3/5/20: I made in Instant Pot with steamed pudding tin. Pressure cook on high for 35 minutes. Had 2 ramekins left over which I did in oven 350 for

Prepare a large pan of water for steaming and a buttered pudding basin with lid.

Put the dates and bicarbonate of soda in a heatproof dish, pour over the boiling water and add the brandy if using. Leave to soften while you make the batter.

Beat butter, sugar and salt until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and treacle. In other bowl sift flour, baking powder and spices and then fold into the mixture until just combined. Add dates and liquid and the walnuts, and mixl. The batter will be a loose.

Pour into buttered basin about halfway up. Seal with its lid. Water should come up to about halfway up the outside of the basin. Cover the pan and steam until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

My pudding basin is medium sized at 600ml and it has a hole through the middle like a bundt cake so my pudding was ready in about 45 minutes. If using a basin without a hole then steaming may take 1-2 hours. Watch that it doesnt boil dry.

Make the sauce by putting all the ingredients into a pan with a pinch of salt and heating slowly until the butter has melted, then turn up the heat and bring to the boil. Boil for about 4 minutes, until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.

When the pudding done turn it out onto a dish. Poke a few holes and pour over the sauce. Serve in bowls as it is, or with ice cream or custard.