Prune Pudding Recipe (2024)

Recipe from the White House

Adapted by Steven Kurutz

Prune Pudding Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 35 minutes, plus an hour for chilling
Rating
4(62)
Notes
Read community notes

This smooth, satisfying pudding recipe served at Franklin Delano Roosevelt's White House originally called for leaving the prunes in water overnight. But now that pitted prunes are readily available, an hour’s soak is all you need to speed the cooking process. Sweet, but not overly so, it lends itself to delicious variations: add a bit of cardamom; sprinkle with walnuts; spoon some over thick, creamy yogurt; or try all of these together. The strong cinnamon flavor and dark color make the pudding ideal for autumn and holiday desserts. The portions here may seem small, but as with any dish involving prunes, a little goes a long way. —Steven Kurutz

Featured in: The Depressing Food of the Depression, in ‘A Square Meal’

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • ½pound (about 2 dozen medium-size) pitted prunes
  • ½cup sugar
  • ¼teaspoon powdered cinnamon
  • 11-inch cinnamon stick
  • 3tablespoons cornstarch

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

258 calories; 0 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 67 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 47 grams sugars; 1 gram protein; 2 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Prune Pudding Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Place prunes in a medium-size saucepan, pour in 2 cups hot water and let stand for 1 hour. Transfer saucepan to the stove and bring prunes to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes until soft.

  2. Step

    2

    Drain prunes, reserving the liquid, and roughly chop. Add more hot water to the reserved prune water so it totals 2 cups. Place prunes and prune water back in the saucepan and add the sugar, powdered cinnamon and cinnamon stick. Stir to combine and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.

  3. Step

    3

    Meanwhile, make a slurry by mixing the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water. Add the slurry to the prune mixture and cook over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, to thicken mixture. Remove the cinnamon stick and ladle the pudding into ramekins. Let cool, then chill in the refrigerator. Serve cold.

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62

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Cooking Notes

Virginia

I add a half cup of cocoa and it was delicious

Cedarglen

Cardamom? Walnuts? Let us not forget that this was depression era food and such added luxuries may not have been used even for FDR's table. Mrs. Nesbitt would not permit it.

Aimee Risch

Since it's not the depression, used this recipe as a template and made apricot pudding with cardamom.

Peggy Herron

The food was so bad at the White House that FDR hired his own Philippine cooks & had the commissioned in the Navy so they could cook for him on his yacht . No prune pudding was alowed .

Lynn in DC

I made this recipe minus the sugar as prunes are sufficiently sweet on their own. I quite enjoyed it but then I ate stewed prunes regularly (no pun intended) for breakfast when I was a child.

carol

This pudding is very similar to my Grandmother’s Norwegian sviskegrit (or svedskegrød) which we all loved. She used prunes which she stewed and then removed the pits, added apple sauce and cinnamon. Her son, my father, added a little cream to his dish. No sugar, no thickener! Always a welcome visit to childhood

alacarte

My riff: soaked the prunes in hot water along with 2 Earl Grey tea bags for some extra flavor. I removed the bags after the hour of soaking. Added 1/4 tsp cardamom, 2 tbsp cocoa powder and 1/4 cup sugar to the cinnamon (stick and spice). Turned out well! I do wonder why the prunes are soaked whole, drained and then chopped, rather than chopped first before soaking.

Betty

I had problems. It seemed to me the corn starch to water ratio for the slurry was off because when I added it to the prune mixture the corn starch turned into gelatinous chunks. So I fished out the chunks and tried again with 3 T. corn starch to 3 T. water and that seemed to work better, but the moment you add the cornstarch and water mixture to the hot prune mixture you have to immediately beat it quickly because if you're too slow, little white pieces that look like cartilage form.

Aimee Risch

Since it's not the depression, used this recipe as a template and made apricot pudding with cardamom.

Paula

What is the advantage of making stewed prunes into a pudding.
Cornstarch + prunes = ???
Seems like stewed prunes might serve here.

Virginia

I add a half cup of cocoa and it was delicious

Lynn in DC

I made this recipe minus the sugar as prunes are sufficiently sweet on their own. I quite enjoyed it but then I ate stewed prunes regularly (no pun intended) for breakfast when I was a child.

Rebecca

Has anyone made this with brown sugar?

Teresa Hall Briggs

Can I substitute additional cinnamon for the 1" cinnamon stick? If so, how much?

Peggy Herron

The food was so bad at the White House that FDR hired his own Philippine cooks & had the commissioned in the Navy so they could cook for him on his yacht . No prune pudding was alowed .

Cedarglen

Cardamom? Walnuts? Let us not forget that this was depression era food and such added luxuries may not have been used even for FDR's table. Mrs. Nesbitt would not permit it.

Darren

Just because that is how it was then, doesn't mean it's not an interesting variation to try now...

Besides, walnuts are a handy windfall foodstuff that probably got well eaten during the depression

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Prune Pudding Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long to soak prunes before eating? ›

How To Eat Prunes? Ayurveda recommends consuming prunes that were soaked in water for at least 2 to 3 hours, for better absorption of the nutrients by the digestive tract.

Do stewed prunes work better? ›

Some people find stewed prunes more effective than prune juice, while others find the opposite. Second, it depends on how you're using them. If you're looking for a natural laxative effect to help with constipation, stewed prunes are a better option than prune juice because they contain more fiber.

How long does pureed prunes last? ›

Combine the prunes and water in a blender. Pulse to combine, then blend until smooth, pourable consistency forms, scraping the sides if necessary. Store the purée in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.

How many prunes should you eat to soften stool? ›

For children, Dr. Jow recommended one to two prunes or two to four ounces of prune juice daily. For adults, he suggested three to five prunes or half a cup of prune juice once or twice daily. And be careful not to eat too many prunes, warned Dr.

Should I eat prunes at night or morning for constipation? ›

If you're trying prune juice for the first time, the general recommendation is for adults to start with a half-cup (4-ounce) serving in the morning. (Research shows that drinking as little as 2 ounces of prune juice a day can increase bowel movements.)

Is it better to eat prunes or drink prune juice as a laxative? ›

Dried prunes can be just as effective as prune juice in providing constipation relief. In fact, dried prunes may be a preferred option for mild to moderate cases. This is due to their higher concentration of sorbitol and fiber compared to prune juice, which loses some fiber during the juicing process.

Does prune juice soften stool that is already hard? ›

While the fiber may bulk up your stools, the sorbitol in the prune juice helps soften them, making them easier to pass. Prune juice is also a good source of vitamin C and iron. Eating dried plums or prunes is another way to ward off constipation.

What drink is good for emptying your bowels? ›

Beneficial drinks for constipation include prune juice, lemon juice, apple juice, and cranberry juice. However, some constipation relief over-the-counter (OTC) medications can also come in a drink format.

How long after eating prunes do you go to the bathroom? ›

How quickly prunes or prune juice will work depends on each individual. Some will see results in as little as a few hours. For some, it may take a day or so. Using this “go-slow” approach makes you more likely to improve symptoms without rapid urgency or even diarrhea.

How do you tell if dried prunes have gone bad? ›

Texture & taste

Another way to tell if your dried fruit has spoiled is by giving it a taste test. If the texture feels harder than upon opening, then this could indicate that the fruit's moisture levels have changed, which means it's not going to be the best to eat.

Is prune juice or purée better for constipation? ›

The best way to give prunes to your baby is when you start introducing foods around six months. You can give your baby whole mashed or pureed prunes instead of prune juice. Your baby will get both the sorbitol and the fiber from whole pureed prunes, which will help with constipation.

Is it necessary to soak prunes in water? ›

“While dry fruits like raisins, apricots and prunes, should be rinsed well and soaked in clean water so that the sulphites used to preserve them gets removed from their surface.”, adds Dr Zubeida Tumbi.

How long does it take to rehydrate prunes? ›

Add each fruit to a separate bowl and add enough water to cover them. Leave them to soak for as much time as it takes for them to soften and rehydrate. The time will depend on each fruit (about 1 hour for the small fruits and 2 hours for the larger fruits), so don't forget to keep an eye on every bowl!

How long do soaked prunes last in the fridge? ›

HOW TO STORE STEWED PRUNES. Stewed prunes will last for a month (and sometimes even beyond) when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Can prunes firm up stool? ›

First, prunes contain soluble fibers.

These “absorb water, forming a gel-like substance that softens stools, making them easier to pass,” said Dr.

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