Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake

This recipe is from The Schlafly Tap Room in St. Louis, MO. Gregg ate there every night when he attended the 2004 (forgive me if the date is wrong) LCMS Synodical Convention. The restaurant was within walking distance of his hotel. Good German food, Great beer and Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake. What more do you need? Gregg's been a fan ever since so here's the recipe:

Our Schlafly Signature Dessert Pudding in the Scottish sense – a very moist, dense cake.
This recipe comes from the Udny Arms Hotel, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. We serve it with warm caramel sauce and freshly whipped cream.
This is pure decadence when enjoyed with a Schlafly Oatmeal Stout.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Cake Ingredients
1 lb. Dates chopped in food processor (I buy them chopped and don't even use the food preocessor.)
2 c.Hot water
2 tsp.Baking soda
5 oz.Butter, unsalted
1 lb.Sugar
5 Eggs, large
1 lb.All-purpose flour
2 tsp.Baking powder
Pinch Salt
2 tsp.Vanilla extract
Sauce Ingredients
1 lb.Dark brown sugar
1 lb.Butter
1 tsp.Vanilla extract
1 c.Heavy cream
For the pudding:

1)Preheat conventional oven to 350 F.
2)Grease 1 9" x 13" pan with butter and coat lightly with flour, shake out excess flour.
3)Combine dates with hot water in a saucepan -- bring to boil. Remove from heat and add baking soda. Set aside to cool.
4)In a mixing bowl cream butter and sugar on high speed for 3 minutes.
5)With mixer on low speed, add eggs one at a time until fully incorporated. Add flour, baking powder, salt and vanilla extract.
6)When fully mixed add the dates and their liquid.
7)Place batter into greased pan and bake in preheated oven until a skewer inserted comes out clean (30-45 minutes).
8)Cool on a baking rack before removing from the pan.
For the sauce:
1)Stir together first three ingredients on low heat, until blended and brown sugar has melted.
2)Whisk heavy cream into brown sugar and butter mixture.
To serve:
1)Spoon warm caramel sauce over 1 serving portion of Sticky Toffee Pudding.
2)Top with a dollop of freshly whipped cream.
*You will also want to have some fresh whipped cream on hand for serving