National Indian Pudding Day Date in the current year: November 13, 2024

Hasty pudding is a dish of grains cooked in milk or water. It originated in Britain and was first made in the 16th century. British hasty pudding is made with wheat flour. In the 17th century, it was brought to North America by English colonists, where it was completely transformed.

Since the colonists had no wheat, they substituted it with cornmeal. The new name, Indian pudding, was derived from "Indian meal", the colonists' name for cornmeal. They called it that because they had learned to grow this grain from Native Americans.

Colonists substituted milk for water, added maple syrup or molasses as a sweetener, and used available spices, typically ginger and cinnamon. Some Indian pudding recipes also included eggs, butter, raisins, and nuts. Indian pudding was baked in a slow oven for several hours. It had a smooth texture, while traditional hasty pudding is more porridge-like.

Indian pudding was once a traditional Thanksgiving dish. It is still associated with fall holidays, so it is no wonder that National Indian Pudding Day is celebrated in November. Indian pudding is usually served warm, sometimes with whipped cream or ice cream.