Sticky Pear Pudding

Ingredients

• For the cake:
• 1 Stemilt d'Anjou pears, peeled, cored, and cut into ½ inch cubes
• Softened butter for greasing
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup salted butter, melted
• 1 egg white (or 2 tablespoons aquafaba)*
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup half and half
• 1 cup flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 dates, finely chopped
• For the "sauce":
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons cold salted butter cut into small pieces
• 1 3/4 cups boiling water
• Vanilla ice cream, for serving