Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius (fan-forced). Grease the base and sides of a deep 23cm baking dish.
Place dates, boiling water and bi-carb soda into the Thermomix bowl. Leave for 5 minutes.
Add butter, caster sugar and brown sugar and mix on Speed 6, 10 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and repeat for a further 10 seconds.
Add the eggs, vanilla extract and self-raising flour to the bowl and mix on Speed 6, 5 seconds. Scrape and repeat for a further 5 seconds.
Pour into the prepared baking dish and cook for 35-40 minutes or until the mixture will springs back when touched in the centre.
To make the caramel sauce, place the brown sugar, thickened cream, vanilla extract, butter and salt into the Thermomix bowl. Cook on Varoma, 10 minutes, Speed 3 (with the MC off).
Cut slices of the sticky date pudding and serve with a generous drizzle of caramel sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.