Better known as a tipsy tart, many people where I live would call this a Cape brandy pudding. In Timeless South African, Ilse refers to this as a classic heritage dessert. The originator of the recipe was Lesley Faull, the founder of the Silwood School of Cookery, and she was sponsored by Oude Meester, a local brandy producer.
Skip ahead to the recipe for Tipsy Tart
Mellowing out
I am one of those drivers that sticks to the speed limit, and follows the rules of the road. This is probably because of my motor sport background. I drive on the left, and pass on the right as one is meant to, and I give way when necessary. When it comes to two lanes merging into one, I believe each car should get a turn. And if I am the car in front, even by just a bumper, it is my right to go ahead. Well, the other day, some man decided that was not the case. And he got so cross with me going ahead of him. I was in the left hand, merging lane, and he was in the straight lane, giving him a sense of ‘being ahead’. He made his displeasure known by tailgating me, and then following me.
My little bit of advice
I knew he was following me, as the road I turned down is not commonly used in our area. As I was heading for the shops, I was not concerned with what was to come. I parked, turned the recording function on my phone on, and got out of my car. The man confronted me, which really did not bother me at all. It must have made him feel great to be so forthright in his opinion. I wonder how he would have felt if some strange male did that to his wife, mother or daughter? Had I not been going somewhere public, I would not have gone home. If being followed, the first place I would have driven to is the local police station. Which is what I would advise anyone to do in the same situation. Has anyone ever followed you?
Take a look at this inspiring recipe for ♥ Tipsy Tart ♥ from Lavender and Lime #LavenderAndLime Share on X
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
Tipsy Tart
Ingredients
for the tart:
- 180 mls boiling water
- 125 g pitted dates, thinly sliced
- 5 mls bicarbonate of soda
- 150 g fructose
- 80 g butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 210 g flour, sifted
- 5 mls baking powder, sifted
- 2.5 mls fine salt, sifted
- 50 g flaked almonds
- cooking spray
for the sauce:
- 150 g fructose
- 125 mls water
- 10 mls lemon juice
- 8 g salted butter
- 5 mls vanilla extract
- 80 mls brandy
to serve:
- your choice of custard, cream or ice cream
Method
for the tart:
- Preheat the oven to 180° Celsius
- Pour the water into a bowl, add the dates and bicarbonate of soda, stir gently to combine then set aside for 15 minutes
- Add the fructose and butter into a large mixing bowl and cream using an electric whisk
- Add the egg, and whisk until combined
- Place the flour, baking powder, and salt into a mixing bowl, whisk to combine then add to the egg mixture
- Fold in using a spatula until just combined then add the nuts and continue folding until everything is mixed together
- Scrape the batter into a deep, medium sized, oven proof dish that you have sprayed with cooking spray, and smooth the top with the spatula
- Place into the oven and bake for 40 minutes
for the sauce:
- While the tart is baking, place the fructose, water, lemon juice, butter and vanilla into a sauce pan
- Over a medium temperature, heat the sauce stirring until the fructsoe dissolves
- Leave to simmer while the butter melts then take off the heat and add the brandy
- Remove the tart from the oven and pour the sauce over the tart, a quarter at a time, waiting for the sauce to fully absorb between each addition
- Once completely soaked in, serve warm with custard, cream or ice cream
See the links below for blog posts I published on September 3:
- 2024: Torta Di Cioccolato
- 2023: The Bedtime Boat
- 2021: Crostata Pastry
- 2018: Royal Icing
- 2015: Rosé Apple Sauce
- 2014: Oven Roasted Tomatoes
- 2013: Amarula Chocolate Bon Bons
- 2012: Salted Caramel Focaccia
- 2011: Preserves For The Regional and Seasonal Challenge
- 2010: Green Bean Pasta
thank goodness no one has followed me in the car. How scary! why on earth they feel the need to be horrors!? Anyway your tart looks good 🙂
sherry https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
I would love to see him again to ask him how he would feel if that happened to his mother!
Interesting to get a recipe of what sounds a truly local dessert offering . . . not so nice to go thru’ having such a hassle with a stranger who probably does not like female behind the wheel > hope you won’t bump into the character again !
I have never seen him before or since – I doubt he shops where I do 😉
I think you were in the right. I am also tired of the selfish and inconsiderate piggery on the South African roads. I drive the same as you but a lot of drivers do not have authentic licenses. One of many issues.
Even if they do have licenses, it does not mean they know how to drive, or care about the rules!
Geez, was it necessary to follow and confront you??? I meant, wtf, even if you did him wrong, which was not the case, did he have to do that? Where were all the gentlemen?
The pudding cake looks really great, bet it would be just as great made with some single malt or aged rum.
I am sure whisky or rum would be great in this! Luckily for me, there were people around at the shopping centre who know me who I could have called to assist if necessary 🙂
Oh goodness, how scary. Road rage is really awful, and can be deadly. I’m glad you handled it so well.
Thank you!
Road rage is a very serious problem around here. You can do genuinely everything right, and still end up on the receiving end of someone’s bad manners. People have been shot just for making the wrong turn. I’m glad it didn’t come to anything like that for you but I would still be terrified!
That is scary to live where people could shoot you just for driving a bit badly! We have incidents here in South Africa as well, but thankfully not where I live.
Yum! It looks and sounds tasty. That driver was quite rude! If followed, I would definitely go to the police station.
It is always good to have a plan 🙂
Teh recipe looks great, and as for the man who stalked you, going to a police station or finding an office to flag down would have taught him a lesson to be sure…what a creep!
If I had not been going to the shops I would have gone straight to the police station for sure!
Oh boy.. that happened to me once. I merged in front of a man. He got so upset that when the lane split again, into a left turn and a go straight we went into the left turn lane got out of his car and started to scream at me. Then proceeded to go straight by cutting me off. The screaming did scare me a bit. He then decided to drive at 15 miles and initially I was pissed off and tailed him a bit but what was the point.. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction so I drove even slower.. till he got bored I guess. Some people!
That really must have been an awful experience!
I have never taste this dessert but I wish I could enjoy a square or two with my cup of tea this evening. ~Nessa
Maybe you can make it sometime Nessa?
Glad you stayed calm in such a tense situation — road rage can be frightening. On a sweeter note, that Tipsy Tart looks heavenly with its brandy sauce!
Glad you stayed calm in such a tense situation — road rage can be frightening. On a sweeter note, that Tipsy Tart looks heavenly with its brandy sauce!
Thank you Veronica 🙂
I don’t think I could resist a cake with a name like Tipsy Tart. Makes me think of Rumpole of the Bailey for some reason. And dates are now in season and available fresh. Wonderful.
Amalia
xo
fresh dates make all the difference!
This is new to me, Tandy, but I love dates and brandy, so it already has my approval! Definitely one to try.
Let me know if you do try it 🙂