Best sticky toffee pudding to buy: expert taste test

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Best sticky toffee pudding to buy

Aldi Specially Selected sticky toffee pudding

Available from Aldi (£2.89/450g)

Rating: 4.5/5

This attractive pud has a thick layer of golden toffee sauce on top, which is sweet with a touch of salt to cut through all the richness. The sponge has a good substantial texture and isn't too heavy or dense, with clear texture and flavour from dates throughout. The rustic appearance of the generous and well-risen loaf means you could even get away with saying this was homemade! A crowd pleaser (the largest of all the puddings we tried) that will be a family favourite.

Available from:
Aldi (£2.89)

M&S Gastropub sticky toffee pudding

Available from M&S in-store, Ocado (£5/230g)

Rating: 4.5/5

This very neat and tidy loaf is an elegant, restaurant-style spin on a sticky toffee pudding. The thick layer of sauce on top is deep and dark with good brown sugar flavour. The overall flavour is rich and judges tasted pieces of date, alongside a strong citrus note from orange zest in the sponge which is unexpected but cuts through the richness nicely. It's a complex, grown-up pudding that would make a great date-night dessert for two.

Available from:
M&S in-store
Ocado (£5/230g)

Sainsbury's Taste the Difference sticky toffee pudding

Available from Sainsbury's (£5/400g)

Rating: 4/5

We loved the generous layer of toffee sauce on top of this pudding. The sponge has a fragrant vanilla flavour and is not super dense or strong in dates. It is quite sweet, slightly more sickly than others but still enjoyable overall.

Available from:
Sainsbury's (£5/400g)

Co-op Irresistible rich & moist sticky toffee pudding

Available from Co-op (£4.75/380g)

Rating: 4/5

This doesn't have a visible thick layer of sauce on top after microwaving, but the sponge is well soaked. It has a smart loaf cake appearance, balanced sweetness and good texture to the sponge overall – but we still want more sauce!

Available from:
Co-op (£4.75/380g)

COOK sticky toffee pudding

Available from COOK (£4.25/290g)

Rating: 4/5

This is different to all the other puddings we tried: instead of being topped with sauce, this has the sponge on top and a hidden layer of toffee sauce that bakes underneath. It is cooked in the oven and the edges of the sponge get caramelised and almost chewy, giving a nice contrast overall compared to some puds which can become sickly smooth. We enjoyed the texture of the dates and the rich, buttery sauce underneath, although the size to serve two might be slightly small for some.

Available from:
COOK (£4.25/290g)

Cartmel sticky toffee pudding

Available from Ocado (£5/390g)

Rating: 4/5

From the home of sticky toffee pudding, this looks rustic and homemade. After baking in the oven, there's no thick layer of sauce on the top but the pud is nicely saturated throughout, with a pleasant chew and crunch to the sponge on top. This lack of extra sauce on top means it is arguably more well balanced overall than some of the more sicklier puddings we tried.

Available from:
Ocado (£5/390g)

Mr Kipling sticky toffee sponge puddings

Available from Ocado (£2.35/2 x 95g)

Rating: 3.5/5

These were the only individual sticky toffee puddings we tested – an irresistibly easy 30-seconds in the microwave. The sponge is on the sweet side and has a very smooth texture but is surprisingly light and does have a good aftertaste of dates, with a rich toffee sauce on top. It's a guilty pleasure and one to keep in the cupboard for sticky toffee pudding emergencies...

Available from:
Ocado (£2.35/2 x 95g)

Asda Exceptional buttery sticky toffee pudding

Available from Asda (£3.98/400g)

Rating: 3.5/5

This has a glossy, rich, golden brown appearance. Whilst big pieces of dates give texture, their overall flavour is not as pronounced and the overall dessert is quite sweet and strong on vanilla, which did not leave us wanting to go back for more as much as others we tested.

Available from:
Asda (£3.98/400g)