Prue Leith’s Malva Puddings

Prue Leith
Prue Leith

Junior Bake Off

Prue’s childhood favourite, the South African malva pudding is a caramelised, sweet, spongy pudding that is drenched in a creamy sauce and served alongside a classic crème anglaise.

Serves: 4
Difficulty: Needs skill
Hands-On Time: 40 mins
Baking Time: 25–30 mins
  • Ingredients
  • Method
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Method

Step 1
Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan/400°F/Gas 6.

Step 2
In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.

Step 3
In a stand mixer beat the sugar, egg and salt until you have a thick and pourable batter, similar to the consistency of a melted milkshake.

Step 4
Beat in the jam until incorporated, then mix in the melted butter and the vinegar.

Step 5
Add ⅓ milk, then ½ the flour mixture. Mix to combine. Add another ⅓ milk and the rest of the flour. Mix to combine, then add the remaining milk and mix until smooth.

Step 6
Divide equally between four greased pudding moulds.

Step 7
Bake until deeply caramelised, brown and well risen, around 25–30 minutes.

Step 8
While the puddings are in the oven, make the sauce. Gently heat the cream, sugar, butter and water, whisking until the butter is melted and the sugar has dissolved. Keep warm while the puddings are baking, but do not allow to boil or to catch on the bottom.

Step 9
Once the puddings are fully baked, remove from the oven and immediately make a cut in the top with the tip of a knife to create a space for the sauce. Pour the sauce into this cut, filling until each pudding can’t take any more.

Step 10
Repeat with the remaining puddings, then go back and repeat the filling process until the sauce reaches the top of the puddings. You make have some excess sauce.

Step 11
Make the crème anglaise. Heat the milk and the vanilla bean paste gently to scalding. Just before it bubbles, take the milk off the heat and remove any skin that may have formed. Whisk the egg yolk and sugar in a bowl, then pour over the hot milk, stirring continuously.

Step 12
Pour this mixture back into the pan, then heat over a low heat stirring continuously until it thickens slightly. To test if the crème anglaise is thicken, remove the pan from the heat and draw the back of a spoon through the custard. It should coat the back of the spoon evenly and when you draw a finger through the custard, the trail should remain.

Step 13
Strain the thickened crème anglaise through a sieve and into a bowl.

Step 14
Transfer enough crème anglaise to a presentation plate to coat the bottom, then turn out the malva puddings on top of the crème anglaise.

Step 15
Serve.