Munchie Monday: Mrs. Macculloch’s Apple Pudding with Orange and Rosewater

Louisa Macculloch (1785-1863) included several recipes for apple pudding in her handwritten cookbook. Rosewater and oranges set this recipe apart.

Rosewater was a flavoring, made from rose petals, that was used frequently in early pie, cake, and cookie recipes up until the middle of the 1800s. Vanilla flavoring, which is popular today, was available, but still very expensive at that time.

Louisa Macculloch’s recipe also lists a spiced “piece of orange peel.” We know from George Macculloch’s garden journal that orange trees grew among his greenhouse plants. Oranges were available but expensive. Growing oranges in New Jersey in the 19th century was not typical. George’s cultivation of them demonstrates his interest in agriculture.

Original Recipe: Apple Pudding

½ pound butter

½ pound sugar

1 glass wine or brandy

and rose water

Spice a piece of orange peel

½ pound of apples boiled and strained

5 eggs

 

Adapted Recipe: Apple Pudding with Orange and Rosewater (Updated February 2025)

2 sticks of butter, melted

1 cup of sugar

1/4 cup white wine or brandy

1 tablespoon of rose water

1 tablespoon of orange zest

½ pound of baking apples—approximately 2 apples (peeled, cored, and cubed)

5 eggs, room temperature

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare apples and heat in a saucepan with 3 tablespoons of water for 20 minutes. Stirring frequently. Let cool and strain excess liquid. In a bowl combine softened apples, sugar, white wine or brandy. Next add melted butter (now cooled), rosewater, and orange zest and mix well. In a separate bowl whisk slightly 5 eggs then fold them into the apple mixture. Pour into a greased 2 or 3-quart casserole dish. Bake for one hour (length of time depends on the size pan you are using). Pudding should have color around edges when finished. Let cool. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Resources:

For similar 19th-century recipes visit:

http://www.historicalcookingproject.com/2014/10/guest-post-when-pudding-is-pie-by.html

https://app.ckbk.com/recipe/prid67377c02s001r009/19th-century-eves-pudding which adds breadcrumbs, lemon, and currants