The Old-School Dessert You Really Need to Make Now

Have you ever tried steamed pudding? As unfamiliar as it may sound, it was once a popular dessert that home cooks relied on because it used low-cost ingredients—and even leftover ingredients from other meals. But despite its modest beginnings, it’s fit for a king.

What is steamed pudding?

Steamed pudding isn’t the custard-like “pudding” you might assume, but actually a soft, moist, cake-like treat. Steamed puddings have a long history in England as a part of Christmas celebrations. (“Bring us some figgy pudding!”) For wealthy Brits, steamed puddings were lavish affairs, loaded with eggs, butter, spices and even brandy.

But steamed puddings in Great Depression-era America were a go-to for the opposite reason: They were a thrifty choice at a time when many people were out of work and food was expensive. You’ll see recipes of the 1930s make use of ingredients like prunes and dried fruits, which were cheaper than fresh, breadcrumbs made from stale bread, sour milk, mashed potatoes, and lard made from leftover meat drippings.

The odds ‘n’ ends were combined with small amounts of spices and molasses to create a modestly sweet dessert.

So, how do you make steamed pudding?

The ingredients are mixed together and then pressed into a greased mold. There are pudding molds made precisely for this purpose, which look like small, handled buckets with tight-fitting lids. Back in the ’30s, thrifty home cooks would use what they had on hand for a mold, often empty baking powder cans! It’s covered tightly and placed on a rack in a large pot with boiling water—anywhere from a couple of inches to halfway up the sides of the mold. Then, the pudding is slowly steamed over a few hours.

When done, the pudding is inverted onto a serving plate and drizzled with a simple sauce. It’s a delicious and unique-for-today dessert: a soft and very moist cake full of plump fruits and warming spices.

It’s time to make your own!

Steamed Carrot Pudding is a perfect choice to bring this old-school treat to your Easter celebration: It’s studded with dried fruits and nuts, and drizzled (or flooded) with warm vanilla sauce on top!

Depression-Era Desserts Worth Trying Today

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Milk Cake

This is a simple recipe—and especially easy in a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet. The result is a deliciously light, airy cake. —Suzanne Coelman, Rabun Gap, Georgia

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Icebox Honey Cookies

My Grandma Wruble always had a batch of these cookies in the cookie jar and another roll in the refrigerator ready to slice and bake. Their honey and lemon flavor is delicious! —Kristi Gleason, Flower Mound, Texas

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Green Tomato Pie

When frost nips our garden, I quickly gather all the green tomatoes still on the vine and make this old family favorite. It's been handed down from my grandmother, and now my granddaughters are asking for the recipe.—Violet Thompson, Port Ludlow, Washington

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Bread Pudding with Nutmeg

I always make this bread pudding recipe for my dad on his birthday and on holidays. He says it tastes exactly like the bread pudding with nutmeg he enjoyed as a child. —Donna Powell, Montgomery City, Missouri

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Cherry & Spice Rice Pudding

I live in Traverse City, the Cherry Capital of the World. What better way to celebrate our wonderful orchards than by using plump, tart dried cherries in my favorite desserts? This slow-cooked rice pudding recipe always turns out wonderful. —Deb Perry, Traverse City, Michigan

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Sugar Cream Pie

I absolutely love Indiana sugar cream pie; especially the one that my grandma made for me. Here, we serve it warm or chilled and call it "Hoosier" sugar cream pie. —Laura Kipper, Westfield, Indiana

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Tiny Tim's Plum Pudding

In "A Christmas Carol," everyone claps for plum pudding. Our family has made this pudding our own tradition, and it really is something to clap for. —Ruthanne Karel, Hudsonville, Michigan

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Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

A friend gave me the recipe for these cookies many years ago, and they’re as delicious as the ones Mom used to make. The secret to the recipe is to measure exactly (no guessing on the amounts) and to not overbake. —Wendy Coalwell, Abbeville, Georgia

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Grandma Davidson's Baked Apple Pudding

My savvy grandmother whipped up recipes like this homey, cinnamon-scented apple pudding in the Depression years. Many of us still make them today. —Holly Sharp, Warren, Ontario

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Buttermilk Pie with Pecans

Branch out from the usual pecan pie with a creamy-crunchy version that comes out of the oven golden brown. Big slices are even better with a dollop of whipped cream.—Kathy Harding, Richmond, Missouri

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Pennsylvania Dutch Potato Doughnuts

My relatives have been making these tasty doughnuts for years. The potatoes keep them moist, and the glaze provides just the right amount of sweetness. —Marlene Reichart, Leesport, Pennsylvania

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Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies

Back in the '30s, my grandmother found this recipe on a cereal box. For moist, flavorful oatmeal cookies, these can't be beat! They make a tasty snack that's convenient to take along on family outings. —Diane Maughan, Cedar City, Utah

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Chocolate Cream Pie

Our teenage son, John, has done lots of 4-H baking. His favorite is this old-fashioned chocolate cream pie recipe with a flaky crust. —Mary Anderson, De Valls Bluff, Arkansas

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Super Spud Brownies

These moist and cakey brownies came from my mom’s old cookbook. Mashed potatoes may seem like an unusual ingredient, but this recipe took first place at a local festival. —Marlene Gerer, Denton, Montana

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Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

My mother insisted that my grandmother write down one recipe for her when she got married in 1942. That was a real effort because Grandma was a traditional pioneer-type cook who used "a little of this or that 'til it feels right." This treasured recipe is the only one she ever wrote down! —Janet Hall, Clinton, Wisconsin

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Apple-Walnut Cake with Orange Glaze

I tinkered with a plain apple cake recipe to create this moist, delicious winner. The result: old-fashioned goodness with a heavenly aroma! This cake is the perfect fall treat or holiday dessert, but it’s also great as a special breakfast or brunch item. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida

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Slow-Cooker Baked Apples

Coming home to this irresistible dessert on a dreary day is just wonderful; it’s slow-cooker easy. — Evangeline Bradford, Erlanger, Kentucky

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Ruby Grape Pie

My wife, Paula, and I produce red and green seedless table grapes on our 75-acre vineyard. Our crop is wonderful eaten out-of-hand or in salads. Paula also uses them in this unusual and tasty pie.—Salvage Island Farm, Fred Smeds, Reedley, California

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Bread Pudding

Back in 13th-century England, bread pudding was called poor man's pudding. Leftover bread was simply soaked in water, then seasoned with sugar and spices. Todays version features eggs, milk and butter.—Evette Rios, Westfield, Massachusetts

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Brown Sugar Icebox Cookies

My daughters and I have been "fair-ly" successful competitors at county fairs and bake-offs for more than 20 years. This is one of the those winning recipes.—Eilene Bogar, Minier, Illinois

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Old-Fashioned Rice Pudding

This comforting dessert is a wonderful way to end any meal. As a girl, I always waited eagerly for the first heavenly bite. Today, my husband likes to top his with a scoop of ice cream. —Sandra Melnychenko, Grandview, Manitoba

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Grandma Pruit's Vinegar Pie

This historic pie has been in our family for many generations and is always at all of the family get-togethers.—Suzette Pruit, Houston, Texas

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Surprise Spice Cake

Canned tomato soup replaces some of the oil in this spice cake, decreasing the fat, boosting the color and (surprise!) enhancing the taste. —Hannah Thompson, Scotts Valley, California

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Coconut Washboards

This simple yet satisfying coconut cookie recipe has been around for generations. Pressing a fork into the top gives the look of an old-fashioned washboard. —Tommie Sue Shaw, McAlester, Oklahoma

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Shoofly Pie

My grandmother made the best shoofly pie in the tradition of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Shoofly pie is to the Pennsylvania Dutch as pecan pie is to a Southerner. —Mark Morgan, Waterford, Wisconsin

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Nancy Mock