Monday 1 October 2012

Cape Brandy Pudding/Tart

We had friends around for dinner on Friday and I decided to make a dish that we have not had for sometime.  I cannot imagine why I have not made it recently, as it is delicious, and I thought that I should share it with you.  If you don't touch alcohol, it's time to stop reading right here!!!!

I have been using this recipe for donkey's years and I have no idea where it came from originally, but I first published it some years ago on my own website.  

http://www.recipe.nidi.org.uk/

Cape Brandy Pudding/Tart

250gr (8.8oz) dates stoned
1 teasp bicarb
1 cup boiling water
115 gr (4 oz) butter
200 gr (7 oz) sugar
2 eggs beaten
240 gr (8.5 oz) flour
1 teasp baking powder
½ teasp salt
1 cup chopped walnuts

For the syrup


250 gr  (8.8 oz) sugar
15 gr (
½ oz)  butter
¾ cup water
1 teasp vanilla
Pinch salt
½ cup brandy

Chop the dates and divide into 2 equal portions. Add the bicarb to one half and pour the cup of boiling water over. Stir to mix and leave to cool. Cream together the butter and the sugar, add the beaten eggs and mix well. Sieve the flour, baking powder and salt and fold into the butter mixture. Add the second portion of dates together with the nuts. Stir in the dates and bicarb mixture and mix thoroughly.

Turn mixture into a large oven proof dish.   Bake for 40 – 50 mins at 180ºC (350F).

Meanwhile, make the syrup. Heat the sugar, butter and water together for 5 mins. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla essence, salt and brandy. Pour the syrup over the hot tart when it is taken from the oven and allow it all to soak in.

Serve hot or cold with crème fraiche, cream or custard.

ENJOY!



Sorry this was all that was left when I remembered to take a photo!!!






 
See also - My Life Before Charente updated  1 October 2012 

95 comments:

  1. I can see that the dish was a huge success! The proof is in the eating ;-)

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    1. Joyful not sure what the alcoholic proof was but they were worried about driving afterwards :-) Have a good week Diane

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  2. It is making my mouth water reading this. I will be puting this in my recipe file.

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    1. diane b, I am sure that you will nor regret it LOL. Enjoy your week, Diane

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  3. Just the way to warm yourselves up in Autumn, though I'd be leaving out the walnuts as I just don't like them. I thoroughly approve of the brandy - of both the quantity and that it isn't added until after the lovely sauce is cooked!

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    1. Michelle if you do not like nuts then best left out, but they give it a crunchy texture which is good. Yes the brandy added after is good as it does not cook out the alcohol :-) Take care and enjoy your week. Hugs to you both Diane

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  4. Wow, this looks like a perfect pudding for the time of year. No wonder there was hardly any left. Thanks for the recipe !!

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    1. Jean I am sure that you and Nick will really enjoy this dish and so good on a cold day. Take care, Diane

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  5. I don't blame you, I wouldn't have remember to take the photo also with a delicious pudding.

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    1. Quay Po Cooks, ha ha it just vanished under my eyes and then I suddenly thought camera... Have a good week Diane

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  6. If I had been at your table, I would have devoured this. No wonder you didn't have time for a photo!
    Sam

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    1. Sam I just did not think quick enough, but at least it shows how good it was LOL. Keep well Diane

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  7. Hello Diane:
    This is exactly the kind of real pudding which we so much enjoy and which is rarely obtainable unless, like your friends on Friday evening, one is fortunate to be invited to dinner at the home of someone, such as yourself, who is also an excellent and imaginative cook.

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    1. Jane and Lance, thanks for the very kind comment. This dish is very popular in South Africa but I have never had it anywhere else, not counting my own home! have a good week. Diane

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  8. Replies
    1. Ola he he I am trying to make you put on weight. Take care Diane

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  9. Replies
    1. I am quite sure you would both love this dish, it really is yummy. Have a good week. Diane

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  10. The shop bought ice cream I have just had for my dessert is not a patch on this gorgeous dessert of yours! I like your recipes, Diane, because they are simple, and easy to make. I shall make this one, and methinks I shall eat most of it myself! (I am a bit of a piglet when it comes to tasty puddings)

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    1. Vera this is very hard to stop eating once you start, I try not to eat all day before and then all day after to compensate LOL. Have a good week Diane

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  11. Hi Diane, how are you? Looking at your almost empty dish ...your pudding must be extremely good. Love the combination of walnuts and dates.

    Have a nice week ahead, regards.

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    1. Amelai I was very lucky to get a photo at all that bit also vanished just afterwards!! Take care Diane

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  12. Absolutely delicious. I don't have a lot of trouble touching alcohol. I'm afraid I can be a bit of a recipe nerd and so the thought of where this recipe might come from has made me particularly nerdish. It does appear to be based on Francis Coulson's original Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe from the 1960s. I don't think that had walnuts - the first time I saw walnuts added was when Gary Rhodes made a version sometime in the 1980s. The original sauce was very, very rich with lots of double cream and I definitely prefer your syrup. I'd love to know who first added brandy, though. Sorry, I'll stop being nerdish now.

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    1. Phil traditional Cape Brandy Pudding has been a part of South African culinary heritage since the first people landed I think at the Cape and made brandy :-) They had good taste. Have a great week Diane

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    2. This got me thinking that the allegedly unknown origins of British sticky toffee pudding might actually be South African. But then I found some date pudding recipes with sweet sauces going back to the 17th century, so I think it's probably too complicated for me to think about any more.

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    3. Just enjoy the results methinks!

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  13. A pudding/cake tart with a brandy topping? It sounds/looks scrumptious!
    I can't wait to try it.

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    1. rosaria I am sure you will love this as much as we do :-) hic. Take care Diane

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  14. Mmmm, that cake really looks yummy.

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    1. Horst it not only looks it...... Take care Diane

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  15. Hmmm.. Diane, that looks delicious!!
    Very nice to see how enterprising you are, to make all those delicious things.
    It is that you do not live near me, otherwise I would have liked a piece to taste,..hihi..!!

    Many greetings and have a nice day,
    Marco

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    1. Marco Alpha you would have been very welcome, pity that you are not closer:-) Keep well Diane

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  16. This looks so delicious Diane! A real Autumnal bake:) Have a lovely week.
    ~Anne

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    1. Thanks Anne, this pudding is delicious and great for this cooler weather that we are having now. Take care Diane

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  17. La photo prouve que la tarte est délicieuse puisqu'il n'en reste pratiquement plus rien.
    J'ai des dattes. Je note.
    A bientôt

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    1. Nadji, J'ai failli rater la photo complètement! Bonne journée. A bientôt. Diane

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  18. This looks so delicious and rich!

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    1. Sara it is good and oh so yummy :-) Take care Diane

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  19. How moist!! My mother loves cakes with fruit cooked in. I love dates!

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    1. Auntie Bliss, So long as she likes alcohol as well she will enjoy this :-) Take care Diane

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  20. Replies
    1. Cuisine de Provence, think this is why I do not make it that often because we cannot stop eating it!!! Mmmmmm just thinking about it.... Take care Diane

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  21. I'm not too keen on brandy but your cake looks like it would be delicious without the brandy!

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    1. Gaynor I somehow do not think so....... Take care Diane

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  22. That sounds and looks Delicious. Great recipe.

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    1. Riet this is one of the best :-) Take care Diane

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  23. DEAR DIANE, THIS IS A VERY RICH CAKE, BUT PERFECT FOR AN AUTUMN OR WINTER EVENING. I LOVED IT. TAKE CARE MY FRIEND

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    1. Pamela, rich maybe but oh so yummy :-)) Enjoy your evening. Diane

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  24. YUM! I think it looks delicious.

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    1. Pam it not only looks it the taste is awesome. Have a good day Diane

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  25. What a delicious dessert. I love old recipes. They don't skimp on any ingredients.
    I understand why that is all that was left. Blessings, Catherine

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    1. Catherine I often do my own thing with recipes but not this one, it is perfect as it is! Thanks for your visit, have a good day Diane

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  26. I made something like this, but with raisins, a while back. I don't remember what it's called, but I do remember the bicarb mixed with the fruit. It's divine for fall or winter! Yours is beautiful.

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    1. Marjie I have a couple of recipes with fruit mixed with bicarb but this is by far the best! Have a good day Diane

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  27. oh dear Diane this look absolutely amazing!! yummy !! take care:)

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    1. Gloria it is amazing :-)) Keep well Diane

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  28. Now that looks absolutely delicious. I'm definitely going to be making this. Thanks for sharing the recipe x

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    1. Kerry hope that you had a good holiday. This is certainly not a recipe to miss hic :-) Take care, Diane

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  29. Mmm. This went into my dessert file right away... Love those boozy desserts and this one is a real keeper... and one that's hard to shoot since I would want to eat every morsel.

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    1. lostpastremembered I am sure you will not regret making this recipe, the best part is the alcohol is not cooked out of the brandy! Enjoy your day Diane

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  30. Mmmmm!
    Looks really yummy!
    That is a recipe I would love to try, especially after so many hours in hides!
    Much love Diane, take care and enjoy the last of your garden!
    Cheers!

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    1. Ha ha Noushka this will really warm you up after sitting still for hours on end, cheeers! Have a good evening and take care, Diane xx

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  31. Diane, I have never had a recipe like this before but dates and brandy sound like a lovely combination.

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    1. backroadjournal I am sure that you would make this again and again once you have tried it :-) Have a good day Diane

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  32. Replies
    1. Rebecca as you can see it went down very well!! Thanks for the comment take care Diane

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  33. Sounds delicious, a delightful fall treat! The picture tells how good it was!

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    1. The Café Sucré Farine you are so right the photo is a complete give away!! Keep well, Diane

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  34. I can just imagine how delicious this was - thanks for sharing :)
    So nice to hear that your fil makes his marmalade with these tinned oranges. Here's hoping I get as much success as he does - wish me luck and I'll let you know :)

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    1. Ellie looking forward to hearing how the marmalade went. I made quince jelly yesterday but think this batch has set a bit firm, never mind it still tastes good! Take care Diane

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  35. Sounds like the perfect pudding for a winter's night supper party. I shall have to try it.

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    1. Friko I am sure that you will enjoy, it is very good. Diane

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  36. Hi Diane, I carried on reading ..ha ha , love Brandy. I am sure it is delicious :-) xx

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    1. Anne It seems most people carried on reading LOL. I will make it for you when you come to visit :-) Keep well Diane xx

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  37. This sounds wonderful and it looks delicious. It has that old-fashioned goodness and appeal that the newer desserts just can't match. I know I'd love this. It sounds like you are feeling better. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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    1. Mary the shingles is much improved but the cough will not go away. Apparently I have damaged bronchi from 2 doses of pneumonia. I am still on treatment, but it is very slow.
      This dessert is really I think top of my list :-) Take care Diane

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  38. Mr FD hates dates, so I'm not sure that would go down too well in the Dormousehold. But it doers look delicious!

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    1. Fat Dormouse it is a good job FD hates dates as this is certainly not a good recipe for dieting!! Keep well Diane

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  39. Come At Me Bro how right you are!!! Thanks so much for your visit and comment Take care Diane

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  40. That tart looks might tasty! And the recipe is simple enough that even I could make it.

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    1. Stephen that is what I have told my husband. Make this at a dinner party and I promise you it will be the talk of the evening. Diane

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  41. Your photo has me literally drooling on the keyboard! It looks and sounds absolutely delish with all that brandy.

    Have a great weekend Diane.

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    1. Dolly, ha ha, remind me to make it for you when you come to stay. You have a fantastic weekend as well. Take care Diane

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  42. Diane, the photo says it all! No need for another one! :D It actually looks as good as it sounds, now I just need to taste it!

    I miss you, I hope I can be back for more soon.

    Cheers,
    Lyndsey

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    1. Lyndsey this really was good and I have no idea why I have not made it for a while. Hope that you soon have a computer of your own and a little more time. Keep well Diaen

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  43. It looks delicious! I would gladly have a piece now! :-)

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    1. JM Let me know where to send it LOL Have a good day Diane

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  44. I love puddings ... and this one looks so scrumptious ! Thank you Diane ...

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    1. Hélène this is a very special pudding, I am sure you would love it :-)) Keep well Diane

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  45. Now, that really looks tempting! I like tarts of any kinds!

    PS... I apologize for not visiting often, so busy with DIY projects hehehe. Your comment is always appreciated!

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    1. Chubskulit Rose I know the feeling well, the days are just not long enough!!! Thanks for taking the time out to comment. Diane

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  46. your pudding looks wonderful! i can understand why you almost forgot to take pictures of that! i really dont mind a little alcohol in my bakes

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    1. Lena this is a very special pudding and because the brandy is added afterwards there is no mistaking that it has been added ! Take care Diane

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  47. Hi Diane .. Whenever I see 'Cape' my heart reaches out to South Africa .. and this sounds just one of those recipes - delicious looking, and by the little left tasting too ... !! Cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary I think once S.A gets into your blood stream it never lets go, my heart spends a lot of time over there despite being very happy in France. This pud is amaaaaaaazing!! Cheers Diane

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