25 Old Fashioned Pudding Dessert Recipes

If there’s one thing that takes me right back to grandma’s kitchen, it’s pudding. Back then, pudding wasn’t just an afterthought-it was the star of the dessert table, whether it was rice pudding cooling on the counter, a bread pudding tucked into the oven, or a holiday plum pudding brought out with pride.

These recipes made the most of simple pantry staples and turned them into something comforting, creamy, and unforgettable. Today I’m bringing you 25 old fashioned pudding dessert recipes that deserve a comeback. Each one carries a little bit of nostalgia and a whole lot of homemade love.

1

Old Fashioned Rice Pudding Recipe

Creamy pudding made with rice, milk, sugar, and cinnamon. A Depression-era favorite that turned simple staples into a cozy dessert.

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2

Old Fashioned Bread Pudding

Cubes of bread baked with eggs, milk, sugar, and spices. A thrifty dessert that was a mid-20th-century kitchen standard.

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3

Old-Fashioned Tapioca Pudding

Pearl tapioca cooked with milk and sugar, often flavored with vanilla. Popular in the 1940s–60s for its custard-like texture.

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4

Chocolate Pudding

Smooth, rich pudding made with cocoa or chocolate. A 1950s after-dinner favorite, especially with boxed pudding mixes.

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5

Banana Pudding

Layers of pudding, bananas, and vanilla wafers topped with whipped cream. A Southern staple that became a national favorite by the 1960s.

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6

Chocolate Bread Pudding

Classic bread pudding with cocoa added for richness. Popular in mid-century cookbooks when chocolate was everywhere.

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7

Cottage Pudding

A simple sponge cake served with warm pudding sauce. A Depression-era recipe prized for its thrift and adaptability.

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8

Butterscotch Pudding

Brown sugar and butter give this pudding a caramel-like flavor. A retro hit of the 1950s–70s, often made from Jell-O mixes.

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9

Vanilla Pudding

Classic creamy pudding flavored with vanilla. A timeless dessert that also doubled as a base for trifles and pies.

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10

Indian Pudding

Cornmeal, molasses, and spices baked into a custard. A colonial New England recipe that lingered in 1940s–50s kitchens.

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11

Figgy Pudding

Steamed pudding with dried figs, spices, and brandy. A holiday tradition remembered through Christmas carols and still made in 1950s homes.

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12

Old-Fashioned Lemon Pudding Cake

A magic dessert that bakes into two layers: cake on top, pudding below. Popular in 1950s–60s cookbooks.

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13

Plum Pudding

Rich steamed pudding filled with fruit, spices, and suet. A Victorian holiday recipe carried into 20th-century kitchens.

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14

Custard Pudding

Egg custard baked until silky and golden. A Depression-era favorite that felt both thrifty and elegant.

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15

Diplomatic Pudding

Layers of sponge cake, custard, and fruit, sometimes with liqueur. A mid-century dinner party dessert with European flair.

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16

Junket Recipe

Custard-like dessert made with milk and rennet tablets. Popular in the 1940s–50s as a children’s treat.

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17

Creamy Caramel Pudding (Flan-Style)

Caramel-topped custard baked until smooth. Became trendy in the U.S. in the 1960s–70s.

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18

Traditional Spotted Dick

A British steamed pudding with dried fruits. Immigrant families brought this recipe into American cookbooks of the 50s–70s.

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19

Classic Steamed Treacle Pudding

Dense pudding made with suet, dried fruit, and spices. A Victorian classic that sometimes appeared in grandma’s holiday spreads.

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20

Jam Roly Poly

Suet pastry spread with jam, rolled, and steamed. A cozy English import found in early-to-mid 20th-century kitchens.

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21

Old Fashioned Corn Pudding Recipe

A custard-like dish made with corn, milk, and eggs. Beloved in Southern and Midwestern homes, especially during the holidays.

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22

Persimmon Pudding

Dense pudding flavored with ripe persimmons and spices. A Southern and Midwestern fall favorite of the 1950s.

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23

Old-fashioned Cranberry Pudding

Steamed pudding with tart cranberries, topped with buttery sauce. A New England holiday classic through the 1940s–60s.

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24

Hasty Pudding

Cornmeal cooked into a thick porridge, sometimes sweetened with molasses. A colonial-era recipe that appeared in vintage cookbooks of the 40s–50s.

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25

Maple Pudding Cake

A silky pudding flavored with real maple syrup and a hint of vanilla. Especially popular in New England kitchens during the 1940s–60s, this cozy dessert was a way for grandma to showcase regional ingredients in a simple, comforting way.

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Wrap-Up

From silky custards to holiday steamed puddings, these desserts prove just how creative and comforting grandma’s cooking could be. Whether you’re revisiting banana pudding or finally trying persimmon pudding, each recipe is a delicious taste of nostalgia.

FAQs about Old Fashioned Pudding Desserts

What is the oldest pudding recipe?

Hasty pudding, dating back to colonial times, is one of the oldest American pudding recipes.

Why were puddings so popular in grandma’s kitchen?

They were thrifty, filling, and made with pantry staples, which was important during the Depression and post-war years.

Are steamed puddings still made today?

Yes! Holiday classics like plum pudding and figgy pudding are still made in traditional households.