Reenka Kitchen Page

A classic dessert from South Africa, Malva pudding is soft, slightly sticky, and soaked in a rich caramel-cream sauce. It’s best served warm—often with custard, cream, or ice cream.

🧁 Ingredients

For the sponge:

* 1 cup sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 tbsp apricot jam
* 1 cup milk
* 1 tbsp butter (melted)
* 1 tsp vinegar
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1½ cups flour
* Pinch of salt

For the caramel sauce:

* 1 cup cream
* ½ cup butter
* ½ cup sugar
* ½ cup hot water
* 1 tsp vanilla extract

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Make the batter

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
2. Beat sugar and eggs until light and fluffy.
3. Mix in apricot jam.
4. In a separate bowl, combine milk, melted butter, and vinegar.
5. Sift together flour, salt, and baking soda.
6. Alternate adding dry and wet ingredients into the egg mixture until smooth.

2. Bake

* Pour into a greased baking dish.
* Bake for 30–40 minutes until golden and set.

3. Prepare the caramel sauce

* In a saucepan, combine cream, butter, sugar, water, and vanilla.
* Heat gently until everything melts and becomes smooth (don’t boil aggressively).

4. Soak the pudding

* As soon as the pudding comes out of the oven, poke holes all over it.
* Pour the hot caramel sauce over the sponge so it soaks in.

5. Serve

* Serve warm with:
* Custard
* Whipped cream
* Vanilla ice cream

🔥 Tips for the best Malva pudding

* Don’t skip the apricot jam—it gives the signature flavor and texture.
* The sauce should be hot when poured so it absorbs properly.
* Let it sit 10–15 minutes after soaking for maximum richness.