This article about why do Brits call dessert pudding was published by the Great British Mag content team on June 11, 2019.
‘Pudding’ is a dessert but a dessert is not always a pudding. Get it?
It can get awfully confusing when Brits seem to use these words interchangeably. If Brits offer you some ‘pudding’ after dinner and they bring you some ice-cream, don’t be surprised! 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.
The reason for using the word ‘pudding’ instead of dessert is actually based on the British class system. Traditionally, pudding referred to homely and rustic desserts that were commonly eaten by the lower classes, such as spotted dick and rice pudding. Desserts were the indulgences of the upper classes and included international cuisine like chocolate mousse,soufflé and Champagne jelly.
Nowadays not only have class lines become a little fuzzy but so have the dessert categories. Recipes that were originally eaten by the lower class have become new and fashionable. At the same time the upper class desserts are more attainable to everyday people. And so the lines between the word dessert and the word pudding became blurry. Now they basically mean the same thing.
I hope that wasn’t too confusing!
If you have a question for our resident Brit drop us an email at askabrit@greatbritishmag.co.uk.
The reason for using the word 'pudding' instead of dessert is actually based on the British class system. Traditionally, pudding referred to homely and rustic desserts that were commonly eaten by the lower classes, such as spotted dick
spotted dick
Spotted dick (also known as spotted dog or railway cake) is a traditional British steamed pudding, historically made with suet and dried fruit (usually currants or raisins) and often served with custard.
The modern usage of the word pudding to mean a dessert has evolved from the almost exclusive use of the term to describe a savoury dish, specifically those created using a process similar to sausages, where meat and other ingredients in a mostly liquid form are encased and then steamed or boiled to set the contents.
A pudding usually is a dish of more homely or rustic. A dessert is lighter and more sophisticated, such as chocolate mousse. However, the word Dessert is rarely used by the British upper class. Some fine restaurants and private clubs would use Pudding to refer to the sweet course.
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.
In London, ice cream is simply called "ice cream". However, there are many variations and styles of ice cream available in London, including soft serve, gelato, sorbet, and more.
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.
What is an American biscuit in the UK? The last piece of the puzzle, an American biscuit is a crumbly leavened quick bread similar to what we call a scone in the UK.
For example, the word 'lounge' is a no-no for the upper classes, 'dinner' is the preferred term for the evening meal, and 'napkin' is better than 'serviette'. Hanson goes on to say that a reflection of upper class social status is in using 'the Queen's English' rather than Americanised words, such as 'hey' or 'movies'.
As noted by the Oxford dictionary, the term "pudding" means a dessert of creamy consistency but can also be used informally as an insulting term for a person. In its informal sense, it carries connotations that the person is fat and stupid.
Yes, in the U.S. dessert is the sweet course served at the end of the meal and pudding is a specific type of custard-style dessert. My favorite is chocolate. Some of us also serve Yorkshire Pudding with roast beef, but that is also a very specific usage.
For those in Commonwealth countries — England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Wales, and so forth — the word biscuit signifies something most Americans would call a cookie, and a scone is, well, something similar to an American biscuit: round, bready, and only slightly sweet.
So, the humble apple crumble clinched the top spot, pipping Vicky sponge to claim the title as the UK's favourite dessert. And who could blame Brits for being besotted by this classic British pud?
In some parts of Scotland, ring doughnuts are referred to as doughrings, with the 'doughnut' name being reserved exclusively for the nut-shaped variety. Glazed, twisted rope-shaped doughnuts are known as yum-yums.
United Kingdom. English muffins are usually referred to simply as muffins in the UK; sweet American-style cupcake-shaped muffins are occasionally referred to as American muffins to differentiate.
In Commonwealth countries these [North American] puddings are called custards (or curds) if they are egg-thickened, blancmange if starch-thickened, and jelly if gelatin based. Pudding may also refer to other dishes such as bread and rice pudding, although typically these names derive from the origin as British dishes.
The divergence in these pudding styles is also a reflection of differing ingredients and preparation techniques, with American pudding relying more on dairy and thickeners and British pudding emphasizing a variety of bases, including suet and bread.
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.
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