Bovril Cake Recipe

Bovril Cake Recipe. Image credit: Unsplash

Bovril cake: A classic South African sweet and savoury combo

Bovril and cake usually don’t belong in the same sentence, but try this bovril cake and be pleasantly surprised with your next cup of tea.

Bovril Cake Recipe

Bovril Cake Recipe. Image credit: Unsplash

Every South African has heard of Bovril. It’s either spoken about in hushed tones like Marmite as something you their love or hate. However, it’s not just a spread on toast but in the UK, turned into a winter’s drink. Bovril is the trademarked name of a thick and salty meat extract paste similar to a yeast extract, developed in the 1870s. This Bovril cake is a savoury treat that goes very well as a braai side dish or interesting tea time snack.

ALSO READ: Creamy baked milk tart: Dessert that’s part of South African culture

Bovril cake recipe suggestions

It makes an excellent side dish or a great sweet yet savoury snack. With little preparation, this bovril cake practically bakes itself making it an additional perk to this strange but awesome dish. You can get a bit creative with it and like some pies, this cake goes great with that slice of sharp cheddar you often see go with Bovril on toast. This dish is a celebration of those savoury umami flavours you love so much with your favourite roast.

ALSO READ: Vanilla plum jam tart: A zesty and sweet Easter Weekend dessert

Bovril and cake usually don’t belong in the same sentence, but try this bovril cake and be pleasantly surprised with your next cup of tea.

Last updated on 12 April 2023

Bovril cake recipe

4 from 4 votes
Recipe by Melissa Jacobs Course: SnacksCuisine: GlobalDifficulty: Easy
Servings

6

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

40

minutes
Total time

55

minutes

When you first read this, it seems like there must be a typo. However, we are serious when we say that this is strangely very tasty.

Ingredients

  • For the topping
  • 115 gr 115 melted butter

  • 15 ml 15 bovril

  • 1 cup 1 fine grated cheddar cheese

  • For the cake mix
  • 80 ml 80 butter

  • 200 ml 200 sugar

  • 1 egg

  • 200 gr 200 flour

  • 2 ml 2 salt

  • 250 ml 250 milk

  • 10 ml 10 baking powder

Method

  • Preheat oven to 200°C.
  • Mix the butter and sugar. Add the egg. Mix well. Siff the dry ingredients together and add to the mixture, gradually adding the milk.
  • Pour into a greased oven dish.
  • Bake for 40 minutes.
  • For the topping
  • In a sauce pan, melt the butter and bovril.
  • When the cake is removed from the oven, prick the cake with a fork to make even holes. Pour the bovril mixture over. Sprinkle with the cheese, the heat from the cake will melt the cheese.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @the.south.african on Instagram and hashtag it #recipes

Like this recipe?

Follow us @thesouthafrican on Pinterest

Looking for more tasty traditional twists on old-school recipes to prepare for your family and friends? Just have a look at our recipe page, we have excellent suggestions for you to try.

If you would like to submit a recipe for publication, please complete our recipe form here.