Hailing from South Africa, Malva pudding is flavored with brown sugar, apricot jam, and apple cider vinegar for the ultimate combination of sweet, tangy, and fruity flavors. 


South African Malva Pudding Recipe

Malva pudding is a traditional South African dessert consisting of a rich sponge cake soaked in a velvety caramel sauce. (The word *pudding* traditionally referred to steamed cakes.) Also known as Malvapoeding, this succulent baked dish, which gets its name from the Afrikaans word for *marshmallow*, is traditionally topped with [whipped cream](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/whipping-cream-vs-heavy-cream) or [ice cream](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vanilla-ice-cream-recipe) to create the perfect pairing of warm caramel-soaked pudding cake with a cool, creamy finish. 

Whether you’re familiar with this South African Malva pudding, or are trying it for the first time, try these simple tips.

1. __Add the sauce while the cake is hot__. To ensure the creamy caramel sauce fully penetrates the Malva pudding, make sure to pierce the cake and add the sauce while the pudding is piping hot.  
2. __Make individual-sized portions__. To divide this pudding into party-friendly individual portions, simply split this recipe between eight ramekins. Bake the smaller puddings until they’re dark golden brown and cooked through, about twenty to thirty minutes. 
3. __Play around with additions__. Once you’ve mastered the basic Malva pudding recipe, feel free to experiment with additional ingredients and garnishes. Try folding dried and or poached fruits like [raisins](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/currants-vs-raisins) or poached pears or peaches into the batter for a fruitier cake. Or, add crushed nuts, like [pecans](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-cook-with-pecans) and walnuts, to the pudding for some textural contrast. For an added layer of creaminess, top the pudding with homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream before serving. 

Wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, this moist pudding will keep well in the refrigerator for up to five days. To reheat the pudding prior to serving, pop the cake in the microwave or into a 300 degree Fahrenheit oven until warmed through, about ten to fifteen minutes. 
Hailing from South Africa, Malva pudding is flavored with brown sugar, apricot jam, and apple cider vinegar for the ultimate combination of sweet, tangy, and fruity flavors. 


Malva pudding is a traditional South African dessert consisting of a rich sponge cake soaked in a velvety caramel sauce. (The word pudding traditionally referred to steamed cakes.) Also known as Malvapoeding, this succulent baked dish, which gets its name from the Afrikaans word for marshmallow, is traditionally topped with <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/whipping-cream-vs-heavy-cream' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/whipping-cream-vs-heavy-cream","linkCopy":"whipped cream","category":null}'>whipped cream</a> or <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vanilla-ice-cream-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vanilla-ice-cream-recipe","linkCopy":"ice cream","category":null}'>ice cream</a> to create the perfect pairing of warm caramel-soaked pudding cake with a cool, creamy finish.

What Is Malva Pudding?

Whether you’re familiar with this South African Malva pudding, or are trying it for the first time, try these simple tips.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Add the sauce while the cake is hot. To ensure the creamy caramel sauce fully penetrates the Malva pudding, make sure to pierce the cake and add the sauce while the pudding is piping hot. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Make individual-sized portions. To divide this pudding into party-friendly individual portions, simply split this recipe between eight ramekins. Bake the smaller puddings until they’re dark golden brown and cooked through, about twenty to thirty minutes. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Play around with additions. Once you’ve mastered the basic Malva pudding recipe, feel free to experiment with additional ingredients and garnishes. Try folding dried and or poached fruits like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/currants-vs-raisins' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/currants-vs-raisins","linkCopy":"raisins","category":null}'>raisins</a> or poached pears or peaches into the batter for a fruitier cake. Or, add crushed nuts, like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-cook-with-pecans' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-cook-with-pecans","linkCopy":"pecans","category":null}'>pecans</a> and walnuts, to the pudding for some textural contrast. For an added layer of creaminess, top the pudding with homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream before serving. </li></ol>

3 Tips for Making Malva Pudding

Wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, this moist pudding will keep well in the refrigerator for up to five days. To reheat the pudding prior to serving, pop the cake in the microwave or into a 300 degree Fahrenheit oven until warmed through, about ten to fifteen minutes.

How to Store Malva Pudding

Malva Pudding Recipe

Hailing from South Africa, Malva pudding is flavored with brown sugar, apricot jam, and apple cider vinegar for the ultimate combination of sweet, tangy, and fruity flavors.