Sawdust pudding, or serradura, is a classic Portuguese no-bake dessert that’s wonderfully simple and elegant. Made by layering crushed tea cookies with sweetened whipped cream, it requires just three ingredients and makes a lovely finish to any meal.
Don’t let the literal English name “sawdust pudding” put you off — Serradura is delicate, creamy, and surprisingly refined. The contrast of airy whipped cream sweetened with condensed milk and the lightly crunchy, buttery Maria cookie crumbs creates a comforting texture and flavor that’s both nostalgic and grown-up.
This is an ideal dessert to make with children: it’s forgiving, quick, and fun to assemble. While the puddings chill and set in the refrigerator, you can relax with a show or finish the rest of the meal.
Chow,
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If you make this Serradura recipe, or any dish on LC, consider leaving a review, a star rating, and your best photo in the comments below. I love hearing from you.–David
Featured Review
Great dessert! I’m now living in Portugal, so I like to seek out David’s Portuguese recipes. I made this for a dinner party with other expats, and it was a great hit! I did fairly small servings and had a lot of the whipped cream mixture left over. I noticed that it was similar to David’s “no churn” ice cream recipes, so I froze it, and voila! It was a bonus of homemade vanilla ice cream in our freezer! This is a quick, easy, and delicious dessert that makes a really nice presentation when you put it in a clear serving glass. Obrigada, David!
Penny Cruz
Serradura ~ Portuguese Sawdust Pudding
Jeremiah Duarte Bills
Video
Ingredients
- One (7-oz) package Bolacha Maria cookies, or Goya Maria Cookies
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- One (14-oz) can sweetened condensed milk
Optional garnishes:
- Ground cinnamon
- Toasted sliced almonds
- Toasted coconut
- Passion fruit pulp and seeds
Instructions
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In a food processor, blitz the cookies into fine crumbs.
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In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment, beat the cream until medium-soft peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes.
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Add the sweetened condensed milk and continue whipping until medium-stiff peaks form, 2 to 4 minutes more.
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Spoon the cream into a resealable plastic bag and snip off one corner for easy piping, or simply spoon the cream into your serving dishes.
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In individual glasses or a single large dish, alternate layers of cream and cookie crumbs, beginning and ending with cream. Aim for about seven layers total.
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Garnish with ground cinnamon, toasted almonds, toasted coconut, or passion fruit pulp and seeds, as desired.
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Refrigerate at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, so the crumbs soften. If chilling overnight, tent with plastic wrap to prevent drying.
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Serve cold and add any final garnishes just before serving.
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Recipe Testers’ Reviews
Only a portion of tested recipes make it to the site; this one passed rigorous blind testing and earned the Leite’s Culinaria stamp of approval. The testers’ notes reflect how adaptable and well-loved this dessert is.
Michael-Ann Cooley
This serradura is great — like a grown-up version of childhood dirt pudding made with Oreos. It’s super fast to make and everyone loved it. I made eight individual servings and sprinkled toasted coconut on top; fruit, nuts, or chocolate would also be excellent.
Cheryl Freeman
Only three ingredients and quick to assemble. It mellows when chilled and is a beautiful canvas for toppings — my favorites were sour cherries in Kirsch with toasted almonds and dark chocolate crisp pearls. Shortbread worked well when I couldn’t find the traditional cookies.
Amy Wilschut
Simple, delicious, and perfect for a dinner party or a weeknight treat. Any delicate, buttery cookie will work; I used Biscoff. Assembly is the only fiddly part but spooning works fine. Leftovers over vanilla ice cream are divine.
Adrienne Lee
Great to make with kids — tasty and easy. I used Kerr jars and sliced almonds on top; crumbs soften after a day but remain enjoyable.
Helena Pereira
Incredibly simple and elegant with only three ingredients. I prefer it plain in a large glass dish, but garnishes work well if you like them.