Safari Spoonful: Amarula Dessert Recipe for the Holidays

Relive memories of your African safari — or maybe inspire your next safari — by sharing an African dish this holiday season. Learn how to make this delicious Amarula dessert and why it’s uniquely South African.

Making Malva pudding with an Amarula-infused sauce may remind you of those special, only-in-Africa moments: observing in hushed whispers the antics of an elephant family, lying in your tent under cool, crisp sheets after a day spent outdoors, listening to the sounds of the African bush all around you.

South African Comfort Food

Malva pudding is a sweet sponge cake of Cape Dutch origin. This traditional dessert is South African comfort food at its best. It is perfect to share during the holidays with family and friends and very easy to make.

We combined this classic recipe with our favorite South African liqueur: Amarula. Amarula is a cream liqueur (tastes like fruity Bailey’s Irish Cream) made with sugar, cream and the fruit of the African marula tree which you can only find in Africa in the lush Limpopo bushveld.  Locals also call it the Elephant Tree because elephants travel for miles to indulge in the sweet fruit. Perhaps you’ve finished the bottle you carefully packed in your suitcase from Africa, but not to worry! Amarula is available at many liquor shops and chains like BevMo.

The traditional sponge cake and sweet Amarula sauce combines to make an airy, sticky, carmelized cake that is sure to warm your bellies and your hearts.

Pudding Recipe

Pudding Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar 2 large eggs 1 tablespoon apricot jam 2/3 cup flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon butter 1 teaspoon vinegar 1/3 cup milk

Pudding Sauce Ingredients

3/4 cup cream 1/2 cup butter 2/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring 1/3 cup Amarula

Directions

Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes

Serves 8-10

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat or whip the sugar, eggs and jam together. Sift dry ingredients separately, including flour, baking soda, and salt. Melt butter and add the vinegar. Either by hand or with a mixer add the milk and butter mixture alternating with the flour to the eggs mixture.

Pour into greased, 9×9 baking dish and bake 45 minutes. Cover with foil part way through to avoid burning the top.

To make the sauce, melt together the butter, cream, sugar, and vanilla in a saucepan over low heat until the sugar is dissolved and the sauce thickens. Take the sauce off the heat and add the Amarula. As soon as the cake comes out of the oven poke holes in the top. Pour the sauce over the cake until it becomes saturated. Serve immediately or cover and reheat later.

Best enjoyed topped with vanilla ice cream — and surrounded by family and friends.