Is There A Difference Between Corn Pudding And Corn Casserole? (2024)

Austin Havens-Bowen

·3 min read

Corn is an integral ingredient in American cuisine, which makes sense seeing how it's the largest crop in the country. Corn is common in many side dishes including corn pudding and corn casserole. Both of these creamy dishes are often served during the holidays, especially in households that embracesouthern cooking. If you've ever had the joy of eating corn pudding or casserole, you might think the name is interchangeable because they're very similar, but there are subtle differences between the foods.

The main difference is the texture. Corn pudding has a similar gelatinous texture to dessert pudding, hence its name, so it's creamy and loose. In comparison, corn casserole has a thicker consistency and holds its shape better than the pudding because it uses thickening agents like instant cornbread mix. Both use similar ingredients including a variation of corn, usually either creamed corn or fresh, frozen, or canned kernels — but, of course, every recipe is a little different.

Read more: Styles Of Regional BBQ In The US

The History Of Corn Pudding

Corn pudding is thought to have Native American roots because Native peoples showed British colonists how to grow the crop, and how to scrape it off the cob and mix it with water to use in dishes like cornpone. It makes sense that corn pudding blends these cultures, because it has a similar texture to custard which is an integral part of British cuisine. Sometimes the dish was referred to as spoonbread or hoppy glop, but corn pudding seems to be the name that's held on throughout generations. Today, it's commonly served across the southern United States.

Its core ingredients are creamed corn (usually canned), corn kernels, milk, sugar, butter, and eggs. Because it uses sugar, corn pudding can be sweeter than the casserole. Some recipes use flour or cornstarch to thicken the batter. It's baked in a casserole dish until it has the texture of custard or pudding. A spoonful of corn pudding will have a golden brown crust and creamy filling. You can mix it up and add cheese, green onions, seasonings like black pepper or garlic powder, or sliced jalapeños to kick up the heat of the dish.

Corn Casserole Is Thicker

Is There A Difference Between Corn Pudding And Corn Casserole? (2)

There's not as much history related to corn casserole, likely because it's essentially a variation of corn pudding. However, the dish uses instant corn muffin mix which was introduced by Jiffy around 1950 in the U.S., so we can assume that it came into being sometime after that. The addition of the instant cornbread results in a thicker texture, and you may prefer using a fork to serve and eat it.

Despite the textural difference between corn casserole and pudding, the ingredients are similar. Most cornbread casseroles use creamed corn, whole corn kernels, Jiffy corn muffin mix, sour cream, and butter. Those ingredients like sour cream make it more tangy and savory compared to the sweeter pudding; plus keep in mind that there's no sugar. Some recipes add shredded cheese, mayonnaise (like our recipe), or eggs as a binder. For cooking, the casserole is usually baked longer than the pudding, but the result will look very similar with a golden-brown crust.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.

Is There A Difference Between Corn Pudding And Corn Casserole? (2024)

FAQs

Is There A Difference Between Corn Pudding And Corn Casserole? ›

The main difference is the texture. Corn pudding has a similar gelatinous texture to dessert pudding, hence its name, so it's creamy and loose. In comparison, corn casserole has a thicker consistency and holds its shape better than the pudding because it uses thickening agents like instant cornbread mix.

What is the difference between corn pudding and corn casserole? ›

The main difference between the two is texture. Corn pudding has a gelatinous consistency similar to dessert pudding; the casserole is thicker and can hold its shape. Despite the textural difference between corn casserole and pudding, the ingredients are similar.

What's the difference between cornbread and cornbread pudding? ›

Basically, spoonbread is cornbread that is soft enough to eat with a spoon and is made from a cornmeal base. Corn pudding is more of an egg- and dairy-based pudding with corn kernels studded throughout.

What is the origin of corn pudding? ›

Corn pudding is the offspring of the marriage of traditional Native American foods and a variation of English savory-custard pudding. Corn puddings have been prepared and served, with few changes in ingredients or culinary technique, for centuries.

Why is my corn casserole so runny? ›

If your corn casserole is runny, it could be because of the extra moisture that was in your corn kernels. If you want to try baking it longer to see if it thickens, make sure to cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, not to burn the top.

Why is my corn pudding soupy? ›

Why is my corn pudding watery? If corn pudding cooks too quickly, the eggs can curdle and the solids separate from the liquid – resulting in a watery pudding.

Does corn casserole need to be refrigerated? ›

2. Pre-baked: Feel free to go ahead and bake the prepared casserole up to two days ahead. Let the casserole fully cool and then cover tightly with plastic and store in the refrigerator. To reheat: Warm in a 300 degree oven for 10-20 minutes, or until warmed through.

Why is it called pudding? ›

The word pudding is believed to come from the French boudin, which may derive from the Latin botellus, meaning "small sausage", referring to encased meats used in medieval European puddings. Another proposed etymology is from the West German 'pud' meaning 'to swell'.

Who made the first pudding? ›

It has its origins in medieval England, with early recipes making use of dried fruit, suet, breadcrumbs, flour, eggs and spice, along with liquid such as milk or fortified wine. Later, recipes became more elaborate.

What is cornmeal pudding made of? ›

Pour the cornmeal and flour into a large bowl. Add the water, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, granulated sugar and coconut then stir to remove all lumps. Add the moistened mixture to the liquid and stir quickly over low - medium heat with wooden spoon or whisk breaking up any lumps if present.

How do I tell if my corn casserole is done? ›

It has that “pudding” consistency, so you want it to be moist on the inside. You can tell that your corn casserole is done when it's lightly brown on top and the center is set — but still soft.

How to make a casserole less runny? ›

Simply whisk equal parts butter and flour together. Then, roll the thick paste into little teaspoon-sized balls. Add one ball to your casserole at a time, waiting about a minute before adding another one, until you get the right thickness.

How do I make my casserole thicker? ›

Like some other posters have said, corn flour or regular plain mixed and smoothed with water to a thick consistency prior to adding to the casserole will help thicken it. Remember to stir it in well and leave it a good half an hour or more so that the flour “cooks out” or you will taste it.

What is the difference between New York cornbread and southern cornbread? ›

While both styles generally use the same ingredients -- cornmeal, flour, eggs, and baking powder -- the variance lies in the flavor and texture. Northern-style cornbread tends to be sweeter, moister, and cake-like compared to its Southern counterpart.

Is there a difference between creamed corn and cream style corn? ›

Creamed corn (which is also known by other names, such as cream-style sweet corn) is a type of creamed vegetable dish made by combining pieces of whole sweetcorn with a soupy liquid of milky residue from immature pulped corn kernels scraped from the cob.

Is corn souffle the same as cornbread? ›

The main difference between corn casserole and cornbread is the addition of whole corn, cream of corn, and cheese to the casserole. They do have many similar ingredients, though.

What's the difference between a souffle and a casserole? ›

What is the difference between a casserole and a souffle? The main difference between a souffle and a casserole is that souffles tend to have a lighter texture and are leavened by egg whites. For this particular dish, the difference between a sweet potato casserole and a souffle is in the texture of the potatoes.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nathanael Baumbach

Last Updated:

Views: 6366

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nathanael Baumbach

Birthday: 1998-12-02

Address: Apt. 829 751 Glover View, West Orlando, IN 22436

Phone: +901025288581

Job: Internal IT Coordinator

Hobby: Gunsmithing, Motor sports, Flying, Skiing, Hooping, Lego building, Ice skating

Introduction: My name is Nathanael Baumbach, I am a fantastic, nice, victorious, brave, healthy, cute, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.