# In the UK people call cake "pudding" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 8, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365 "2020-04-08T18:27:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/121 "2020-04-10T21:33:03Z")
Tapioca can be found in the chain restaurant Sweet Tomatoes; it’s one of the big reasons my dad likes to eat there. There was a Chinese restaurant here that served an excellent coconut tapioca. Flan is the most common pudding here in Tucson. A hotel on Kauai served bread pudding at its excellent breakfast buffet. This is the main reason my dad has voted this place the best hotel ever. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/122 "2020-04-10T22:13:09Z")
I love the texture of tapioca. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/123 "2020-04-10T22:24:44Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > For the record, in most of the US, in most contexts, “gravy” is brown, and consists of the juices of whatever meat you were cooking thickened with flour or starch (I think this is the same as the British usage). The white gravy used in biscuits and gravy is distinctively Southern, and you don’t see it much outside the South, except for in that one specific dish, or maybe with “country fried steak”. There’s also “redeye gravy”, which I don’t know much about beyond that it’s made with coffee, and in a very narrow region centered on Philadelphia, “gravy” means “thick tomato-based spaghetti sauce with lots of meat”. > > Banana pudding was a common treat at my grandmother’s house, in northern Appalachia, though I suppose she could have gotten the recipe from a Southerner (Gramma was very accepting of good cuisine, no matter where it came from). I think that the base of it was just dairy-and-starch, like most American puddings, but with sliced bananas mixed in, and topped with crumbled vanilla wafers or Graham crackers (those are similar to what the Brits call “digestive biscuits”). Redeye gravy is made with coffee and ham fat, with no flour or thickener. I suspect it was invented during the depression, or reconstruction. Perhaps reconstruction since it is a Southern phenomenon. I vaguely recall eating hot banana pudding. I have thought of custards as being warm pudding in a bowl shaped pastry shell. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/124 "2020-04-10T22:33:41Z")
> [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](#): > > I can see that. As a Yorkshire cook I should regard it with the sort of contempt normally reserved for Lancashire, but actually, that sort of thing really works! 😃 For some reason, a line from an old UK TV show about WWII called _Danger UXB_ sticks in my mind where one character said to the other “Bloody Lancashire,” and that other said “Bloody Yorkshire.” Fall out from the War of the Roses??? ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/125 "2020-04-10T22:42:21Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I love the texture of tapioca. O.k. You are dead to me. 😛 My mom loved tapioca pudding and would try to force it on us kids. One of the most disgusting experiences of my childhood…next to the maraschino cherry juice in the milk. ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2020, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/126 "2020-04-10T23:21:06Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > 😃 > > For some reason, a line from an old UK TV show about WWII called _Danger UXB_ sticks in my mind where one character said to the other “Bloody Lancashire,” and that other said “Bloody Yorkshire.” Fall out from the War of the Roses??? Well, yeah, actually. Although, that would mean the Wars of the Roses were over, and I’ll leave it to you to break that to Yorkshire and Lancashire County Cricket Clubs. Yorkshire and Lancashire are sort of friendly rivals nowadays. I mean, that’s probably how it looks from the outside, anyway, but it’s more complicated than that. But…well, it _is_ a friendly rivalry, and we fucking hate each other. Sort of somehow at the same time. But when it comes to Southerners, well, bollocks, we’re Northerners together! I mean, OK, Lancastrians are from the wrong side of the hills, but still, the Watford Gap is more of a border than the Pennines… ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/127 "2020-04-11T00:15:34Z")
> [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](#): > > Well, yeah, actually. Although, that would mean the Wars of the Roses were over, and I’ll leave it to you to break that to Yorkshire and Lancashire County Cricket Clubs. > > Yorkshire and Lancashire are sort of friendly rivals nowadays. I mean, that’s probably how it looks from the outside, anyway, but it’s more complicated than that. > > But…well, it _is_ a friendly rivalry, and we fucking hate each other. Sort of somehow at the same time. But when it comes to Southerners, well, bollocks, we’re Northerners together! I mean, OK, Lancastrians are from the wrong side of the hills, but still, the Watford Gap is more of a border than the Pennines… Heh, I had DNA analysis done because I knew very little detail about my father’s ancestry other than it was nearly all from the UK, and probably largely Scottish. It turns out that was mostly true. In a graphic representation of the British Isles, the darker colors were the north of England and Scotland, and, news to me, Cornwall. Also, Northern Ireland. Faint color in southeastern England and the Republic of Ireland. But no color at all – completely white – in the middle (the Midlands?) of England. It appears I have Lancasterian (sp?) \*and \*Yorkshire ancestry. I find this interesting now, because I just finished reading a biography of Thomas Malory, and it contained more detail about the War of Roses than I’d ever known before. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/128 "2020-04-11T01:20:50Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > O.k. You are dead to me. 😛 > > My mom loved tapioca pudding and would try to force it on us kids. One of the most disgusting experiences of my childhood…next to the maraschino cherry juice in the milk. Let’s beat him up and steal his lunch money! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/129 "2020-04-11T05:29:25Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Have you actually seen bread pudding sold in cups or mixes? I’ve frequently seen bread pudding in cafeterias or diners in the New York area, although it’s usually a square piece served on a small plate rather than a cup. It’s so simple to make (stale bread, butter, eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla) I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mix for it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/130 "2020-04-11T12:58:29Z")
There probably are still mixes for it. I mean, I once saw a mix for strawberry smoothies, just add strawberries, yogurt, and crushed ice. ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/131 "2020-04-11T13:08:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > There probably are still mixes for it. I mean, I once saw a mix for strawberry smoothies, just add strawberries, yogurt, and crushed ice. Yeah, I was going to say much the same. In a world where instant mashed potato and instant white sauce exist, I don’t think ease of manufacture can be assumed to preclude the sale of packet mixes. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/132 "2020-04-11T13:21:30Z")
To extend aruvqan’s history a bit, it’s helpful to know that the English word “pudding” probably comes the French “boudin,” meaning “sausage.” So, ground stuff held together in a casing and boiled or otherwise cooked (or smoked, or…) to extend its life. The other uses extend from there. (Sorry I used the word “extend” three times). ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/133 "2020-04-11T13:30:18Z")
> [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](#): > > Yeah, I was going to say much the same. In a world where instant mashed potato and instant white sauce exist, I don’t think ease of manufacture can be assumed to preclude the sale of packet mixes. Ease of manufacture wouldn’t preclude it- but difficulty might, and it would be difficult to manufacturer a mix where you only had to add water/milk. There are actually [bread pudding mixes](https://www.amazon.com/Bread-Pudding-20-32-Oz-Case/dp/B00CHTUZ8Y)[available](https://www.amazon.com/Mam-Papauls-Sauce-Pudding-Orleans/dp/B00EJSI0TM) but I’m guessing they are not big sellers for the at-home crowd because both mixes require you to add bread and one requires you to also add the milk, butter and eggs. I’m guessing the first one might be commonly used in institutional kitchens. ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/134 "2020-04-11T14:32:19Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Ease of manufacture wouldn’t preclude it- but difficulty might, and it would be difficult to manufacturer a mix where you only had to add water/milk. There are actually [bread pudding mixes](https://www.amazon.com/Bread-Pudding-20-32-Oz-Case/dp/B00CHTUZ8Y)[available](https://www.amazon.com/Mam-Papauls-Sauce-Pudding-Orleans/dp/B00EJSI0TM) but I’m guessing they are not big sellers for the at-home crowd because both mixes require you to add bread and one requires you to also add the milk, butter and eggs. I’m guessing the first one might be commonly used in institutional kitchens. Sorry, cross purposes there, I think I was being unclear in my needlessly twiddly language. I meant that despite a dish being very simple to make at home (that was the “ease of manufacture”), packet mix versions nevertheless exist. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/135 "2020-04-11T15:40:14Z")
> [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](#): > > Sorry, cross purposes there, I think I was being unclear in my needlessly twiddly language. I meant that despite a dish being very simple to make at home (that was the “ease of manufacture”), packet mix versions nevertheless exist. No, you weren’t unclear- I was. I was trying to say the reason is probably not that making it at home is easy, but the fact that it’s difficult (or more likely impossible) to include the bread in the mix. When I buy chocolate pudding mix, I’m basically buying the cocoa- if I kept cocoa in my pantry, the mix wouldn’t be much easier. If I buy bread pudding mix and have to add milk, eggs, butter and bread, I’m not sure what’s in the mix. Cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg, maybe? Not everyone keeps those things in their pantry - but I bet they’re more common as staple items than cocoa. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/136 "2020-04-11T16:40:19Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > There are actually [bread pudding mixes](https://www.amazon.com/Bread-Pudding-20-32-Oz-Case/dp/B00CHTUZ8Y)[available](https://www.amazon.com/Mam-Papauls-Sauce-Pudding-Orleans/dp/B00EJSI0TM) but I’m guessing they are not big sellers for the at-home crowd because both mixes require you to add bread and one requires you to also add the milk, butter and eggs. I’m guessing the first one might be commonly used in institutional kitchens. Those are certainly not very popular, since neither is actually available. I guess my point was that making it from mix wouldn’t be much simpler than making it from scratch, since you generally would have to add most of the same fresh ingredients. I have seen several recipes that simplify it by adding instant pudding mix, but you still have to have the bread. IIRC, instant vanilla and chocolate pudding mixes just require you to mix it with milk and refrigerate it and you’re ready to go. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/137 "2020-04-11T16:52:46Z")
> [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](#): > > Yeah, I was going to say much the same. In a world where instant mashed potato and instant white sauce exist, I don’t think ease of manufacture can be assumed to preclude the sale of packet mixes. Mashed potatoes from scratch may be simple but they’re labor intensive. You have to peel the potatoes, cut them up, boil them for some time, then mash them. They’ll take you a half hour to an hour depending on how much you make, versus a few minutes with instant. White sauce is simple, but again is not that easy. You have to be careful to add the flour slowly to not get lumps, and regulate the temperature so you don’t burn it. It’s easy for a novice to screw it up. And it takes more time than a mix. Bread pudding, on the other hand, just requires you to mix up most of the ingredients and then just pour the mixture over the bread and bake it. While you have to assemble the ingredients, mixing them isn’t much more effort than it would be to stir up a mix and pour it on the bread. Making it from scratch doesn’t require that much more time than from a mix. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/138 "2020-04-11T17:23:14Z")
I was thinking the same as Colibri. A “bread pudding mix” would mostly save me… measuring the sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla? I guess if it came with ready-to-use pieces of stale bread it would add value to just making the stuff from scratch. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/139 "2020-04-11T17:55:57Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Mashed potatoes … You have to peel the potatoes Tastier if you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/140 "2020-04-11T18:04:35Z")
> [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](#): > > … > > You can get pies filled with mince, but they’re not “mince pies”. But if in amongst a selection different meat pies, they’d be labelled “mince” (but not “mince pie” - that would contain fruit). > > Clear? Ah, but you _can_ have mince pies containing mince, perhaps as an example of Scotland being awkward. 🙂 I definitely recall asking for a mince pie supper in chip shops. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365.md?page=8)