These cozy, warm little desserts are just the sort of thing I like to eat when the weather turns cool. Like most people, I tend to have dessert as an occasional treat, rather than as a regular occurrence; these, however, I find almost impossible to resist. I like to eat them warm and steaming with thick cold cream—and sometimes a spoonful of warm honey, laced with grated lemon and orange zest.

　　

Ingredients

Serves 6

　　1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp unsalted butter, plus extra to grease

　　all-purpose flour, to dust

　　3/8 cup light corn syrup, slightly warmed

　　12 Medjool dates

　　1 tbsp Pedro Ximénez sherry

　　2/3 cup superfine sugar

　　2 organic large eggs

　　scant 1/2 cup self-rising flour

　　small pinch of salt

　　1 tsp baking powder

　　1/3 cup ground almonds

　　finely grated zest of 1 orange

　　

Step 1

Butter and flour 6 individual ovenproof bowls, about 2/3 cup capacity. Set on a baking sheet and spoon 1 tbsp corn syrup into each of the molds (this will become the sticky topping). Set aside.

　　

Step 2

Remove the pits from the dates and chop them into small pieces. Place in a bowl and add the sherry and just enough boiling water to cover. Let soak for 10 minutes.

　　

Step 3

Preheat the oven to 375°F (convection oven to 375°F). Cream the butter and sugar together either by hand or using an electric mixer until soft, light, and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. (The mixture may appear to separate at this point, but it will come back together.)

　　

Step 4

Sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder, combine with the ground almonds, and fold into the batter with the orange zest. Squeeze out the excess moisture from the dates, add to the mixture, and stir well to combine.

　　

Step 5

Divide the batter among the ovenproof bowls, filling them no more than two-thirds full. Bake until well risen, golden, and springy to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes.

　　

Step 6

To unmold, run a small knife around the inside of each mold and invert the pudding onto a warm plate. Serve the little desserts at once, either on their own or, as I prefer, with a dollop of cream.

　　Reprinted with permission from My Favorite Ingredients by Skye Gyngell. Copyright © 2010 Skye Gyngell. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.Skye Gyngell is the head chef at the award-winning Petersham Nurseries Café in southwest London. She is also an established food writer with a weekly column featuring recipes for the Independent on Sunday. Born in Australia, Skye has worked as a chef in Sydney, Paris, and London. In 2007, Skye's first cookbook, A Year in My Kitchen, was named Cookery Book of the Year by the Guild of Food Writers and the Best Food Book at Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards.