How British Puddings Switched From Savory to Sweet

Lori Dorn
November 25, 2025

DW Food explained that pudding was originally a savory dish in the United Kingdom, from the 13th to the 18th centuries. It was after that point in history that a pudding became known as a sweet dish. While the dishes changed in taste, the names remained the same.

Puddings are everywhere in the UK. A savory sausage made out of blood is a pudding, a batter from Yorkshire is a pudding, and of course, sweet desserts are also called puddings. But why?

Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.