Steamed puddings and small holiday gatherings just seem to go together. So each year, as the holidays approach, I look at the steamed pudding recipes in hundred-year-old cookbooks and find one to try. Steamed puddings served with a sweet sauce were much more popular back then than they are now.
Steamed puddings typically require several hours of steaming – and often are considered too time consuming (and energy consuming) to be worth making. But back in the days when homes had wood or coal cook stoves that were always lit, steamed pudding were considered easy. The large pot with water that the molded pudding was put into could be put on the back burner of the stove. The cook could then move on to other activities, and come back several hours later and the pudding would be done.
This year the steamed pudding recipe that intrigued me was one for Ginger Pudding, so I decided to give it a try. It was lovely when served warm with Vanilla Sauce. The pudding texture was lovely, and the sweet warmth of the ginger created a taste treat.
Here’s the original recipe:
Here’s the recipe for the Vanilla Sauce:
And, here’s the Lemon Sauce II recipe (and not the Lemon Sauce I or the Lemon Sauce III recipe) that the Vanilla Sauce recipe refers to:
It always seems a little odd how old cookbooks often refer cooks to multiple recipes scattered throughout the cookbook rather than just placing the entire recipe in the correct format in one spot – but I guess that it saved a little space (though, in my opinion, it tends to make the original recipe that I was trying to make a bit more confusing).
Here’s the recipe updated for modern cooks:
Steamed Ginger Pudding
Steamed Ginger Pudding
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1egg
1 cup milk
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons powdered ginger
2 1/4 cups flour
Put the butter in a bowl and then cream; gradually add the sugar while continuing to beat. Add egg and beat; then add the milk, baking powder, salt, ginger, and flour. Beat until smooth. Pour the batter into a greased pudding mold, cover, and steam for two hours. Remove from the steaming water, wait a few minutes, then remove from mold. Serve warm with Vanilla Sauce. (This pudding is also excellent cold without the Vanilla Sauce.)
*Notes: I used a 2 liter mold, but had some extra space at the top. One slightly smaller could be used. Historically coffee cans were often used as molds. Cooks Info describes how to steam a pudding (or follow the directions that come with the mold).
Vanilla Sauce
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup boiling water
1 tablespoon cornstarch or 1 1/2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Dash salt
Mix the sugar and cornstarch in a sauce pan; add the water gradually while stirring constantly using medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and continue to boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the butter, vanilla, and salt. Serve warm; may be reheated.
A Hundred Years Ago 
Yummy 😋
It’s tasty.
This sounds perfect for the Holidays! I have a pottery steamer designed for puddings. This may join my blueberry pudding in the rotation!!
Thanks
I think that you’ll like this recipe.
Yum!
It’s delish.
This looks delicious and sounds wonderful. I may have to give it a whirl, though I have not made any dessert in ages.
It’s a lovely dessert – and I thought that it was fun to make a steamed pudding since I don’t do it very often.
Been some time since we last made a steamed pudding, will give this one a try, we love ginger!
The ginger gives this pudding a very nice flavor.
Boy does this look delicious! I think I’ll give it a try around Christmastime. It would also be delicious with the lemon sauce I think!
It might be good with Lemon Sauce. Maybe you could give the “Lemon Sauce II” recipe a try.
All bookmarked!
YUM! This sounds delicious!
It’s tasty.
Looks wonderful! Someone mention lemon instead of vanilla that sounds good too!
I can’t quite picture what this pudding would taste like with lemon sauce, but it might be very nice.
I love this idea for a traditional holiday dessert. Thank you. Looks delicious too!
You’re welcome. It’s nice to hear that you liked this post.
We love steam pudding and it’s been such along time maybe I should treat them… the ginger sounds delicious for change 🙂
I enjoyed the Ginger Pudding. It was a nice change from many of the typical steamed puddings.
As I love ginger I’m sure I will love it too 🙂 x