Pre heat oven to 175C / 350F. Lightly grease a muffin tin and set aside.
Place dates in a bowl, add boiling water and mix in baking soda and vanilla and set aside.
Whisk flour and baking powder together. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and beat well. Stir in flour mixture and mix well. Then add date mixture and mix well.
Transfer batter to muffin tin. Bake for 40 minutes.
Toffee Sauce
Melt butter in saucepan, add the sugar and cream and gently simmer for 3 minutes.