Last Updated on June 22, 2023 by Chef Mireille
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Jamaican Cornmeal Pudding: Caribbean Cornmeal Pone Recipe – Classic Caribbean cornmeal pudding is similar to a British-style steamed pudding. This version from Jamaica is topped with a coconut milk glaze, and transforms a beloved breakfast pudding into a decadent dessert.
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I am always surprised when people tell me they have never before utilized cornmeal in baking or the only thing they use cornmeal for is cornbread.
Cornmeal is such a versatile ingredient and can be incorporated into a variety of both sweet and savory dishes.
In Caribbean cuisine, cornmeal is a staple ingredient and is used to make everything from Cornmeal Porridge to Coo Coo (our version of polenta). For me, cornmeal is a staple ingredient that’s always in my pantry. And I’m not talking about just one type of cornmeal, either….
Types of Cornmeal
I usually have if not all, at least a few of the various cornmeals so that I have them whatever I feel like making including yellow cornmeal, maiz morada (blue/purple cornmeal), polenta and masa harina (for arepas, tamales, etc.)
Depending on the recipe and country of origin, different types of cornmeal are utilized. Be sure to use the right cornmeal for the best results. Different types of cornmeal are milled in different ways achieving either a softer or harder grain and this effects the cooking time.
Most Common Types of Cornmeal:
- Yellow Cornmeal
- White Cornmeal
- Blue Cornmeal
- Masa Harina (Latin American pre cooked cornmeal)
- Polenta
If you haven’t guess it yet, I love cornmeal. Having Caribbean parents, my first introduction to cornmeal was Cornmeal Porridge, a popular breakfast cereal. Cornmeal is used a lot in Caribbean cuisine. Being half Haitian, we even make a beverage with cornmeal called Akasan.
If you would like to know more about the many varieties of gluten free cornmeal that there are and how to utilize them all in your kitchen, check out this post here to learn all about Cornmeal, Polenta, Grits & more.
What is Caribbean-Style Pone?
Pone is a Caribbean baked pudding that has the consistency of a British-style steamed pudding. It is most popular in the English, Dutch and French speaking Caribbean. There are many varieties of pone, with the most popular being cassava, sweet potato, pumpkin and cornmeal. In the Dutch and French speaking Caribbean, it might have different names due to language differences. For example, Bojo is the cassava version made in Suriname and the Dutch speaking Caribbean.
While Cornmeal Pone is made on many Caribbean islands, it is most often had for breakfast – maybe with some cheese. However, the Jamaican version here, which is topped with an amazing coconut milk glaze, elevates this dish from breakfast to a decadent dessert!
All it takes are a few simple ingredients and tools to bake and serve this up at your holiday party!
So let’s start with your shopping list, just in case you have run out of anything…
Shopping List: Ingredients You Need for Jamaican Cornmeal Pudding – Caribbean Cornmeal Pone
- Yellow cornmeal
- All purpose flour
- Ground cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Coconut milk
- Vanilla extract
- Butter
- Sugar
- Raisins
- Rum
- Glace cherries
Suggested Tools
Now it’s time to make my Caribbean pone recipe!
How to Make Jamaican Cornmeal Pudding – Caribbean Cornmeal Pone
Firstly, in a large bowl combine the cornmeal with the flour and the spices.
In a separate bowl, toss the sugar with the raisins. This step is very important so that the raisins do not sink to the bottom of the pudding.
Then in a saucepan, combine and heat coconut milk, water, vanilla and butter, but DO NOT BOIL.
Next, add the dry ingredients and the sugar to the heated milk and butter, and mix very well, making sure there are no clumps.
Pour the mixture into a prepared pan, and baked in a preheated oven for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the sweet glaze topping with the coconut milk and sugar.
Pour the coconut milk topping over the pone, and continue baking for another hour.
When the Jamaican Cornmeal Pudding – Caribbean Cornmeal Pone comes out of the oven the top will be wonderfully gooey, but a knife inserted should come out clean. Release the pone from the baking dish and transfer to a serving plate.
Then just decorate it with a few glace cherries for an extra sweet treat, like so.
The pudding without the glaze is made normally and is often eaten for breakfast in the Caribbean. However, with the delicious coconut glaze it transforms a basic, beloved Caribbean recipe into something extra special for holidays and special occasions.
Soft and slightly spongy with a nice crusty exterior, this Cornmeal Pudding is a great classic Caribbean recipe. But what puts this dish over the top is that fantastically sweet gooey topping. This really is a stunning dessert to serve at holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Diwali and Hannukah. Why not try this dessert for a change?
How to Reheat Jamaican Cornmeal Pudding – aka Caribbean Cornmeal Pone
Once cooled, keep any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
However, cornmeal pudding is enjoyed best when warm. Therefore it should be reheated in the microwave for 45 seconds before serving again.
Please note that this is not a cake-like consistency, which some non-Caribbean people might expect from it’s appearance. Instead it’s texture is more dense and tender than a traditional sweet cake.
More Cornmeal Recipes to Try
Do you love cornmeal as much as I? Are you ready to incorporate more Cornmeal Recipes into your diet? Check out some of my other recipes!
- Tutu – Aruba Style Polenta with Black Eyed Peas
- Cou Cou – Bajan Style Polenta with Okra
- Xerem con Camarao – Brazilian Polenta with Shrimp and Kale
- Nhopi – Zimbabwe Pumpkin Cornmeal Polenta
- Polenta Fries
- Peach Upside Down Polenta Cake
- Puerto Rican Cornmeal Pancakes
- Southern Style Skillet Cornbread
- Pumpkin Arepas
- Apple Arepas
- Blue Corn Tacos
Jamaican Cornmeal Pudding
Ingredients
- 3 cups cornmeal
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg freshly grated
- 1 teaspoons salt
- 2 cups coconut milk
- 3 cups water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup raisins
- 2 tablespoons rum optional
Topping Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- glace cherries garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 10-inch springform pan.
- Combine cornmeal with flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, toss the raisins in the sugar so they will not sink to the bottom when baked.
- In a saucepan, heat milk, water and vanilla extract. Add butter and then the sugar and the raisins.
- Mix well and heat until sugar has dissolved and liquid is well heated, but not boiling.
- Remove from heat and add rum. Mix well.
- Add half of the warm liquid into the dry ingredients and mix well. Add the rest of the warm liquid a little at a time and mix well until you have a smooth batter. Make sure you mix the batter very well so that there are no lumps. After going through the work of making this delicious treat, you don’t want to spoil it by biting into a clump of raw cornmeal flour.
- Pour into prepared baking pan and bake for 15 minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine all of the topping ingredients and mix well.
- After 15 minutes, stir the batter to evenly distribute the raisins. Pour the topping over the cake and bake for another hour.
- The topping will be gooey, however if you insert a knife to test it, underneath the topping should be firm.
- With the gooey, gelatinous topping you can spread it using a butter knife, if you find it is not evenly distributed over the top of the cake after baking.
- Let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, slide a knife around the perimeter of the pan to release the gooey topping from the side of the pan. Release springform and remove.
- Let it cool more for another 1/2 hour.
- Garnish with glace cherries.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
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Mouth watering…Love to have it
Regards
Shoba's Delight
You are wicked, Mireille…….now I want to sink my fangs (it's Halloween) into this fabulous pudding that has coconut milk.
That would definitely appeal to my palate, too! Great cake!
Tried baking for d first time, followed instructions and add my will touch to it lol, and I must say congratulations to u and me lol
Thx a million
I am glad you enjoyed it
Tried baking for d first time, followed instructions and add my will touch to it lol, and I must say congratulations to u and me lol
Thx a million
Friends, family, me..we all love cornmeal pudding. Followed your instructions and it came out perfectly except for the raisins. Yes they all ended up at the bottom but I heard no complaint. In fact I was ordered not share any more for friends outside the family. Made two changes….used all coconut milk and added grated coconut to the topping. It was so yum. Making two tomorrow so there will be less fighting! Thanks for a great recipe.
I am glad it was so well received and enjoyed by all
I would love to make this but I am unsure if it is brown sugar or white sugar I am to use
If its brown sugar, I would specifically say so. This is regular granulated white sugar.
Thank you.
This cornmeal pudding is the best I’ve eaten
I am diabetic- do u think it would work if I substituted Splenda for the sugar?
I have never used Splenda, but I don’t see any reason why it shouldnt work just as well
Hi, my oven on my stove doesnt work plan on getting a new one soon but i do have a toaster oven, can it be used. i am not a baker so i dnt know wat a spring type baking tin is, but can a regular baking tin gives the same texture
I have never baked a cake in a toaster oven so really cannot say how it would work. But any cake tin would work.
I am a little worried my batter is a liitle looser then I expected Does the baking temperature stay the same 350 the whole time?
Yes it does stay at same temperature the whole time.
I am trying to find a recipe for “Fongee ” pudding mentioned numerous times in a novel. “Marriage of Opposites”. I tried looking it up using Google, but a cornmeal cake popped up on the Google page instead. Is this the same with another name? Thank you for your assistance and clarification.
Different names exist for the same foods on different Caribbean islands. Fongee is most likely what I call funchi and is also called coo-coo (on many British islands) and a holiday version called tutu from the Dutch Caribbean where my family is from. See my posts here and you will find both the basic Vegetarian version as well as the holiday version. The intros will also give you some more info on the nomenclature
https://globalkitchentravels.com/2015/08/tutu-cornmeal-porridge-aruba-style-for-food-of-the-world/
https://globalkitchentravels.com/2014/01/bajan-coo-coo/
What kind of coconut milk do you use?
The kind in a can, or the kind in a carton that can be substituted for milk when eating breakfast cereal.
The canned ones
Are the raisins a must for this recipe to work? I know my sister would love this but she hates raisins.
No raisins can be omitted
Everytime I’m making cornmeal pudding this is the recipe I use. I am baking one in the oven rigjt now as in writing this comment. Very very delicious whenever I make it. Thanks so much for this recipe.
I am so happy the recipe works so well for you and you enjoy it!
I have just finished The Marriage of Opposites and want to make Fongee Pudding came across yours and am looking forward to making it. Sounds delicious. Thanks!
Thanks but fungee or funchi as we also spell it is savory Check out these two links for Caribbean style savory cornmeal https://globalkitchentravels.com/2015/08/tutu-cornmeal-porridge-aruba-style-for-food-of-the-world/ and https://globalkitchentravels.com/2014/01/bajan-coo-coo/
As always I enjoyed reading your notes about different ways this is available in different countries. The pudding looks so soft and inviting. It’s good you updated this post as it seems to be quite a viral pic going by the repin.
yep this is my highest traffic post so I figure with better pics it will do even better 😉
The glaze adds so much to the finished dish! I really like the texture of the pudding. The new pictures are awesome!
thank you so much and yes the glaze does add something special!!!
Wow..looks so sinful.. love the moist and soft texture.. looks yum.
thanks – yes it is an amazing treat!
That’s one delish looking pudding. Its amazing how different countries use cornmeal. I was wondering if I could use the white variety to make this pone as that’s what I get here.
I find white cornmeal to be more coarse than yellow cornmeal so the texture might not be as soft but I think it still would work
I am happy to see that I can replicate this recipe as it is egg free : ) Love the texture. Bookmarked for later, Mir.
yep – this is a traditionally eggless one
Aaah this looks so delicious and inviting. Never tasted a cornmeal pudding. Looks so so tempting
in the caribbean we make everything with cornmeal if possible 🙂