Sticky Toffee Pudding with Toffee Sauce vs Classic Boston Cream Pie

Sticky Toffee Pudding is all warmth and depth: chopped dates softened in boiling water are folded into a creamed butter and brown-sugar batter, and a sauce of butter, brown sugar and double cream is simmered, then poured hot over the warm, freshly baked puddings. Boston Cream Pie is cool and layered, pairing light sponge with a chilled vanilla pastry cream thickened by egg yolks and cornstarch, finished with a smooth, pourable chocolate glaze. Both rely on butter, eggs and cream, but one turns them into a rich toffee sauce, the other into silky custard and chocolate.