Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (160 degrees Celsius fan-forced).
2. Grease six holes of a muffin pan (1/3 cup capacity holes).
3. Place dates and water in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Add bicarbonate of soda and butter and remove from heat. Stir date mixture until butter is melted and set aside to cool to room temperature.
4. Pulse date mixture in a food processor until it forms a coarse paste. Add egg and vanilla and pulse until combined.
5. Combine flour and sugar in a medium bowl. Add date mixture and stir until just combined. Divide mixture evenly between six muffin holes.
6. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of a pudding comes out clean.
7. While puddings are baking, place the butterscotch sauce ingredients in a small saucepan. Stir over medium heat until mixture comes to the simmer, simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
8. We prefer the puddings served hot from the oven. We pierce the puddings with a skewer before pouring the sauce over to help the sauce absorb into the puddings.
9. Serve puddings with hot butterscotch sauce and a dollop of whipped cream and/or ice cream.
10. Store leftover puddings and sauce in the refrigerator or freezer. Puddings can be reheated in the microwave