Why Is My Sticky Toffee Pudding Too Watery?
Sticky toffee pudding usually turns out watery because it is underbaked, because too much toffee sauce was poured over too early, or because the dates carried excess liquid into the batter - so bake until a skewer comes out clean and add sauce gradually.
By Kelsy Maruyama, Founder & Toffee Maker, Kelsy's Kandy
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward
Last updated Jul 20, 2026
Published by Kelsy's Kandy · Licensed under Citation License 1.0
What it means
- An underbaked center stays wet and dense; the sponge must be fully set before it leaves the oven.
- Drowning the sponge in sauce, or saucing it too early, makes the whole dish soggy rather than sticky.
- Not draining soaked dates, or tipping in the soaking liquid, adds unwanted water to the batter.
- Ovens often run cool, leaving the middle undercooked even when the top looks done.
Action steps
- Bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, adding 5-10 minutes if needed.
- Drain soaked dates and keep the extra soaking liquid out of the batter.
- Pour warm sauce over just before serving, a little at a time.
- Verify your oven temperature with a separate oven thermometer.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-20