This simple dessert is perfect for al fresco dining. It is elegant enough for a dinner party and simple enough for just because. If you haven't tried cornmeal pudding yet, you really should!

A nice dinner is even better when it ends with a little something sweet. This easy cornmeal budino is a great make recipe that will give you that little something special without being too much. The blueberry marmellata sauce tops it off nicely, but you could use any fruit or dessert sauce you'd like. It will bring that wow factor to the meal without going over the top.
What I am about to share with you my husband rated a 9 out of 10. And that's really saying something considering he is more of a meat and potatoes kind of guy and this is neither meat nor potatoes! So I am really excited to share it with you.
The funny thing is at first glance it really isn't the most summery recipe. It really isn't the corniest (I know, I know, it's not the best grammar but sometimes you just have to roll with it) recipe either. But I saw the final call go out for posts for this Sunday Supper event and I panicked!
We love more traditional summer corn recipes. Corn on the cob never goes out of style, frozen corn is always in our freezer, we love corn dip, creamy corn, corn casserole, heck we'll even put corn in our macaroni and cheese.
But I was under the gun and I had to make a choice. I am really glad I made this one. I think you will agree that when you look at it with a wide lens, it really is a perfect summer corn recipe after all!
I had just seen a recipe for a polenta budino over at The Frugal Hausfrau. It was perfect! I always love trying a new dessert, no news there.
But even better, I could tweak her recipe to make it with ingredients I have on hand. I don't know about you, but not having to run to the store to put something together gets it major bonus points in my book.
Plus the whole thing comes together in a few minutes on the stove top. You make it ahead and then put it in the refrigerator until it is time to serve.
No oven needed. No last minute sweating over the hot stove. That is my favorite way to entertain in the summer. So, I knew I had to make it!

Now I know I just said I had everything on hand. That is a bit of a fudge. I did not have polenta, but I did have cornmeal.
I did not have plums, but I have been buying a few pints of blueberries every time I go to the store lately. So I had everything on hand to make my version of her dessert.
That is one of my favorite things about cooking. There are so many ways you can adapt and change any given recipe. Her version looked delicious and I can tell you this version is too!

Budino is more or less a cornmeal pudding. If you like a texture in your pudding like tapioca or rice pudding, you are half way there. Of course the texture of cornmeal is different than those.
My husband described it as a being like a sweet and creamy malt-o-meal. It is just sweet and creamy enough to make it a dessert rather than a porridge.
The blueberry marmellata is basically a quick blueberry sauce. Served cold it is thick and syrupy, perfect for topping your pudding. The two come together to make a really great dessert.
It would be the perfect ending to a big Italian meal any time of year. It would also be an elegant dessert to finish an al fresco dining experience.
Just a little something sweet and not to heavy. Just that little something to tie the meal up with a nice little creamy blueberry bow and send you off to sweet dream land.
Yield: 4 Servings

Easy Cornmeal Budino with Blueberry Marmellata
This simple dessert is perfect for al fresco dining. It is elegant enough for a dinner party and simple enough for just because. If you haven't tried cornmeal pudding yet, you really should!
prep time: 1 H & 5 Mcook time: 35 Mtotal time: 1 H & 40 M
ingredients:
Cornmeal Budino
- 1/2 cup cornmeal or polenta
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- pinch of salt
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup heavy cream or whole milk
Blueberry Marmellata
- 2 cups blueberries
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- pinch of salt
instructions:
How to cook Easy Cornmeal Budino with Blueberry Marmellata
Budino
- In a large saucepan, bring two cups of water to a boil. Gradually add polenta or cornmeal while vigorously whisking. Continue to whisk until smooth.
- Reduce heat to low and continue to cook and whisk until thickened, this should just take a few minutes.
- Stir in sugar, brown sugar and salt. Keep cooking over low heat and stirring frequently until the mixture thickens again and the cornmeal is softened. This only took me about 15 minutes, but polenta may take as much as 25. Remove from heat and whisk in butter.
- In a small bowl, mix together egg and milk. Vigorously beat egg mixture into hot cornmeal mixture. Spoon into a bowl. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Marmellata
- Bring 3/4 of the blueberries, sugar, lemon juice to a boil over medium heat stirring frequently. Immediately drop heat to low and continue to cook, simmer and stir until berries are popped and the mixture is thickened. This should take about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the rest of the berries. Remove from heat, cover and chill.
Serving
- To serve, stir budino to loosen it. Spoon into serving dishes. Top with blueberry marmellata and serve.
Calories
423.16
423.16
Fat (grams)
10.11
10.11
Sat. Fat (grams)
5.72
5.72
Carbs (grams)
82.98
82.98
Fiber (grams)
2.03
2.03
Net carbs
80.95
80.95
Sugar (grams)
69.28
69.28
Protein (grams)
3.56
3.56
Sodium (milligrams)
121.03
121.03
Cholesterol (grams)
70.94
70.94
Copyright: Cooking With Carlee 2020

Looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWow!!! SO gorgeous and creative!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! They were a lot of fun to make and eat!
DeleteI would never have thought to make pudding with cornmeal. Such a good idea, especially with the blueberries on top.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun? The minute I saw it I knew I had to try it! Thanks!
DeleteWhat a pretty dessert.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWhat a great recipe! I will have to give it a try. We have been getting blueberries from our CSA and I have been searching for great recipes to use them in.
ReplyDeleteI have been LOOOOVING blueberries this summer. This was a fun use for some of them! Thank you!
DeleteThis sounds like a unique but really delicious dessert! I love taking recipes and turning them into my own!
ReplyDeleteMe too! I am terrible at actually following a recipe as it is written. I am always tweaking based on what I have on hand or the mood I'm in. I think that's what makes cooking so much fun! Thanks!
DeleteWow, this looks really different. I'm excited to try it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I love trying new recipes and this one was fun!
DeleteThis is a lovely and elegant dessert for any time of year! I cant wait to try it!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteWhat a lovely and elegant dessert! I can't wait to try it!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! My toddler thought he was pretty fancy eating from a martini glass!
DeleteI have never heard of budino, but this sounds delicious! Can't wait to try it!
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty new to me too, but now I can't wait to play with it more! Thanks!
DeleteI've never had a budino, but this looks absolutely heavenly! I love trying new to me things! I want to dig right into that creaminess!
ReplyDeleteI love trying new to me things too, so that made this especially fun! There are a lot of ways you could finish it, so I can't wait to keep playing. Thanks, Renee!
DeleteI've never heard of either before, but it looks delicious. And I do have polenta on hand! (good Northern Italian girl, ha ha!)Thanks for sharing on Creative K Kids Tasty Tuesdays.
ReplyDeleteI looked for polenta at the store the other day, figuring that I should try the real deal but I couldn't find any. Nothing but instant grits either. I guess you could probably guess I live in a smaller town in the midwest ;-) I'll have to look next time I stop in at a big city grocery!
DeleteI love corn pudding thanks for kicking it up a notch!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cindy!
DeleteNever thought to make a pudding with cornmeal! Great idea
ReplyDeleteIsn't it different? I love trying new things. Thank you!
DeleteCarlee - looks amazing and the photos are stunning!! I like the way Matt described it - I kind of thought it reminded me of a dessert version of Cream of Wheat (which I love!). I can't wait to try your blueberry version & thanks for the shout -out!!
ReplyDeleteMollie
Thanks for the inspiration! I always get hungry when I come to visit you so it was fun to make one of your recipes! This one was a winner for sure. Have a great weekend!
DeleteThis look so good! Something i would serve at a party or some gathering. Thank you Carlee for posting this recipe! - Suzie
ReplyDeleteIt would be great for a party. Something a little different and not too heavy and a make ahead. Party perfect! Thank you!
DeleteWell, if this is approved by your husband, I need to try it on mine!
ReplyDeleteIt was fun to try something different! I hope he likes it!
DeleteCarlee, I am so in love with this recipe! First off it looks incredible, second, it's gluten free! I'm swooning and I can't wait to try it. Off to grab some polenta!! Yum! You are so creative, you inspire me! xx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nikki! It is a great gluten free dessert. I was so excited to give it a try. I just love things like this that are a bit different but really approachable. Plus I love it when I try a few little adjustments and it works out like I envision! It's like a fun experiment!
DeleteReally fun different dessert! 😀.
ReplyDelete9 out of 10 is big for husbands!
I'll have to give it a try!
Thanks
Michelle
When he rates a recipe without me asking, I know he likes it! He'll either rate it or give me "permission" to make it whenever I want. That's how I know I have winner on my hands! Thanks!
DeleteSounds pretty good to me. Recipes that don't require a run to the store definitely get bonus points in my home, too.
ReplyDeleteThat's almost make or break around here! If the mood strikes and the ingredients are here then it's a winner from the start!
DeleteI want one now! This looks divine. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe with us at Funtastic Friday.
ReplyDeleteI would love to share! Thank you!
Delete