview 🍮🥄

The ingredients for this sticky banana pudding are familiar, but they come together in a next-level way:

• Overripe bananas – the riper, the sweeter and more aromatic
• Dates – soaked and softened, they give that signature sticky texture and caramel-like richness
• Brown sugar & butter – for deep, toffee flavor
• Flour, eggs, vanilla – standard cake staples
• Heavy cream – the base for that luxurious toffee sauce

For a deeper twist, add cinnamon, nutmeg, or even a splash of dark rum to the sauce or batter.

Tips for Gooey Pudding Success 💡🔥

• Always use overripe bananas with brown spots for maximum sweetness
• Soak chopped dates in hot water for at least 10 minutes to soften and blend easily
• Don’t overmix the batter — gentle folding keeps the crumb moist
• Make the toffee sauce just before serving for best consistency

Looking for a similar cozy dessert? Try our Sticky Toffee Date Muffins for a handheld version of this classic flavor combo.

Ingredient List: Simple Pantry Meets Sweet Luxury

This banana sticky toffee pudding cake combines familiar baking ingredients with rich, cozy flavors. Everything you need is easy to find — and likely already in your kitchen if you’re a banana bread fan.

🧁 For the Pudding:

• 1 cup chopped stoned dates
• 1½ sticks unsalted butter (plus extra for greasing)
• 1 cup soft light brown sugar
• 2 large free-range eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⅔ cups self-raising flour
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

🍯 For the Salted Caramel Sauce:

• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ¾ cup soft dark brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons golden syrup
• ⅔ cup double cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Generous pinch of sea salt

This glossy sauce is the signature finishing touch — poured over the warm cake so it soaks in and creates that signature “sticky” top layer.

Want more cozy bakes with deep flavor? Check out our Shoofly Pie Recipe — a molasses-forward dessert with a heritage twist.

Instructions: How to Make Sticky Toffee Banana Pudding

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (or 325°F if using a fan-assisted oven). Grease 10 small pudding molds and place them on two baking sheets.
• Prepare the Dates: In a saucepan, combine the chopped dates with 1¼ cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then simmer for about 20 minutes until the dates are soft and the liquid has reduced by half.
• Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter and light brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• Blend Dates: While still hot, blend the softened dates into a smooth puree. Stir in the baking soda.
• Combine Ingredients: Fold the date mixture, self-raising flour, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract into the butter mixture until smooth.
• Bake: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared molds. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Make the Sauce: While the puddings are baking, prepare the caramel sauce. In a saucepan, melt the butter, then add the dark brown sugar and golden syrup. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the double cream, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Simmer for 3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
• Serve: Once baked, allow the puddings to cool slightly before removing them from the molds. Serve warm, drizzled generously with the salted caramel sauce.

Looking for another cold-weather classic? Try our French Toast Casserole — rich, cozy, and perfect for weekends.

Nutrition Score & Notes: Sweet, Satisfying & Worth Every Bite

Per Serving (Approximate for 9 Servings) 📊🍮

Each generous slice of sticky toffee banana pudding delivers comforting richness with a touch of fruity goodness. Here’s the estimated nutritional breakdown:

• Calories: 420
• Total Fat: 21g
• Saturated Fat: 12g
• Carbohydrates: 55g
• Sugar: 36g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 4g

With its sweet profile and indulgent toffee drizzle, this dessert falls squarely in the “special occasion treat” category — perfect for cozy evenings, holiday spreads, or Sunday suppers.

Smart Swaps for a Healthier Banana Toffee Dessert 🌱✨

Want to enjoy this banana toffee pudding with a few lighter touches? Try these simple adjustments:

• Dairy-Free Version:
  Use plant-based butter and coconut cream in place of dairy
• Lower Sugar:
  Cut brown sugar by 2–3 tablespoons and use extra-ripe bananas to compensate for sweetness
• Add Fiber:
  Swap in ½ cup whole wheat flour or oat flour to improve texture and fiber content
• Vegan-Friendly?
  Replace eggs with flax eggs (1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water per egg) and ensure non-dairy substitutions are used

For another better-for-you treat, check out our High-Fiber Apple Cranberry Baked Oats — a great balance of flavor and nutrition.

Serving & Storage: Keep It Warm, Cozy & Delicious

Best Ways to Serve Sticky Banana Pudding 🍨🔥

This sticky toffee banana cake is best enjoyed warm so the toffee sauce stays silky and the crumb stays soft. Serve it:

• Fresh out of the oven with warm toffee sauce
• Topped with vanilla ice cream, custard, or a dollop of whipped cream
• With an extra drizzle of reserved sauce just before plating

💡 Presentation tip: Garnish with toasted pecans, sliced banana, or a pinch of flaky sea salt for elevated flair.

Storage & Reheating Tips 🧊🔁

Don’t worry if you have leftovers — this banana sticky toffee pudding cake stores and reheats like a dream.

• Refrigerate:
  Store tightly covered in an airtight container for up to 4 days
• Reheat:
  Microwave individual slices for 20–30 seconds
  OR rewarm the whole dish in a 300°F oven for 10–15 minutes, covered loosely with foil
• Freeze:
  Wrap portions in plastic wrap and foil, or use freezer-safe containers
  Freeze for up to 2 months
  Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat gently

💡 Toffee sauce tip: Store sauce in a jar in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until pourable.

For more pudding-perfect storage strategies, check out this guide:
External Link: How to Freeze and Reheat Pudding Cakes

Variations and Twists: Reinventing a Classic with Flair

🌰🍫 Flavor Additions to Elevate Every Bite

The beauty of sticky toffee banana pudding lies in its flexibility. This warm, gooey dessert adapts easily to different flavors, textures, and moods. Elevate your next bake with these delicious add-ins that bring out the best in this banana-toffee combo.

🥜 Toasted Walnuts or Pecans
Add ½ cup of chopped nuts to the batter. They provide a nutty crunch that perfectly contrasts the soft, sticky texture of this banana pudding. The subtle bitterness of toasted nuts balances the sweetness in every bite of sticky toffee banana pudding.

🍫 Chocolate Chips or Chunks
Want a more indulgent spin on your banana sticky toffee pudding? Mix in ⅓ cup of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips. They melt into pockets of rich flavor and turn this dessert into a banana-caramel-chocolate trifecta.

🌶️ Spiced Variations
For cozy holiday vibes, stir in ½ teaspoon of ground ginger, nutmeg, or clove. These warming spices transform your sticky toffee banana pudding into a seasonal masterpiece. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or chilly fall nights.

🧁🍰 Alternative Formats to Try

Sticky toffee banana pudding isn’t limited to a square baking dish. Here’s how you can reinvent it across multiple dessert styles without compromising that irresistible sticky charm.

🍞 Sticky Toffee Banana Loaf
Pour the banana-toffee batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake for 45–50 minutes. Once sliced, drizzle with warm toffee sauce and serve with vanilla ice cream for a brunch-ready delight.

🍮 Individual Banana Sticky Toffee Puddings
Use ramekins or muffin tins to create single-serving sticky toffee banana puddings. Bake for 25–28 minutes. When inverted and sauced, each becomes a mini showstopper.

🥄 Banana Sticky Toffee Trifle
Cube the baked pudding and layer it in parfait glasses with custard, whipped cream, and sticky toffee sauce. It’s a visual stunner that retains all the gooey flavor of the classic.

💡 Hosting Tip: Mini puddings or trifles are ideal for holiday spreads or dinner parties. They’re easy to serve, visually impressive, and just as comforting as the original.

👉 Craving more creative comfort desserts? Check out my Peach Cobbler Cinnamon Rolls—a Southern-style twist you’ll fall in love with.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion: Your New Favorite Comfort Dessert Awaits

🍌 Sticky, Sweet, and Soaked in Cozy Flavor

If you’ve ever loved banana bread or swooned over a classic sticky toffee dessert, then sticky toffee banana pudding is your dream dessert come true. This sticky toffee banana pudding recipe blends the moist tenderness of ripe bananas with the indulgent richness of toffee sauce. The result? A warm, gooey, soul-soothing treat that brings nostalgia and elegance to every bite.

Unlike traditional puddings, sticky toffee banana pudding adds a twist with mashed bananas, offering more depth of flavor and a naturally moist crumb. Whether you’re serving this banana pudding warm with melting vanilla ice cream or just drizzling it with extra toffee sauce, it’s a comforting dessert you’ll return to again and again.

🍽 Bake, Share & Savor the Sticky Toffee Banana Pudding Love

Whether you’re preparing a comforting fall dessert, looking for holiday inspiration, or just craving something sweet and sticky, this sticky toffee banana pudding delivers on every level. Try serving it in individual ramekins or layering it in a trifle for a creative twist. This dessert is versatile, show-stopping, and utterly unforgettable.

Have you tried your own take on banana sticky toffee pudding cake? Maybe you added dark chocolate chips or a hint of bourbon? Share your creation on social media and tag me — I’d love to see your version of this irresistibly cozy classic.

👉 Explore more comforting recipes like this on 10 Cozy Desserts for Fal