Malva Pudding – a sweet decadent South African dessert with a caramelized exterior and spongy interior soaked in tasty warm butter.
May be you need a dessert to add to your repertoire that you can serve for your African theme party. Maybe you desire a dessert that is rich and sinfully Delicious. This Malva cake can satisfy your needs and desires.
So what is Malva pudding? It is a sweet pudding that has its origin in South African. What sets it apart is, it’s caramelized exterior and spongy interior when baked. Then it is soaked in a warm butter sauce and served with whipped cream or ice cream.
I first made this cake during my Home Economics Class. Back then; any cake was a good cake. In Africa, where I grew up, cake is not an everyday occurrence like here, in the United States. It is reserved for special occasion. But this cake was all the rage, back in our class. I can never forget the warm butter taste on the cake. It was the first time; I tasted a cake so moist and decadent.
Of course, when I came across this recipe in Marcus Samuelsson cookbook, discovery of a continent, I knew I had to re-create this heavenly treat, and this one tasted so much like the one that we made but even better. I’ve stuck to this recipe with only a few changes of my own.
Enjoy!
Malva Pudding - a sweet decadent South African dessert with a caramelized exterior and spongy interior soaked in tasty warm butter.
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon un-salted butter room temperature
- 4 tablespoon Apricot jam
- 1 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
- 1 cup or 5 ounces all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 8 tablespoons / 4 ounce. / 113 grams butter.
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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In a large bowl beat eggs, orange zest, sugar, butter and apricot jam, until light and fluffy. Then add the vinegar and milk to the eggs mixture
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In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt
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Gradually, fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture. The mixture might be runny that’s ok.
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Pour batter into a greased cake pan. Bake at 350 until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 25–30minutes
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While the cake is baking
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Heat the evaporated milk, butter, sugar, almond and vanilla extract, in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved and the butter has melted. Remove from heat
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Using a skewer poke holes in the cake extending all the way to the bottom of the cake.
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Pour the butter sauce on the cake. Serve immediately or set aside in the fridge. Until ready to use
Hi. I’m making this for a Christmas party and I’m using your recipe as the representative recipe from an African country. (Theme is Christmas Around the world). I have a question, is it possible to bake the cake first and then wait several hours (upwards of 12 hours) before applying the sauce, or is better to apply sauce when cake is fresh from oven, and then refrigerate it for 24 hours until needed?
Hi, Julie. I usually apply the sauce after the cake is baked and set it aside in the fridge until ready to serve.
Thank you for the recipe!! My family was excited to try a new dessert. I grated oranges peels since I couldn’t find orange zest locally. This cake was delicious. So, much better than my mother’s traditional pound cake.
I’m so happy you love this! Truly a decadent treat! Thanks for stopping by!
what pan size do you use?
Hi Natalie,
I used 2 quarts casserole pan,about 8 inch baking pan.
Hi
What type of vinegar do you use?
Hello,I used malt vinegar.
Hi,
We a having a party for about 60 to75 senior citizens… the party is called “An African Safari,”
Since many of the residents said that if they were younger and had the money they would love to go to Africa and go on an African Safari to see all the beautiful animals and the land…So since they cant got to Africa to go on a Safari…I and some of my volunteers and going to try to bring the African Safari as well as we can to them…All that said, I am going to make several African dishes and I needed a dessert so I’ve decided to try to make Malva pudding..I’ve looked at several different recipes and have decided to try your…but i need to get some clarification on what kind of vinegar to use….white, red wine, malted, balsamic, rice vinegar, or apple cider? The next thing I would like to know is, can I use heavy whipping cream or do I need to use evaporated milk in the sauce? Just one more question…how pans of the Malva pudding would be enough for about 35 to40 people?.I had a quest to make a sweet potato pone so I’ll have two different desserts…i want to Thank you in advance for taking the time in answering my questions…I cant wait to try making and tasting you Malva pudding, I just hope I can and will do your recipe justice and will make us both proud…
Hi Dottie,
SO sweet of guys to transport these Senior Citizens to Africa with their tastebuds.
Heavy cream would work if evaporated milk is not available. In regards to your other question , 3-4 pans of Malva pudding would work. since you are making cassava pone.
Wishing you all the best,
Happy Baking.
Hi Imma!
I purchased Marcus’s book, Discovery of a Continent, thanks to you. Wanted to try out both Malva pudding recipes and see which one will become the fave. I like your addition of orange zest, almond extract and brown sugar. Did you try it a few different ways before your final recipe? What did you think of the original one from the book? Can’t wait to make both! Take care!
Hi Joey!
The original pudding is good- texture wise . However, my tastebuds always want want more… do not like bland food .Brown sugar adds some depth to it -together with the orange zest. I have also tried it without the almond extract. By the way, if you like chocolate I have another recipe for chocolate Malva pudding here https://www.africanbites.com/malva-pudding-chocolate/
Can’t wait to hear how they both work out for you.
Happy Cooking !!!
My daughter was assigned the country of South Africa to study in school. She needed to make a dish from her country. I’m SO happy I stumbled upon this recipe. It is AMAZING. I now make it regularly, and everyone always loves it!
It’s one of my fave pudding recipe, Meghan. Glad you love it as much as I do.
I just made two of these cakes for a Girl Scout International night. The girls loved them. One comment though, You did not say what size pan to use. I ended up using one 8×8 and one 9×9. Will make again.
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback Pamela.
I just came back from South Africa and had Malva pudding almost every night after dinner. I’m can’t wait to make it now at home. Thank you for sharing your receipt
Hi Lynn! You are going to love making it at home. It’s so easy to make too.
We too just got back from South Africa. Had malva pudding for the first time …. and of course LOVED it. Will try your recipe for sure. It will be a real treat for us Canadians !!! Thanks.
I hope you enjoyed it every bit as much, Carole. Hope you’re staying warm in Canada!
I made this last year for a vacation in Destin florida. I had some coconut cream with shavings and just threw it in to the sauce because I didn’t want to waste it. After the cake cooled it was packaged and traveled the five hours to florida from Georgia. We didn’t consume the cake till the 3rd or 4th day of our vacation. This is one of the easiest and decadent cakes I have ever made. I ended up cutting the evaporated milk in half and putting the equivalent of the coconut cream. My whole family loved this cake, and it inspired me to use more of your recipes. Thank you for taking the time to inspire us with your recipes.
My pleasure! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and variation with us Kathrina. Happy Cooking !!!
Is this a dish they would make in Chad?
Not really!!!! It’s more of a South African dessert.
Hi,
I would like to try your recipe. One question about amount of flour. Is it 1 cup or is it 5 oz ? 5 oz is only a little more than half a cup.
Thanks,
It’s one cup- scoop and sweep. Based on measurement 1 cup equals 5 ounce.
Could you double the recipe and bake it in a 9×13 inch pan? I’m making this for a dinner party with my neighbors and need more than 6 servings. One of my neighbors is from South Africa, so I wanted to surprise her with this dessert.
You sure can. Happy Cooking!!!
im looking forward to baking this tonight!
Let me know how it works out Candace!!!
Heather, so happy this cake was unforgettable and glad you took the time to let us know . Thanks!
this cake is unbelievable, it is unique and totally addictive. i’ve never had anything like it. i want everyone to experience it.
OMG! This is absolutely wonderful. I might add pecans or almonds next time. Thanks for this moist, rich recipe. My husband topped his with a little whipped cream. It might seem like a little pan, but you don’t need a large piece because it is so rich. Great for guests.
Just wondering what size pan you used. This really looks great! Am trying your baked chicken legs tonight. Now wish I had seen this before I went to the grocery store.
Don’t sweat it, you will get it on your next shopping trip. My cake pan is close to 8 inch . I have had it for so long – can’t read the exact specifications. An 8 inch would do just fine. Let me know how you like the chicken legs and when you make the malva cake.Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Immaculate, I just made this absolutely delicious, unique cake. My husband and my mom loved it too! We love to try different ethnic foods but typically I am making savory dishes. This was a welcome, sweet change!
Stacie,I am so happy it was a hit with you and your family . Thanks for taking the time to provide some feed back – I really appreciate it!
I’ve never heard of this cake but it sounds very flavorful. Back in Guyana we didn’t eat a lot of sweets either and cakes were for special occasions also. However the cakes were definitely worthy of a special occasion.
Jehan, this one is a favorite during the christmas season. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
it looks delicious!
This seems similar to a tres leches cake only then you pour just milk over the top. It is also creamy and custardy. Nice cake!
Abbe, that is so true! They are both drenched in creamy goodness. Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve been really anxious to make a malva pudding! I can’t wait to use your recipe!
Chelsea, let me know how it works for you!