# 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:** 9
**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 13, 2020, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/161 "2020-04-13T01:36:29Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Well, that comment is offensive. Times two. I apologize, despite the strange things Canadians do to fried potatoes. Again. my apologies. ---
**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 13, 2020, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/162 "2020-04-13T01:40:02Z")
It was intended as humor. I’ll not say anything else about that. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/163 "2020-04-13T01:46:59Z")
This feels like a good place to warn our British brethren to be very careful about asking to borrow a rubber when in the US. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/164 "2020-04-13T01:53:03Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Flan is a firm custard that is typically baked with a caramel sauce. And there’s another language difference. Flan in the UK is an open-topped pastry dish, either sweet or savoury, and doesn’t include anything similar to custard. Like this: [Allrecipes | Recipes, How-Tos, Videos and More](http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/279/eric-s-fruit-flan.aspx) US flan looks exactly like creme caramel to me. It was confusing in Friends when Rachel was referring to a “flahn” and it looked nothing like a flan to me. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/165 "2020-04-13T01:54:37Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > You don’t have to work on it for 15 minutes to get those last little unmashed chunks (although I understand some (very strange) people prefer chunky mashed potatoes). This means war, you smooth-mashed-potato freak. I mean, why not just squirt some instant-gunk out of a can? ---
**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 13, 2020, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/166 "2020-04-13T02:06:51Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > And there’s another language difference. Flan in the UK is an open-topped pastry dish, either sweet or savoury, and doesn’t include anything similar to custard. Like this: [Allrecipes | Recipes, How-Tos, Videos and More](http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/279/eric-s-fruit-flan.aspx) > > US flan looks exactly like creme caramel to me. > > It was confusing in Friends when Rachel was referring to a “flahn” and it looked nothing like a flan to me. Flan, or flan de leche, _is_ crème caramel. It’s the Spanish term. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/167 "2020-04-13T02:25:45Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > This feels like a good place to warn our British brethren to be very careful about asking to borrow a rubber when in the US. Although come to think of it, there may be a corollary here to spotted dick. ---
**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 13, 2020, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/168 "2020-04-13T02:27:30Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Although come to think of it, there may be a corollary here to spotted dick. Oh my G-d, what have I done? :dubious: ---
**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 13, 2020, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/169 "2020-04-13T02:29:15Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > This means war, you smooth-mashed-potato freak. > > I mean, why not just squirt some instant-gunk out of a can? I liked lumps in mashed potatoes when I was a child. I recall interrupting a fight between my parents by declaring such. ---
**Author:** ![MarvinKitFox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MarvinKitFox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarvinKitFox)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/170 "2020-04-13T06:13:11Z")
> [@Garak](#): > > In the UK people call cake “pudding” Actually, the problem is that in the US people call pudding “dessert” Which leads to great confusion between after-meal munchies, and great sandy dry regions. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/171 "2020-04-13T11:05:31Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > And there’s another language difference. Flan in the UK is an open-topped pastry dish, either sweet or savoury, and doesn’t include anything similar to custard. Like this: [Allrecipes | Recipes, How-Tos, Videos and More](http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/279/eric-s-fruit-flan.aspx) > > US flan looks exactly like creme caramel to me. > > It was confusing in Friends when Rachel was referring to a “flahn” and it looked nothing like a flan to me. > [@Acsenray](#): > > Flan, or flan de leche, _is_ crème caramel. It’s the Spanish term. Similar etymology for both AIUI. ---
**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 13, 2020, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/172 "2020-04-13T11:20:34Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I’m counting peeling them, since I think most people do. Most recipes I checked suggest boiling for 15-20 minutes, which is consistent with my experience. If you can peel, cut up, and mash by hand to a creamy consistency even a family portion in less than 10 additional minutes my hat is off to you. That’s what my estimate of a half hour is based on. > > When I make mashed potatoes for a big family dinner like Thanksgiving I peel and cook several pounds. And mashing that much by hand until they’re creamy takes some time as well. That’s what my estimate of an hour is based on. 15-20 minutes boiling explains it. If they’re cut small enough, that can be shrunk radically. And maybe I’m a real potato-processing ninja, but peeling and slicing really doesn’t take me very long. Mash for a family of four: I can do raw to plate in quarter of an hour, tops. ---
**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 13, 2020, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/173 "2020-04-13T11:31:02Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Look, no offense, but you guys…boil everything, including bread. Toad in the Hole. Meat Pies. You were a lot of help in WWII, but you can’t cook. Wow! Congratulations! Saying “you guys” shows awareness that something else in the world exists! Well done you. No really, that’s great. Keep it up. No offence, obviously… ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/174 "2020-04-13T11:41:02Z")
> [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](#): > > Wow! Congratulations! Saying “you guys” shows awareness that something else in the world exists! High praise from the [del]gammons[/del] Brits, long known to be the most culturally-sensitive people on the Earth. ---
**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 13, 2020, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/175 "2020-04-13T12:20:26Z")
> [@MarvinKitFox](#): > > Actually, the problem is that in the US people call pudding “dessert” > Which leads to great confusion between after-meal munchies, and great sandy dry regions. They _did_ invent the language… ---
**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 13, 2020, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/176 "2020-04-13T12:27:12Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > And there’s another language difference. Flan in the UK is an open-topped pastry dish, either sweet or savoury, and doesn’t include anything similar to custard. Like this: [Allrecipes | Recipes, How-Tos, Videos and More](http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/279/eric-s-fruit-flan.aspx) > > US flan looks exactly like creme caramel to me. > > It was confusing in Friends when Rachel was referring to a “flahn” and it looked nothing like a flan to me. Weird. Flan, as Acsenray points out, is just crème caramel with a Spanish accent. Because Spanish cuisine is a little different from French/British cuisine, in practice if it was advertised as “flan” it’s probably slightly less sweet and the caramel is a little more “burnt” than if it was advertised as crème caramel, in my experience. But yeah, same dish. > [@MarvinKitFox](#): > > Actually, the problem is that in the US people call pudding “dessert” > Which leads to great confusion between after-meal munchies, and great sandy dry regions. That’s actually not confusing at all, because they are pronounced differently, and spelled differently. Yeah, people sometimes misspell one, but they never mispronounce them, and even in writing, it would be odd for there not to be enough context to know which was meant. ---
**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 13, 2020, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/177 "2020-04-13T13:09:03Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > High praise from the [del]gammons[/del] Brits, long known to be the most culturally-sensitive people on the Earth. Yeah, sorry about that. There was a bit of needless sniping based on a wildly outdated stereotype about a nation of terrible cooks - quite possibly a light hearted joke but frankly, being a good cook is one of the few things I’ve got going for me right now, so I sniped back on a similarly stereotypical level. I’ve lost my job, and my asthmatic, chronic-fatigue-suffering wife has just gone down with Covid-19. I’m probably judging everybody’s jokes - including my own - very badly. Pax. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/178 "2020-04-13T14:07:28Z")
I’m sorry to hear that, YorkshirePudding. ---
**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 13, 2020, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/179 "2020-04-13T14:09:16Z")
> [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](#): > > Yeah, sorry about that. There was a bit of needless sniping based on a wildly outdated stereotype about a nation of terrible cooks - quite possibly a light hearted joke but frankly, being a good cook is one of the few things I’ve got going for me right now, so I sniped back on a similarly stereotypical level. > > I’ve lost my job, and my asthmatic, chronic-fatigue-suffering wife has just gone down with Covid-19. I’m probably judging everybody’s jokes - including my own - very badly. > > Pax. Oh, man. That’s awful. Best wishes to both of you. ---
**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 13, 2020, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365/180 "2020-04-13T14:58:34Z")
Thanks folks. Sorry again for lapsing into snide bitchiness; not really feeling on top form at the moment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-uk-people-call-cake-pudding/851365.md?page=10)