PUDDING

What is a Pudding ?

A pudding is the dessert course of a meal (`pud' is used informally). In Britain, they also use the words 'dessert, 'sweet'' and 'afters'.

Take care!
Not all their puddings are sweet puddings, some are eaten during the starter or main course like Yorkshire Pudding and Black Pudding.

Puddings and Cakes in England

There are hundreds of variations of sweet puddings in England, but each pudding begins with the same basic ingredients of milk, sugar, eggs, flour and butter and many involve fresh fruit such as raspberries or strawberries, custard, cream, and cakes.

The more traditional and well known home-made puddings are apple or rhubarb crumble, bread and butter pudding, spotted dick and trifle. The traditional accompaniment is custard, known as crème anglaise (English sauce) to the French. The dishes are simple and traditional, with recipes passed on from generation to generation.

  Trifle

(click here to have an explanation in French)

Made with layers of sponge cake altternate with custard, jam or fruit and Whipped Cream. Sometimes alcohol-soaked sponge cake is used.

Apple Crumble

(click here to get the recipe)

Often served with thick cream, ice cream or custard.

Bakewell pudding - also called Bakewell Tart.  

(click here to have an explanation)

Custard

A thick, rich, sweet mixture made by gently cooking together egg yolks, sugar, milk or cream, and sometimes other flavorings. Most people today use a yellow powder mixed with milk, water and sugar. Custard can be served as a hot sauce, poured over adessert, or as a cold layer in, for example, a trifle. When it is cold, it 'sets' and becomes firm.

  Jelly

The Victoria Sponge - Named after Queen Victoria

(click here to have an explanation in French)

Mince Pies

(click here to have an explanation in French)

Pastry shells filled with mince meat, and sometimes brandy or rum. Traditionally eaten at Christmas time

Strawberry cheesecake
with strawberry sauce

(click here to have an explanation in French)