Nutty baked apple pudding

For the apples:
4 apples, peeled and diced
75g muscovado sugar
40g butter
1 cup chopped pecans

For the pudding:
225g pitted dates, chopped
175g water
5ml bicarbonate of soda
85g butter
140g muscovado sugar
5ml vanilla essence
2 eggs
30ml molasses
175g self-raising flour
100ml milk

For the sauce:
175g muscovado sugar
50g butter
225ml cream
15ml golden syrup

1. Place the apples, sugar, and butter into a pan, then cook until the apples begin to caramelize, then add the pecan nuts and set aside.
2. Boil the dated in the water for 5 minutes to soften, then stir in the bicarb and set aside to cool.
3. Grease a 2L oven dish, then preheat the oven to 180C.
4. Cream the butter, muscovado sugar and vanilla together until light and fluffy.
5. Mix in the eggs, one at a time until mixed in well.
6. Add the molasses, then fold in the flour and milk.
7. Stir in the softened dates and caramelized apples, then transfer the mixture into the oven dish.
8. Bake for about 40-45 minutes until risen and firm to the touch.
9. Place all the sauce ingredients into a pot and heat gently while stirring until melted, bring to the boil and simmer until thickened – about 5 minutes.
10. Once baked, remove the pudding from the oven and pour the sauce over.
11. Serve with custard.