Pudding vs. Custard — What Is The Difference?

Introduction

A cooked mixture of milk or cream, butter, sugar, and flour is called pudding. Pudding can be made without eggs, with the thickness coming from cornstarch or flour. This creamy dish is best served in a bowl, occasionally with berries or whipped cream on top. Chocolate pudding contains chocolate or cocoa powder additionally. This dessert is trendy in America and the United Kingdom. 

Custard is a cooked combination of eggs, cream, and sweetened milk. It serves as the foundation for a variety of sweets, including pastry cream, crème brûlée, crème caramel, and crème anglaise. Eggs are a key custard ingredient since they are a thickening agent. The custard thickens as the egg yolk-to-cream ratio increases.

Actual Differences

While both have many similarities, pudding, and custard are different, especially regarding ingredients and preparation. Let us go through some differences between these two. 

The main difference between pudding and custard is the thickening agent used for the preparation of each dessert. Pudding uses cornstarch or flour as a natural thickening agent instead of eggs to transform sweetened milk into your favorite dessert. Eggs are a necessary custard ingredient since they give the dessert gelatinous consistency.

Pudding is lighter and fluffier than traditional custard. Custard has a heavier and firmer texture. 

One of the key differences is flavoring. Everyone knows about pudding's chocolate and vanilla flavors, but usually, no one flavors custard. 

Nutrition

Now let's explore the nutritional differences between chocolate pudding and egg custard. Both desserts contain nearly 75% of water but differ in the distribution of other nutrients. 

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison

Custard

4

:

1

Pudding

Contains more Protein +26.3%

Contains more Fats +27%

Contains more Carbs +11.6%

Equal in Water - 73.13

Equal in Other - 0.92

Custard

Protein: 3.99 g

Fats: 4 g

Carbs: 17.6 g

Water: 73.45 g

Other: 0.96 g

Pudding

Protein: 3.16 g

Fats: 3.15 g

Carbs: 19.64 g

Water: 73.13 g

Other: 0.92 g

Contains more Protein +26.3%

Contains more Fats +27%

Contains more Carbs +11.6%

Equal in Water - 73.13

Equal in Other - 0.92

Cholesterol

Custard is nearly nine times richer in cholesterol. Pudding provides 6mg of it, while custard contains 51mg. 

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison

Custard

2

:

1

Pudding

Contains more Monounsaturated Fat +37.6%

Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +73.3%

Contains less Saturated Fat -10.9%

Custard

Saturated Fat: 2.032 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 1.127 g

Polyunsaturated fat: 0.312 g

Pudding

Saturated Fat: 1.81 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.819 g

Polyunsaturated fat: 0.18 g

Contains more Monounsaturated Fat +37.6%

Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +73.3%

Contains less Saturated Fat -10.9%

 

Minerals

The mineral composition of these food products is almost similar. However, pudding is higher in iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper. In contrast, calcium, potassium, and zinc levels are higher in custard. Check the mineral comparison in the chart below. 

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

Custard

6

:

3

Pudding

Contains more Calcium +31.1%

Contains more Phosphorus +49.4%

Contains more Potassium +38%

Contains less Sodium -14.3%

Contains more Selenium +62.2%

Contains more Magnesium +25%

Contains more Copper +270%

Contains more Manganese +1285.7%

Equal in Iron - 0.34

Equal in Zinc - 0.48

Custard

Pudding

Contains more Calcium +31.1%

Contains more Phosphorus +49.4%

Contains more Potassium +38%

Contains less Sodium -14.3%

Contains more Selenium +62.2%

Contains more Magnesium +25%

Contains more Copper +270%

Contains more Manganese +1285.7%

Equal in Iron - 0.34

Equal in Zinc - 0.48

 

Vitamins

Custard has higher vitamin content than pudding. Custard is richer in all B-complex vitamins. Pudding is eight times richer in vitamin C.

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

Custard

9

:

2

Pudding

Contains more Vitamin A +30.9%

Contains more Vitamin C +∞%

Contains more Vitamin B1 +60.5%

Contains more Vitamin B2 +40.1%

Contains more Vitamin B5 +114.4%

Contains more Vitamin B6 +113.3%

Contains more Folate +125%

Contains more Vitamin B12 +67.7%

Contains more Vitamin K +50%

Equal in Vitamin E - 0.06

Equal in Vitamin D - 1.1

Equal in Vitamin B3 - 0.133

Custard

Pudding

Contains more Vitamin A +30.9%

Contains more Vitamin C +∞%

Contains more Vitamin B1 +60.5%

Contains more Vitamin B2 +40.1%

Contains more Vitamin B5 +114.4%

Contains more Vitamin B6 +113.3%

Contains more Folate +125%

Contains more Vitamin B12 +67.7%

Contains more Vitamin K +50%

Equal in Vitamin E - 0.06

Equal in Vitamin D - 1.1

Equal in Vitamin B3 - 0.133

 

Author name: Ani Harutyunyan

Education: General Medicine at YSMU

Last updated: July 26, 2023

Medically reviewed by Igor Bussel