Queen of Puddings — bread-crumb pudding with jam and meringue
Queen of puddings is a Victorian British dessert: a baked custard set with bread crumbs, topped with a layer of warm raspberry jam, finished with a piped meringue browned in the oven. The cross-section reveals three distinct layers — pale custard, ruby jam, white meringue.
i. Origin & history
Queen of puddings is said to have been named for Queen Victoria, though the dessert predates her reign. The Buckingham Palace kitchens reputedly made it for state dinners.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 6 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 100 g fresh white breadcrumbs
- 60 g caster sugar
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 egg yolks
- 500 ml whole milk
- 30 g unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 200 g raspberry jam
- 3 egg whites
- 100 g caster sugar
- Pinch salt
iii. Method
- Heat oven to 170 °C. Butter a 1 litre baking dish.
- Warm milk, butter, sugar and zest; stir into breadcrumbs; let stand 10 min. Beat in yolks and vanilla.
- Pour into the dish. Bake 30 min until just-set.
- Spread warm jam over the surface.
- Whip whites with salt; gradually add sugar; whip to stiff glossy meringue. Pipe over the jam.
- Return to oven at 200 °C for 8-10 min until meringue is golden-tipped. Serve warm.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Use the freshest ingredients you can. The recipe relies on them.
- Read the method through first. Several steps must be ready in advance.
- Season patiently. Sweetness and salt are tuned at the end, not the start.
v. Variations
Modern queen of puddings uses different jams (apricot, strawberry). Individual versions are baked in ramekins.
vi. Common questions
What is queen of puddings?
Queen of Puddings is bread-crumb pudding with jam and meringue, from british & irish cuisine. The cross-section reveals three distinct layers — pale custard, ruby jam, white meringue
Where is queen of puddings from?
Queen of Puddings is from the british & irish dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does queen of puddings keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: 1 day.