What’s the difference between Christmas cake and Christmas pudding? One has more sugar and fat |
For well over 100 years, Australians have been able to buy Christmas pudding and Christmas cake as part of their festive celebrations.
You might have some vague idea both originated in the northern hemisphere, but aren’t quite sure which one’s which.
Which is the one that’s boiled for hours? Is it the pudding or the cake you set alight? Do they both contain dried fruit? And which one’s healthier?
Christmas pudding originates from medieval England. It started as a savoury dish made with meat, root vegetables and dried fruit.
Over time, the meat was replaced with sugar and more dried fruits (known as “plum”). The dish became a sweeter, dense dessert, similar to the version we know today.
It was this plum pudding version that became associated with Christmas. During the 19th and 20th centuries, it became known as Christmas pudding.
Serving and preparing Christmas pudding includes various religious and superstitious rituals. These include setting the pudding on fire, and hiding a coin in the pudding to symbolise good fortune and wealth.
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