corn pudding
Creamy baked corn casserole for the supper table.
Also called pudding corn, puddin' corn.
Updated September 21, 2026
corn pudding pronunciation
/KORN POOD-ing/
Meaning
Corn pudding is a soft, spoonable Southern side made with corn kernels, eggs, milk or cream, and butter. It sets up like a mild custard, sweet or savory depending on the cook. You see it at holidays, church dinners, and weeknight tables across the rural South and Appalachia.
How folks use it
- “Bring that corn pudding while it's still hot; it disappears first.”
- “Grandma's corn pudding barely needed sugar, just fresh corn and cream.”
Origin and etymology
American cooks married New World corn to English-style savory custard puddings. Nineteenth-century Southern cookbooks already print green-corn or Indian corn pudding recipes. The dish stayed a rural staple because corn was cheap, filling, and easy to stretch for a crowd.
Frequently asked questions
Is it dessert?
Usually no. Most Southern tables serve it as a side with meat and beans, even when it tastes a little sweet.