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Recipes from a working kitchen · Cape Town

Brandy Tart

By Marna Ross Updated 12 August 2026 4.68 from 28 ratings South African
Cape brandy tart, also known as date pudding and tipsy tart is a well-known South-African dessert. It is very popular among the older generation. It is almost like our malva pudding, also South-African, but slightly different. In the Cape brandy tart pitted dates are a key ingredient, as well as the brandy in the sauce. Apricot jam is the key ingredient in the malva pudding. The sauce of the malva pudding mainly contains sugar, butter and cream with no alcoholic drink in the sauce. The cape brandy tart can also be served as a Christmas pudding. A different variation with less fruits and nuts, but with the sauce and brandy very similar. For serving I would suggest lovely warm custard, or cold Crème Anglaise or dollops of whipped cream would do the trick. Ice-cream can also be served with this delicious pudding. About two years ago I did a function while working at a lovely venue, we did finger foods as main course and the dessert request was cape brandy tart, so I transferred this batter into making small individual ones into mini muffin tins. They came out beautifully and the guests enjoyed it very much. For garnishing ideas, chopped pecan/walnuts are great, lemon verbena leaves and Washington hawthorn or Washington thorn twigs would look lovely for the serving. It must be removed as it is not eatable but looks absolutely stunning visually!
A sweet and sticky baked South African brandy tart dessert.
Prep 30 min
Cook 1 h
Total 1 h 30 m
Serves 6

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Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 250 g pitted dates, chopped finely
  • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
  • 200 ml sugar
  • 100 ml butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 Cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 ml salt
  • 100 g pecan/walnuts, chopped - OPTIONAL

Syrup

  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • ¼ cup brandy

Method

Cake

  1. In a saucepan: Add the boiling water, pitted dates and bicarbonate of soda and mix together. Allow it to stand for a while

  2. Butter the baking dish well

  3. Cream the butter, sugar and egg together

  4. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder and salt together

  5. Stir in the date mixture and mix well

  6. Fold in the nuts if you have decided on this optional option

  7. Pour the mixture in the prepared baking dish and bake for 30-40 minutes at 180° Celsius or until skewer comes out clean. TIP: Baking times vary depending on your own oven’s strength

Syrup

  1. Bring the sugar, water, vanilla essence and butter to a boil

  2. lower the heat and heat until the sugar is dissolved

  3. Remove from the heat and add the brandy

Assembling

  1. Pour the syrup over the tart after it is out of the oven for the syrup to be well absorbed by the pudding

  2. Serve with whipped cream, chopped nuts

  3. custard, creme anglaise or ice-cream as preferred

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