Eve's Pudding (a Traditional British Apple Dessert) (2024)

FAQs

What is Eve's pudding made of? ›

Eve's Pudding is a British classic. A layer of stewed apples is topped with a vanilla sponge for the ultimate comfort food. Serve with custard or vanilla ice cream! I love autumn, I love the colours, the sound of crisp leaves under foot and I love Bramley apples.

The simple explanation is that Brits use the word 'pudding' to refer to dessert. If they are going to serve you an actual pudding they will specify the type of pudding – for example, sticky toffee pudding or rice pudding.

This pudding terminology is common in North America and some European countries such as the Netherlands, whilst in Britain, egg-thickened puddings are considered custards and starch-thickened puddings called blancmange. Table cream is a dessert, similar to blancmange.

Famed British desserts include puddings, trifles, cakes, tarts and pies; find every dessert you're looking for by browsing through our selection of recipes.

It was common practice to include small silver coins in the pudding mixture, which could be kept by the person whose serving included them. The usual choice was a silver threepence or a sixpence.

Class Makes a Bit of Difference

Though many don't like to admit it, using the term "pudding" or "dessert" in the U.K has connotations of class. Using "dessert" is thought to be posher than a homely pudding. Yet, in upper-class circles (or among those who aspire to be) you rarely hear the word "dessert" used.

black pudding in British English

noun. a kind of black sausage made from minced pork fat, pig's blood, and other ingredients. Also called: blood pudding. Usual US and Canadian name: blood sausage.

The two meanings of "pudding"

American puddings are closer to what the Brits would call "custard." A British pudding is a dish, savory or sweet, that's cooked by being boiled or steamed in something: a dish, a piece of cloth, or even animal intestine.

Jam or Jelly or Jell-O

The Jell-O Americans use for colorful cookout snacks or party shots is called jelly in England, where the delineation between jam, marmalade, and preserves is more commonly understood. In the United States, you may find all of these terms used interchangeably for what is likely jam in the UK.

What do Brits call biscuits? ›

In Britain, what Americans refer to as “biscuits” are known as “scones.” British biscuits are actually what Americans call “cookies.” The term “biscuits” in the United Kingdom typically refers to sweet, crumbly, and sometimes buttery bakes treats, distinct from the soft, bread-like biscuits found in the United States.

In British English, crackers are sometimes called water biscuits, or savoury biscuits.

(For those unfamiliar with the Missourian dessert, Ozark Pudding is a cake-like pudding made from apples and pecans—or sometimes black walnuts. Although associated with The Ozarks, South Carolinians and other Southerners might know this dessert as a Huguenot torte.)

Queen of puddings is a quintessentially British dessert made of a custardy bread base, fruit, and meringue. This layered concoction begins with a sweet mixture of milk, cream, eggs, vanilla, and fresh breadcrumbs. Fruit is added either to this base or between the base and the meringue top—the choice is yours.

Religious significance

It is believed that a Christmas pudding must contain thirteen ingredients. These ingredients each represent Jesus and each of his twelve disciples. Traditionally, brandy is poured over the Christmas pudding and set aflame before serving. The flames are believed to represent Christ's passion.