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.

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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? (3)

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? ›

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 casserole and corn pudding? ›

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 another name for corn pudding? ›

Corn pudding (also called pudding corn, puddin' corn, hoppy glop, or spoonbread) is a creamy dish prepared from stewed corn, water, any of various thickening agents, and optional additional flavoring or texturing ingredients.

How do you know when corn casserole is done? ›

You can tell your corn casserole is done when it's lightly brown on top and the center is set and doesn't jiggle. *Once it's done, I like to turn my oven off and crack open the oven door and leave it in there for about 5 to 7 more minutes.

When was corn casserole invented? ›

Spoonbread (aka corn casserole) made with butter, milk, and eggs wasn't introduced until after the Civil War. However, it made a big splash once it debuted in society.

What is corn pudding made of? ›

Corn pudding is a creamy side made with stewed corn, butter, and milk. It often features a thickening agent, such as cornstarch, to make the dish extra decadent. Corn pudding originated in the American South and can be served all year long, but it's frequently associated with Thanksgiving.

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.

What do Americans call pudding? ›

In the United States, pudding means a sweet, milk-based dessert similar in consistency to egg-based custards, instant custards or a mousse, often commercially set using cornstarch, gelatin or similar coagulating agent such as Jell-O.

Does corn casserole need to be refrigerated? ›

DOES sweet CORN CASSEROLE NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED? This cream Corn Casserole recipe is so moist, the leftovers stay perfectly tender for days! To store, let casserole cool to room temperature, cover a couple times in plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.

What is a fancy name for corn? ›

Maize is another word for corn, the tall-growing grain that produces yellow kernels on long ears. A small farmer might grow several different types of maize.

Why is my corn casserole mushy? ›

My corn pudding casserole is mushy; what did I do wrong? If the corn pudding is mushy, it's likely because there was too much liquid! Make sure you drain the whole kernel corn before adding it to the mixture. If you're using frozen corn, allow it to thaw before using it to reduce the moisture.

How long to reheat corn casserole? ›

FOR 24-48 HOURS IN ADVANCE:

Cool until the casserole is no longer steaming. Cover with foil and chill for up to 2 days. Prior to serving, bring the casserole to room temperature. Reheat at 350°F for 30-40 minutes.

How can I tell if my casserole is done? ›

Poking a casserole with a toothpick or a fork to see if it comes out clean is a helpful way to know what's happening in the center. Shaking the pan will also tell you if everything is cooked and set.

Are corn casserole and corn pudding the same? ›

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 country did casserole come from? ›

The word casserole is derived from a French word that means 'saucepan'.

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

While cornbread has an almost cake-like texture, corn pudding is much lighter and has more of a soufflé texture. They both taste delicious, but you may find that corn pudding is even richer.

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.

Is there a difference between corn muffin and cornbread mix? ›

Cornbread is a quick bread made with cornmeal that may or may not contain sugar and is usually baked in a skillet, pan, or into sticks. Corn muffins are baked in muffin tins and contain cornmeal and generous amounts of sugar; most are more cake-like in texture.

What is the difference between corn and cream style corn? ›

Cream style corn is unlike whole kernel corn in that it is usually processed in batches. Therefore, any "deviant" container could represent a complete batch that fails requirements and not just a deviant caused by variability. The Corn starch, sugar and salt are added to cream style corn.

What is the difference between corn and sweet corn? ›

The variety of corn we enjoy eating is called sweet corn, which does not grow nearly as tall as field corn (another identifiable difference). Sweet corn has a higher sugar content than cow corn and is picked while immature before the sugar has a chance to turn into starch. Fresh, sweet corn is juicy.

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