Pudding is a classic Christmas treat in the UK. It is also popular in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Preparing this dish is very simple. The main ingredients are eggs, flour, fat, bread crumbs, cream, and spices in a water bath.

Food historians agree that the first pudding variations were the result of the culinary imaginations of thrifty English housewives. At the very beginning, the pudding was not an airy dessert at all, but a sausage, in which all food leftovers that had accumulated in the house during the day were mixed with the help of an egg or fat.

The British have several versions of the origin of pudding. According to the most popular version, most often puddings were made from the meat leftovers, so the origins of the pudding are by no means dessert.

However, there is other information related to the first pudding recipe. The first thing that comes to mind is English oatmeal. According to researchers, the first pudding was, of course, oatmeal and was a porridge cooked in meat broth.

Moreover, the composition of this porridge included dried fruits of which prunes were an obligatory ingredient. Nuts, prunes, honey, and bread crumbs also were added and puddings were served hot.

There is a third version, which again reinforces the thought about the frugality and pedantry of the British. The version is that first pudding variations were one of the ways to preserve meat products for a long time. These types of puddings were kept in a dark place.

It was a 16th-century pudding, and by the 18th century, the English preferred the sweet version, at which time the tradition of making Christmas pudding began to emerge.

English Christmas pudding

Long before the Christmas holiday (about 2-3 weeks), English families prepare pudding, and each family member should do their bit, at least stir the pudding, making a wish.

Before Christmas arrives, the pudding should be kept in a cool place. The waiting time is worth it, it is very tasty, aromatic, and festive. This unmatched pudding brings a festive atmosphere and makes Christmas and New Year holidays unforgettable!

A real English Christmas pudding is multi-part, they put dried fruits and nuts in it.

Also, inedible elements are included in the pudding: “ring” – promising marriage in the coming year, “button” – bachelor life, “chicken bones” – great luck and travel, “coin” – to improve the financial situation.

The tradition of making Christmas pudding has also taken root in Canada and Australia.

A variety of rice pudding recipes

One of the famous sweet puddings is rice pudding. Unlike its Christmas version, rice pudding boasts a light texture as well as ease of preparation and few ingredients.

Maybe that’s why this type of pudding has become so widespread around the world and is present in a lot of traditional cuisines. Rice pudding can be found in Asia, Europe, the USA, Canada, Mexico, and northern European countries. It makes sense that rice pudding is a dish that can differ in its composition and method of preparation.

Pudding Variations

You might be astonished to know how many varieties of recommendations about how to bake rice pudding recipes exist around the world. There are a lot of variations of pudding, even dessert sweet pudding. Simple homemade rice pudding can be turned into an original and authentic dessert with a few simple additions of chocolate, salted caramel, fruit sauce, or fresh berries.