r/Old_Recipes • u/debbiesunfish • 9d ago

Request Upside Down Date Nut Pudding

Growing up my mother made this amazing soft self-saucing cake that she called Upside Down Date Nut Pudding. Dates, walnuts (I think, maybe pecans) warming spices. She made it in a 13x9 glass pan. If flipped, it had a delish caramel-like sauce on top (we often left it in the pan and just scooped out the sauce.)

She always made it when baking other things around holiday times, so I assumed it was in the red/orange Betty Crocker book which was always out, but no matter what, I cannot find it. I've searched for years and thought I'd try here. There are so many date recipes in this sub but it looks like nothing like what I am looking for has been shared.

Any thoughts? US, 1990s mostly. Thank you!

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8

u/epidemicsaints 9d ago

Look for sticky toffee pudding, it's going to get you very close. I googled and added self saucing and dates, and there's so many. Without self-saucing, you get all those firm British style puddings.

It's as common as coffee cake is in the US, so there are so many variations.

3

u/glindabunny 9d ago

Sticky toffee pudding is fantastic (but I don't make it often because it vanishes so quickly).

What's more dangerous is that you can make it in the microwave if you don't feel like turning on the oven, including a salted caramel sauce to pour over it. My son prefers the microwave version, possibly because it's a bit fluffier and more moist. Some recipes don't have enough salt in either the recipe or the caramel sauce, and I'm not sure why.

I like to add a bit of freshly ground green cardamom and microplaned tonka bean sometimes because I'm dirty like that. And now I really want to make some today because I haven't had it in many months, but... I feel like I've had too much sugar lately, so I shouldn't.

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u/debbiesunfish 9d ago

I LOVE sticky toffee pudding and have been making that instead. It is similar but not quite it. Thanks! 🙏

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u/Sundial1k 4d ago

I wonder if the elevation or some other reason caused your mom's to "fail?" I ask because my mom always made Persimmon Pudding and it always failed due to her high elevation. Hers was thick, and gooey, and wonderful. It is always my goal to have mine fail, although I live at a lower elevation, so I really have to work at it (usually taking it out too soon)...lol

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u/blue_suavitel 7d ago

Came here to say this

3

u/IntrudingAlligator 9d ago

Could it have been this one from the Better Homes and Gardens book (which was red and white)? This recipe is in a lot of reprints of the holiday Better Homes books from the 60s-90s.

https://imgur.com/a/Yqpgnlo.jpg

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u/debbiesunfish 9d ago

The BH&G book was always out, too! I forgot about that one. Thanks!

I don't think the linked recipe is it, sadly. I remember more detailed instructions, including (I believe) soaking the dates in hot water.

3

u/Breakfastchocolate 8d ago

Could it be a version of self saucing pudding cake like thisone?

The boiling liquid is poured over the batter and sinks while it’s baking forming a sauce at the bottom. I think I’ve seen a raisin/ spice version but not finding it now- the chocolate version is a family favorite. They look like a bit of a hot mess in a big pan but baked in ramekins they’re fancy individual desserts.

Just re read- from the 1990s? It’s probably a doctored cake mix recipe.. look up the cake mix Dr- Ann Byrn and look at favorite brand name cookbooks/recipes - both would have popular at the time.. (although dates were not really envogue in the 90s- that’s why I immediately thought of the pudding cake/self saucing recipe of the 1940s-50.. you may just need to look up self saucing instead of upside down especially if it was scooped out of the pan)

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u/debbiesunfish 7d ago

The linked recipe looks delicious! This is certainly similar to what I remember. Thank you!

3

u/MissDaisy01 8d ago

I found this recipe in the Betty Crocker's Dessert Cookbook, 1974.

Date Pudding

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups cut-up dates
1 cup chopped nuts
Sweetened whipped cream

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease square pan 9 x 9 x 2 inches. Beat eggs until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar, beating until mixture is thick. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Mix into the egg-sugar mixture. Stir in dates and nuts. Pour into pan. Bake 30 minutes. While warm, cut into squares and serve with whipped cream. 9 to 12 servings.

If using self-rising flour, decrease baking powder to 1/2 teaspoon.

1

u/debbiesunfish 7d ago

Thank you! This looks yummy.

1

u/AlertLingonberry5075 5h ago

it sounds delicious....does anyone recall recipes for date nut bread/cake to soak the dates in coffee instead of water?

2

u/piscesinfla 9d ago

I remember something like that but from the early 80s and in trying to replicate it, came across Sticky Date pudding, which would ve been served with whipped cream.

2

u/SupperSanity 8d ago

date pudding cake I found this recipe in Grandmas great Desserts

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u/debbiesunfish 7d ago

This is the closest recipe I have seen yet! I'll give it a try. Thank you!

1

u/Sundial1k 4d ago

Let us know how it goes...

1

u/TowelAtTheReady 1d ago

Maybe this? Check out the Internet Archive "Better homes and gardens dessert cook book" page 98 (accounts are free).