Traditional South African Rolled Pudding is a beloved dish that evokes nostalgia for dessert tables. This old-fashioned pudding is made from simple ingredients and has a comforting taste, using a basic homemade dough, a generous layer of apricot jam, and sweet vanilla syrup.
The dough needs to be rolled out, filled with the filling, and sliced into individual spirals before baking until golden and soft. It is served warm with custard, fresh cream, or ice cream to beautifully complete a family meal.
South African Rolled Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
For the Syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons margarine
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups boiling water
For the Dough and Filling
- 2 cups cake flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 125g margarine
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ to ¾ cup smooth apricot jam
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180°C and lightly grease a heatproof baking dish. To make the syrup, combine the sugar, margarine, vanilla extract, and boiling water in a pitcher. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved and the margarine is melted. Set aside half of the syrup for later use.
Sift the cake flour, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Add the margarine and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until it resembles crumbs. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, vanilla extract, and milk. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the liquid ingredients. Mix until a soft dough forms.
Lay the dough on a floured surface and roll it into a rectangle about 1 cm thick. Spread the apricot jam evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges. Starting from the long side, carefully roll the dough into a log. Slice the log into rounds about 2–3 cm thick with a sharp knife. Arrange these spirals cut-side up in the prepared baking dish.
Pour half of the prepared syrup over and around the spirals. Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes, or until the dough rises and turns golden brown. Remove the pudding from the oven and immediately pour the remaining syrup over the hot pudding. Let it stand for two to three minutes before serving.
It should be served warm with vanilla custard, fresh cream, or vanilla ice cream.



