Malva pudding

A sticky, caramelized baked sponge soaked in a warm cream sauce. It has an apricot-jam sweetness and is served with custard or ice cream.

Malva pudding

Malva Pudding: Jon Mountjoy, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Where it comes from

Malva pudding is a South African dessert, a regular at family dinners and restaurants. The sponge soaks up the hot sauce straight from the oven, giving it a tender, syrupy texture.

Explore the cuisine of South Africa.

Recipe

Make Malva pudding at home

Serves 8Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp apricot jam
  • 1 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • FOR SAUCE: 1 cup cream
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup hot water

How it's made

  1. Heat the oven to 350 F and grease a baking dish.
  2. Beat the sugar and egg until pale, then mix in the jam, melted butter and vinegar.
  3. Sift the flour, baking soda and salt and fold in alternately with the milk.
  4. Pour into the dish and bake 35-40 minutes until risen and deep golden.
  5. Meanwhile, heat the sauce ingredients until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves.
  6. Pour the sauce over the hot pudding, poking holes first, and let it soak in before serving.

Variations

  • Malva with coconut milk sauce.
  • Date malva pudding.

Cook’s tip: Pour the sauce over while the pudding is hot so the sponge absorbs it fully.

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About this page

Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.

Photo credit
  • Malva Pudding: Jon Mountjoy, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)