Sticky toffee pudding is a British dessert built around a moist sponge cake. Dates are commonly folded into the batter to give the crumb a soft, chewy texture and deep sweetness. While the cake bakes, a rich toffee sauce is boiled from sugar, butter and cream, sometimes flavored with vanilla or dark syrup. The warm cake is generously soaked with that sauce so it can soak into every layer. It is usually served piping hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, although cream or custard also works well. The contrast between the tender cake and the glossy toffee coating is the defining pleasure of the dish.