Castle pudding is a sponge pudding made with flour, eggs, milk, and sugar, traditionally baked in a dariole mold and topped with strawberry jam. It can be served hot or cold and is a simple dessert that is easy to make and perfect for a British-themed party.
Castle pudding is a classic pudding that was probably first made centuries ago in the UK. Unlike the milkier or egg custards that are traditionally associated with American pudding, castle pudding is a sponge pudding, like plum pudding and spotted cock. It can be cooked using the water bath method and contains flour as well as eggs, milk and sugar.
Traditionally, castle pudding is baked in a dariole mold, producing a tall cylinder of spongy, almost “cakey” dessert. If you don’t have dariole molds, you can use ramekins instead, but you won’t produce as authentic a dish. The pudding itself is usually pretty plain, with maybe a little vanilla, or occasionally some sherry or lemon flavouring. For this reason, castle pudding is almost always topped with a dollop of strawberry jam.
When castle pudding is served hot, the strawberry jam will become a little less gelatinous and run down the sides of the dessert, creating a little strawberry sauce with each bite. You may want to consider some non-traditional toppings – any other type of jam will do or you could make some lemon curd sauce for the top.
The origins of this pudding are not very clear. A number of sponge puddings are common in England. Sometimes the only difference between a castle pudding and any other kind is the toppings. For example, you can find recipes online for syrup sponge pudding, which is topped with golden syrup or maple syrup depending on your preference. Unlike plum pudding and speckled dick, however, castle pudding does not usually contain raisins or other fruits and is not heavily spiced. It actually tastes a bit like sweetened Yorkshire pudding.
There are some differences in recipes on whether to use a water bath when cooking this dish. Some chefs recommend the water bath because it gives the dessert a softer, more spongy taste. Others suggest that the pudding cooks just as well without the water. You may need to try several recipes to decide which one is most appealing to you.
This simple dessert, which is easy to make, can be a great way to entertain guests at a British or Scottish-inspired party. A Harry Potter dinner, for example, might end with pudding service at the castle. Since the dessert doesn’t have a complex flavour, it’s likely to be a favorite with younger guests, as well as those who simply adore UK recipes.
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