
Malva Pudding
In his cookbook “Ghana to the World: Recipes and Stories That Look Forward While Honoring the Past” (Clarkson Potter, 2025), the chef Eric Adjepong calls this his “favorite dessert of all time.” Malva pudding originated in South Africa and is beloved there and throughout its diaspora, but its creation remains a mystery. The lack of concrete facts behind the history of malva pudding seems less important than the dessert’s strong foundation — tender sponge cake seasoned with apricot jam and drenched in buttery sweetened cream. It comes together quickly and easily, and tastes best served warm, making it the ideal way to end a party with friends. Genevieve Ko
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