South African desserts – South Africans love their desserts and boast many unique and tasty after-dinner specialities. Whether people gather for a large family lunch, a braai with friends or even just need something sweet to nibble on, our sweets and desserts form a significant part of our heritage and identity.
Top of our list has to be the koeksister – a type of sticky, syrupy doughnut consisting of plaited dough which is deep-fried and then smothered in home-made syrup. This sweet treat has its origins in the Western Cape and is a variant of the more traditional Malay koeksister which is not as terribly sweet and contains more fragrant spices. It is also not plaited and is traditionally sprinkled with coconut. Both versions are completely delectable in their own way.
Melktert is another favourite, literally translated as ‘milk tart’ – reminiscent of a baked custard but with wonderful warm notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. This tart can be served hot or cold, with or without a crust and is the perfect afternoon tea-time treat. Many different versions of this truly traditional dessert has evolved over the decades, each cook making it a little bit unique in small ways and microwave versions have become more and more popular due to fast-paced lifestyles.
Malva pudding is a delicious caramelised baked sponge-pudding also from the Cape region. The word “malva” refers to the Rose geranium leaves which were traditionally placed on the bottom of the baking dish before the dough was poured in. Today this part of the recipe is generally left out which is a shame as it is such a delightful aspect which makes this desert uniquely South African. Any South African will agree that all it takes is one taste of this wonderful dessert to take your taste buds on a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Almost every South African has a fond memory of being served Melkkos at some or other time, but this is quite a disputed recipe and there are many versions of this dessert – every South African claims the delicious and comforting dish from happy childhood memories served up by their grandmother is the true traditional recipe. General consensus is that all versions start with warmed milk and end with a generous sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. Some prepare this with sago beads, others with cut up pieces of dough swimming in the rich milky broth. A third camp swears by a thick and satisfying potage of cooked milk thickened with either wheat of maize flour. Whichever version you favour, this lovely traditional dish is satisfyingly rich yet easy to prepare.
Cape Brandy tart – more familiarly known as Tipsy tart – is a testament to South Africans’ love for their brandy. Most brandy lovers enjoy this tipple mixed with coca cola, as opposed to the connoisseurs who expertly swirl and sniff the golden liquid in the correct glasses. This desert is yet another delicious option for enjoying brandy. This warm luscious date and nut sponge pudding is smothered in sweet boozy brandy sauce as soon as it comes out of the oven, allowing the sauce to soak into the pudding. Quite popular as an alternative to Christmas puddings, this decadent pud will have you queuing for seconds for sure. Best served with a dollop of good vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.
Summer days also call for lighter sweets, but certainly no less satisfying. So called fridge tarts are extremely popular, with peppermint crisp tart being probably the most famous South African fridge tart of all. Peppermint crisp chocolate bars are essential for this recipe, which is easy to whip up in less than 10 minutes. Tennis biscuit base is topped with layers of whipped cream and caramel, with the delicious shards of crispy minty chocolate mixed in. Finally the last layer is topped with even more of the crumbled peppermint crisp and the dessert is then transferred to the fridge to set. Very popular in summer months, especially as a sweet ending to a satisfying braai.
South Africans also enjoy a range of smaller sweets and baked treats. Hertzoggies, named after General Hertzog who was Prime Minister in the early 1920s, are a staple at birthdays and afternoon teas, delicate little tartlets filled with delicious smooth apricot jam and topped with a yummy coconut lid. Beautiful pink and white squares of coconut ice sweets are fond favourite for many children and adults alike – coconut mixed with condensed milk and allowed to set in the fridge. Chocolate Marie slices are decadent sweets made by mixing crushed Marie biscuits, butter, sugar and cocoa powder – a container of these would have to be cleverly hidden as they tend to disappear in a flash! Delicious and nutritious oat crunchies are prepared with golden syrup, real butter and wholesome oats – a yummy combination of healthy-meets-scrumptious. These cookies would be made in bulk and taken along on camping trips and holidays – even lovingly packed in tins for students or boarders to snack on between meals when not at home.
This South African food article is brought to you by Saffa Traders.