Preheat the oven to 180°C / 160°C fan.
Put the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and treacle into a mixing bowl. Mix together for a minute until combined.
Add in the milk gradually and whisk together.
Stir through the dates if you've chosen to add them.
Pour into a greased baking dish and bake for 35-40 mins or until well risen and springy in the centre.
To make the sauce, put all the ingredients into a saucepan and stir over a low heat until it starts to simmer.
Once simmering, stir constantly for a minute then remove from the heat (be careful it doesn't bubble and overflow as it can rise very fast!).
Pour half the sauce over the pudding in the baking dish and save the other half as extra when serving.
Serve with cream or ice cream and enjoy hot!