South Africa | Dessert

Malva Pudding

A warm South African baked pudding flavored with apricot jam, then soaked with a buttery cream sauce.

Country
South Africa
Region
Southern Africa
Time
60 min
Serves
8
Level
medium
Explore South Africa recipes Browse AfroKitchen
Recipe overview

What to know before you cook

Use this overview to check the occasion, serving ideas, regional context, and cooking commitment before you begin.

When to cook it

Best for Sunday lunch, winter dessert, braai desserts, and holiday tables.. Plan on a medium cook and about 60 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

Custard, vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream.

Regional lane

Braai sides and sweet table. Relishes, custards, puddings, and tea-table desserts.

Chef watch-outs
  • Rushing the base before the raw edge has cooked out.
  • Adding all seasoning early and forgetting to adjust at the end.
  • Cooking on heat that is too high once the dish should be steaming or simmering.
How you know it is ready
  • The aroma should smell rounded rather than raw or sharp.
  • Oil, sauce, broth, or steam should look settled and deliberate.
  • The final texture should match the dish style before you plate it.
Pantry lane

curry powder, apricot jam, chakalaka, mince, custard

Chef board

Build the table around Malva Pudding

Custard, vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream.

Best route from here

Braai sides and sweet table

Collections to keep cooking
Explore South Africa recipes
Servings 8

Scale the dish before you shop, then use the checklist while you cook.

How to cook it

Step-by-step method

Keep the rhythm calm, watch the texture, and adjust seasoning at the end.

Back to South Africa
4 steps 20 min prep 40 min cook 60 min total medium
1
Make the sponge batter
Beat egg and sugar until pale. Mix in apricot jam, melted butter, and vinegar. Fold in flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt, and milk.
2
Bake
Pour into a greased baking dish and bake at 180 C until risen and golden.
Bake 35:00
3
Make the sauce
Warm cream, sugar, butter, and hot water until the sugar dissolves and the sauce is smooth.
Sauce 05:00
4
Soak the pudding
Pierce the hot pudding with a skewer or fork and pour the warm sauce over it gradually so it absorbs.
Kitchen noteServe warm, not cold, for the classic soft texture.
Absorb 10:00

Some recipes use evaporated milk, cream, or milk in the sauce. The apricot jam and hot soak are the important shared features.

Keep exploring

Cook around Malva Pudding

Follow country, category, collection, time, and pairing paths without turning the recipe page into a link farm.

Bobotie recipe from South Africa South Africa Main dish Bobotie South African bobotie, curried mince with soaked bread, chutney, sultanas, bay leaves, and a golden egg custard topping. Time80 min ServingsServes 6 DifficultyMedium DietNut Free RegionSouthern Africa Open recipe Bunny Chow recipe from South Africa South Africa Main dish Bunny Chow Durban bunny chow, a hollowed loaf filled with lamb, chicken, bean, or vegetable curry and served with the bread lid for sc... Time95 min ServingsServes 4 DifficultyMedium DietDairy Free RegionSouthern Africa Open recipe South Africa Recipe Boerewors South African coiled sausage seasoned with coriander, cloves, nutmeg, vinegar, and pepper, then cooked over a braai. Time65 min ServingsServes 8 DifficultyHard DietGluten Free RegionSouthern Africa Open recipe South Africa Recipe Sosaties Cape Malay lamb skewers marinated with curry, apricot, vinegar, onion, and bay leaves before braaiing. Time53 min ServingsServes 6 DifficultyMedium DietGluten Free RegionSouthern Africa Open recipe
Browse AfroKitchen Explore South Africa recipes