Malva pudding, also called malvapoeding or marshmallow pudding, is a traditional South African dessert. Since South African restaurants are a rarity overseas, you probably haven’t come across malva pudding until now. It is a sweet pudding recipe with a yellow sponge drenched in a decadent sauce. Generally, it also contains apricot jam, which is a classic ingredient in South African cuisine. As a finishing touch, it’s topped with either vanilla custard or fresh cream. On this occasion, my malva pudding is all kinds of special. My secret? Amarula liqueur, a drink made with marula fruit from Africa.
In total, it will take roughly one hour to complete this malva pudding recipe. It’s best served hot, straight out of the oven. However, you can also consume it when it is cool. In any event, you will fall in love with this South African malva pudding recipe at first bite. Enjoy exploring the joys of South African cooking.
malva pudding with Amarula liqueur
Usually, the sauce comprises butter, cream and sugar. To make it family-friendly, orange juice can be added. For the grown ups, a touch of alcohol can be used such as Amarula liqueur, sherry or your favourite liqueur.
I’ve used South Africa’s favourite liqueur before in my amazing Amarula cheesecake recipe. It’s visually stunning thanks to the vibrant colour of the liqueur and simply tastes incredible!
what is Amarula?
Amarula is a traditional cream liqueur made with marula fruit, which comes from the African Marula tree, called Sclerocarya Birrea. The Marula tree only grows in one place in the entire in the entire world. So many people tried to cultivate the tree, but have failed to succeed. This picky tree can only be found in the sub-Equatorial region of Africa.
In African folklore legends, the tree is also known as The Elephant Tree or the Marriage Tree. Many tribes have acknowledged that that the tree and its fruit has aphrodisiac qualities. Believed to be fit for royalty, this tree is protected by African law, just like elephants.
The Marula tree only bears fruit once a year at the peak of summer. What’s best that this magical tree is that it attracts elephants. They travel for miles to eat from it. This is also a signal to farmers that the harvest can commence, otherwise the elephants wouldn’t leave any fruit for anyone else!
So, once the Marula fruit has ripened, it is harvested and stoned. In fact, the way the spirit is distilled is very similar to the winemaking process. It ages for approximately two years in French oak, which is where it gets its vanilla flavour and velvety texture from.
Last year, Amarula received the 2018 Brand of the Year Award amongst many others, which has made it Africa’s most awarded cream liqueur!
To learn more about Amarula and how it’s made, click here.
Oprah’s malva pudding recipe
Would you believe me if I told you that malva pudding only started gaining popularity in 2006 in the USA? Back then, Oprah’s personal chef Art Smith, served it on the show for Christmas. Instantly, malva pudding became a hit in the USA, especially around the West Coast. Slowly, it became an international sensation and more people started to enjoy the South African cuisine.
individual malva pudding recipe
Traditionally, malva pudding is made in a large baking dish. However, for cuter presentation, you can use ramekins to serve as individual portions. In this way everyone will have they own little malva pudding cake.
The key to this malva pudding recipe though is to get the texture right. Just like the name suggests, malvalekker which means marshmallow, the pudding should possess a soft texture. So make sure that you don’t over-bake the malva pudding. Otherwise, it will lose its soft texture and the taste might be compromised. If in doubt, fix it with the Amarula liqueur which will moisten it.
What to serve with Malva pudding
I highly recommend you to serve this malva pudding with a small glass of Amarula liqueur with ice. Beware though, this is then an adult-only dessert.
Other toppings you can consider are:
- hot vanilla cream or custard
- whipped cream
- honey pokey ice cream
- Ferrero rocher ice cream
- peanut butter and jelly ice cream
- chocolate fudge sauce
- other types of syrups
- fresh fruit
South African cuisine
Generally speaking, South African cuisine is a mishmash of cultures due to its long history of colonisation. On the whole, can find influences from the Dutch, English, French, English, Portuguese, Bengalese, Java and Malaysian people. Of course, the indigenous people had an influence as well! As you can tell, there is always a recipe for everyone.
For instance, if you really would like to make a South African feast, try these savoury dishes:
- booereboontijes – green bean and potato mash
- geelrys – traditional yellow rice
- bobotie – a savoury pie
- ham en kaas souttert – traditional ham and cheese filling tart
- denningvleis – traditional meaty dish
If you feel like these South African recipe are too exotic for you, then I strongly suggest you try this malva pudding first. It really does conquer the heart of any non-adventurious eater!
Have you ever had the opportunity to taste Amarula liqueur? Have you ever tried any South African dish like this malva pudding? Let me know!
Malva Pudding
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 10 1x
Description
This malva pudding recipe, also known as malvapoeding, is a classic South African dessert loved by many in the Rainbow Nation. You will love this easy recipe, especially with Amarula.
Ingredients
- 250ml (1 cup) caster sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 15ml (1 tbsp) smooth apricot jam
- 185g (6½ oz) plain flour
- 5ml (1 tsp) bicarbonate of soda
- pinch of salt
- 30ml (2 tbsp) butter
- 5ml (1 tsp) white vinegar
- 125ml (½ cup) milk
- 250ml (1 cup) double cream
- 125ml (½ cup) butter
- 125ml (½ cup) white sugar
- 125ml (½ cup) Amarula
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C /350°F/gas mark 4.
- Beat the caster sugar and eggs until fluffy and light.
- Beat in the apricot jam.
- Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt together 3 times.
- Melt the butter with vinegar and milk over low heat.
- Fold the flour mixture and the milk mixture alternately into the egg mixture and pour the batter into a greased ovenproof dish.
- Bake the pudding for about 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Meanwhile, place the cream, butter, sugar and Amarula into a saucepan and stir over moderate heat until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Do not allow the mixture to boil.
- Remove the pudding from the oven, pierce it in a number of places with a skewer and pour the hot sauce over it immediately.
- Serve hot or cold with cream.
Notes
- Substitute the Amarula with sherry, orange juice or water if you prefer.
- Want some extra punch to the Amarula sauce? Add no more than an extra 100ml (3fl oz) to the sauce. You might end up not using all the sauce to soak the sponge with. Just serve the leftover sauce on the side.
- If there are sherry-averse eaters in the crowd, serve the sauce separately from the pudding to give them a choice.
- You can also serve the pudding with custard or ice-cream.
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: South African
Keywords: Malva Pudding, malvapoeding recipe, South African dessert recipes, South African pudding
Veggie Belly says
Ive been looking forward to this recipe! Looks absolutely scrumptious!
Marisa says
Yes please! Nothing, but nothing tastes better than a syrupy malva pudding.
Suus says
My grandma used to make the best, but your malvapoeding looks great as well!
Are you, perchance, also familiar with post toastiepoeding? It’s my absolute FAVORITE, and the recipe is, of course, from a Huisgenoot cook book.
Casey Angelova says
This looks fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing. It is so important to know your roots.
You can link up to Africa Day with Linky.
Jeanne @ CookSister! says
Mmmmmm….malvapoeding! Yum. If there’s one thing South Africans do really well, it’s hot, syrupy baked puddings 🙂
nina says
Still remains my favorite winter pud!! A true SA classic, see you at the mingle!!
The Duo Dishes says
This sounds AMAZING! Never heard of it of course, but if you’re going to call something marshmallow pudding, it will be eaten. Delicious.
Trix says
This looks great – I think you did the only sweet for Africa Day. But I like that it doesn’t seem too sweet – just right with coffee or tea.
Stella says
Hey, I just saw this on Casey’s blog-it looks excellent. I didn’t notice that any marshmallow ( the real stuff ) is in it. Is it just called marshmallow bread due to it’s texture?
delicieux says
This looks delicious and perfect for the cooler weather.
Michelle says
Thanks: Veggie Belly, Marisa, Casey, Jeanne, Nina, The Duo Dishes, Trix, Stella and Delicieux!
Suus: I’ve never heard of toastiepoeding. Care to tell me more??
Stella: Yeah, the name is confusing, isn’t it? I think you’re right that marshmallow refers to the texture of the dessert.
Mic says
I am posting some info on the name and history of this pudding toward the end of this week. The name actually has nothing to do with the texture of the pudding, it’s just some translation gone wrong and people adding their own little tales leading to the “marsmallow” part of the name.
Also posting the “secret” ultimate Malva Pudding recipe. I think every person here in Cape Town has it, but somehow never shares it. It’s the old Boschendal recipe from 20 odd years ago and it gives you the most deliciously moist and syrupy pudding. You’ll never use another recipe again. (Sorry if I’m stepping on toes Michelle)
Look out on the 17th/18th. My research is almost done 😉
Mic says
I believe the “toastiepoeding” Suus is referring to is what’s actually called a “Post toastie poedding”. Back in the day, corn flakes were called or referred to as Post Toasties. Someone developed a pudding where you mix the corn flakes, egg, milk, coconut, apricot jam… bake this “mess”, and it miraculously turns into the most wondefully delicious pudding with a lovely custard layer, the cornflakes forming a nice “puddingy” layer and the coconut forming a nice crisp, nutty layer on top. I’ll go scratch out my recipe and post it sometime for interest sake 😉
Renil M. George says
Isn’t Marshmallow Pudding one of the best thing in the world?
★★★★★
michelle says
Oh yes! I am totally with you on that!
Niki says
You really make it appear really easy with your presentation however I to find
this matter to be really one thing that I believe I’d by no means understand.
It sort of feels too complex and very broad for
me. I’m looking ahead to your subsequent post, I will try to get the cling of it!
Tarry says
sounds amazing