- Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) or Gas Mark 4. Grease four individual pudding moulds or ramekins with butter. 
- Place the chopped dates and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Pour over the boiling water, stir, and set aside to soak while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. 
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and caster sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract. 
- Gently fold in the flour, followed by the milk, until you have a smooth batter. Finally, stir in the date mixture, including any remaining liquid. 
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared moulds or ramekins, and place them on a baking tray. 
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the puddings are well-risen and firm to the touch. A skewer inserted into the centre should come out clean. 
- While the puddings are baking, prepare the toffee sauce. Combine the muscovado sugar, butter, cream, and black treacle in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and the sauce is smooth and bubbling gently. 
- Once the puddings are ready, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a minute. Run a knife around the edges to loosen, and then turn them out onto serving plates. 
- Pour the warm toffee sauce generously over each pudding and serve immediately. Enjoy your sticky toffee puddings with a dollop of cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream if desired.