Name: Queen of Puddings
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 3 large egg yolks (whites used for meringue topping); 1 large egg; 1½ cups whole milk; 2 ounces butter; 2 cups breadcrumbs; ¼ cup sugar; 1 lemon (grated zest); ¼ cup raspberry jam; 3 large egg whites (yolks used in custard base); ¾ cup sugar; 1 pinch salt

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Queen of Puddings is a baked custard of eggs, milk, butter, sugar and breadcrumbs, spread with jam and topped with toasted meringue.

A traditional British dessert, it was adopted by Irish cooks many years ago, probably because it is a luxurious treat made with the most inexpensive ingredients.

a serving of queen of puddings beside a meringue topped baked pudding — Queen of Puddings

Queen of Puddings Table of Contents

Retro British Pudding
Ingredients for Queen of Puddings
Directions for Homemade Queen of Puddings
Recipe Card for Queen of Puddings

Retro British Pudding

I love how generations past didn't need fancy spices, herbs and rare ingredients to create delicious delicacies.

The name "Queen of Puddings" implies a most decadent sweet, with no hint it is made with everyday kitchen staples, and a perfect way to use up stale bread.

Today's recipe includes step-by-step instructions for this retro pudding of custard and jam topped with soft, chewy meringue. This is a true retro dessert, and one of my all-time favorites from my childhood.

eggs, sugar, lemon, butter, milk, jam and breadcrumbs for Queen of Puddings — Ingredients for Queen of Puddings

Ingredients for Queen of Puddings

Here's a list of the ingredients required. You'll find exact amounts in the printable recipe below the instruction section. There you can choose between US and Metric equivalents for the measurement system that works best for you.

For the Custard Base

egg yolks
full fat milk
egg
butter
breadcrumbs
sugar
lemon zest

For the Middle Layer

raspberry jelly or jam

For the Meringue Topping

egg whites
sugar
pinch salt

Directions for Homemade Queen of Puddings

Here you'll find step-by-step photographic instructions for making a delicious Queen of Puddings the traditional way.

cracked egg shell being used to separate egg white and yolk for Queen of Puddings — Separating eggs

Start by separating 3 of the egg yolks and whites. Set the egg whites aside. They'll be used for the meringue topping.

No leftover egg whites or yolks with this recipe. The yolks are used in the base and the whites are needed for the meringue topping. Just perfect!

butter, milk sugar and lemon zest in a saucepan — Making a custard for the base of a Queen of Puddings

Next step is to make the custard base.

Add the milk, sugar, butter and grated lemon peel to a saucepan. Gently heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Use whole milk. The extra fat enhances the custard.

Not all Queen of Puddings recipes call for the milk to be heated. I find this step helps to ensure the sugar is fully dissolved and the lemon flavor is evenly distributed throughout the custard base.

A wooden spoon in custard in a saucepan — Stirring custard

Be careful not to boil the milk mixture. The custard flavor will be a little burnt if the milk is scalded.

Remove the mixture from the heat and allow it to cool a little, before mixing it with the egg yolks. If the milk is too hot the eggs will curdle.

whisking eggs in a bowl — Whisking custard to prevent lumps

Whisk the egg yolks and one full egg together.

whisking milk and eggs for custard — Custard for Queen of Puddings Base

Pour the pre-heated, but cooled milk over the eggs, and whisk together.

Adding breadcrumbs to custard — Adding bread crumbs to custard for Queen of Puddings

Stir the breadcrumbs into the milk and egg mixture. I like to let it stand for 30 minutes so the crumbs soak up the liquid.

Preheat oven to 325°F.

A custard and breadcrumb slurry being poured into a casserole dish — Pouring the custard and bread crumb base for Queen of Puddings into a greased casserole dish

Grease a 2 quart casserole or ovenproof dish, then pour the breadcrumb mixture into the prepared dish.

Baking a pudding in a casserole in a bain marie — Filling a bain marie for cooking a custard pudding

I like to cook the base in a "bain marie". That's the fancy French term for a hot water bath.

Custards cook more evenly when the baking dish is placed in a larger tin filled halfway with hot water.

A common mistake when baking custard is not to put enough water in the hot-water bath. To best protect your custard from excessive heat, the water lever should reach at last half way on the baking dish.

Bake the custard in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes until the custard has set.

Baked custard and bread layer for Queen of Puddings in a pudding dish — Cooked base of a Queen of Puddings

When it's done the top will be springy and a light golden color. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool a little.

You can discard the "bain marie" or water bath at this stage. It won't be needed again.

Raspberry jam layered on top of a custard base in a pudding dish — Spreading raspberry jam on the base of a Queen of Puddings

Spread the jelly, or jam as we say in Ireland, over the custard base. I like a thick layer of raspberry jam, but feel free to use strawberry or blackberry preserves.

Beaten egg whites in a bowl with egg beaters — Whipping egg whites for meringue

Now it's time to prepare the meringue topping.

Whisk the three egg whites with a pinch of salt using a hand mixer.

It's ready for the sugar once firm white peaks form.

Add the sugar and beat again until their surface is glossy.

topping jam and bread pudding with meringue for Queen of Puddings — Adding a meringue layer to Queen of Puddings

Some like to use a piping bag for a very precise, decorative topping.

I just like to load the meringue on top of the jam, then spread it out with a spoon.

Using a spoon to create peaks on a meringue layer for Queen of Puddings — Using the back of a spoon to create peaks on a meringue layer

I get carried away making a snow storm scene using the back of a spoon, that ends up looking like the Sahara dessert when cooked.

Return the pudding to the oven. Bake until the meringue is golden brown in color, which takes about 20 minutes.

A baked queen of puddings just out of the oven — Baked Queen of Puddings with Golden Meringue Layer

Cool just a little before serving.

It's delicious with hot custard or pouring cream.

Golden topped meringue Queen of Puddings — Inside of a Queen of Puddings

This is definitely a dessert that is best served warm.

meringue topping with jam and Queen of puddings serving in a bowl — Breadcurmb and custard base topped with jam and meringue for a Queen of Puddings

Queen of Puddings is simply a delicious, retro dessert. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Recipe Card for Queen of Puddings

Here's the printable recipe card.

Queen of Puddings

A sweet custard bread pudding topped with a layer of jam and delicious meringue.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: British, Irish

Keyword: Breadcrumbs, Jam, Meringue, Pudding

Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 1

Total Time: 1 30

Servings:

Calories: 351kcal

Ingredients

Custard Base

3 large egg yolks whites used for meringue topping
1 large egg
1½ cups whole milk
2 ounces butter
2 cups breadcrumbs
¼ cup sugar
1 lemon grated zest

Filling

¼ cup raspberry jam

Meringue Topping

3 large egg whites yolks used in custard base
¾ cup sugar
1 pinch salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Custard Base

Pre-heat oven to 325°F. Grease a 2 quart casserole or ovenproof dish.
Separate 3 of the egg yolks and whites. Set the egg whites aside for the meringue topping.
Add the milk, sugar, butter, and lemon rind to a saucepan. Gently heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Do not boil the milk mixture. Remove from heat and allow to cool a little.
Beat three egg yolks and one full egg together in a separate bowl. Pour the pre-heated, but cooled milk over the eggs, and whisk together.
Stir the breadcrumbs into the milk and egg mixture. Let stand for 30 minutes to allow the crumbs soak up the liquid.
Pour the breadcrumb mixture into the prepared dish.
Place the casserole in a larger 9 x 13 baking dish or roasting tin. Carefully pour hot water into the baking pan until it reaches half-way up the side of the pudding dish.
Bake for about 40 minutes until mixture is firm and a golden color. Remove from oven. Discard the "bain marie" or water bath. Allow the base to cool while preparing the meringue topping.

Filling and Meringue Topping

Using an electric mixer beat the three egg whites with a pinch of salt until firm white peaks form. Add the sugar and beat until their surface is glossy.
Spread the jam over the cooked custard base.
Top with the meringue mixture. Use the back of a spoon to spread the meringue and form decorative peaks. If you would like a more uniform, eye-appealing topping, use a piping bag to add the meringue layer in decorative swirls
Return the pudding to the oven. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the meringue is golden brown in color.
Serve warm - delicious with hot custard or whipped cream.

Nutrition Facts

Queen of Puddings

Amount Per Serving (100 g)

Calories 351 Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Cholesterol 112mg37%

Sodium 309mg13%

Potassium 176mg5%

Carbohydrates 56g19%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 35g39%

Protein 8g16%

Vitamin A 377IU8%

Vitamin C 8mg10%

Calcium 120mg12%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.

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If you would like to serve this pudding with hot custard sauce, here's my recipe for homemade custard from scratch.

Thanks for stopping by to check out my recipes. Happy cooking from my Irish home to yours.