Is Bread and Butter Pudding High in Potassium?

December 3, 2025 •

4 min read

According to NHS guidelines, bread and butter pudding can be considered a high-potassium dessert, especially if it contains dried fruit or chocolate. Whether or not a dish is considered high in potassium depends on the portion size and specific ingredients used, making it crucial to analyze the typical components of bread and butter pudding.

Quick Summary

An analysis of the components reveals bread and butter pudding's potassium content is variable but can be significant. It is often restricted for those on special diets, especially when made with high-potassium additions like dried fruit. Modifications to the recipe can help reduce the overall potassium level.

Key Points

High-Potential Potassium: A traditional bread and butter pudding, particularly one with dried fruit or chocolate, can be high in potassium.
Ingredient Impact: The potassium level is a cumulative effect of ingredients; milk, eggs, and especially dried fruits like raisins are major contributors.
Dietary Restriction: For those with kidney disease or hyperkalemia, bread and butter pudding is often restricted due to its high potassium content.
Recipe Modification: The potassium content can be lowered by omitting dried fruits and using low-potassium alternatives, such as a marmalade-based version.
Portion Control: Limiting portion size is a key strategy for managing overall potassium intake from this dessert.
Variable Content: Nutritional information for this dish can vary greatly depending on the recipe and portion, emphasizing the need to check specific ingredient lists.
Professional Consultation: It is always recommended to consult a healthcare provider or dietitian regarding dietary changes, especially for restricted diets.

Understanding the Potassium Content in Bread and Butter Pudding

Bread and butter pudding is a classic dessert made from staple ingredients like bread, milk, eggs, and butter, often with additions like dried fruit. Each of these components contributes a certain amount of potassium, which adds up to the total potassium load of the finished dish. The final potassium content is highly dependent on the recipe and portion size, so a blanket judgment can be misleading without further detail.

Core Ingredients and Their Potassium Levels

Let's break down the primary contributors of potassium in a standard bread and butter pudding recipe:

Milk: A single cup of whole cow's milk contains around 349 mg of potassium. As the custard base uses a significant amount of milk, this is a major source of the mineral in the pudding.
Eggs: Each large, hard-boiled egg provides approximately 63 mg of potassium. The custard often requires several eggs, further increasing the total potassium.
Bread: White bread, a common base for the pudding, contributes about 25 mg of potassium per slice. While lower than milk or eggs, this still adds to the overall count, especially since multiple slices are used.
Dried Fruit: The inclusion of raisins or other dried fruits can dramatically elevate the potassium level. Raisins, for example, contain a very high concentration of potassium, with around 744 mg per 100 grams. Many traditional recipes incorporate a generous amount of these fruits, significantly increasing the pudding's potassium count.

Impact of Additional Ingredients

The total potassium content can vary significantly based on the specific recipe. For example, a version using heavy cream instead of milk might alter the final numbers. Similarly, the addition of nuts or chocolate, which are also high in potassium, would further increase the total amount. Recipes that deliberately omit these high-potassium elements, such as a marmalade-based version, are specifically designed to be lower in potassium.

Comparison: Bread and Butter Pudding vs. Other Desserts

To put the potassium level of bread and butter pudding into perspective, it is useful to compare it with other popular desserts. This comparison highlights why certain desserts are recommended for restricted diets, like those for kidney health, while others are advised against.


Dessert	Typical Potassium per Serving (mg)	Main High-Potassium Ingredients	Diet Compatibility	Notes
Bread and Butter Pudding	150-984+ (variable)	Milk, eggs, dried fruit, nuts	High Risk	Can vary significantly with ingredients; dried fruit adds a high load.
Jelly	Very Low	Gelatin, water, sugar	Low Risk	A safe, low-potassium option.
Plain Sponge Cake	Low	Eggs (less concentrated), flour, sugar	Low Risk	A simple sponge is generally a safe choice.
Chocolate Brownie	High	Chocolate, cocoa powder	High Risk	Chocolate is a known high-potassium food.
Fruit Crumble (with rhubarb/apple)	Low-Medium	Fruit (e.g., rhubarb, apple)	Medium Risk	Choice of fruit is crucial; rhubarb is lower than many.
Custard (non-chocolate)	Low-Medium	Milk, eggs	Medium Risk	Depends on milk content and portion size.

Considerations for a Low-Potassium Diet

For individuals with health conditions such as hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) or kidney disease, managing dietary potassium is essential. While many recipes online provide nutritional breakdowns, these can vary widely and may not account for modifications. For instance, draining canned fruits and rinsing cooked vegetables can help reduce potassium content, though this is less relevant for a baked pudding. A key takeaway is that homemade versions allow for direct control over ingredients, making it possible to substitute or omit high-potassium elements.

Making Bread and Butter Pudding Lower in Potassium

If you are fond of this dessert but need to watch your potassium intake, there are ways to modify the traditional recipe. Substituting high-potassium items is the most effective strategy. For example:

Use low-potassium fruit like berries instead of raisins or other dried fruits.
Consider using a lower-potassium milk alternative or reducing the overall amount of milk and egg in the custard.
Choose low-potassium toppings like a non-chocolate sauce or a dusting of cinnamon instead of nuts or chocolate.
Keep portion sizes small to manage total intake, which is one of the simplest dietary adjustments.

Conclusion

In summary, is bread and butter pudding high in potassium? The answer is that it has the potential to be, especially if a traditional recipe with dried fruit is followed. The cumulative effect of ingredients like milk, eggs, and particularly dried fruit can result in a dessert that is not suitable for a potassium-restricted diet. For those with medical conditions requiring controlled potassium intake, checking the specific ingredient list and portion sizes is vital. Making simple substitutions, such as opting for marmalade over raisins or choosing low-potassium toppings, can significantly reduce the overall potassium level, making it a safer option. Always consult with a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet.

Visit WebMD for more information on managing dietary potassium.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary sources of potassium in a traditional bread and butter pudding are milk and eggs from the custard, but the highest concentration often comes from added ingredients like dried fruits, such as raisins.

People with kidney disease should be cautious with bread and butter pudding, as it is often considered a high-potassium dessert, especially if it contains dried fruit, nuts, or chocolate. Consult a doctor or dietitian before consuming.

To make a low-potassium version, you can substitute high-potassium dried fruits with lower-potassium options like berries, use less milk or egg, and avoid chocolate or nut toppings.

Yes, portion size significantly affects potassium intake. A smaller portion of a high-potassium dessert will have less overall potassium than a large one. Portion control is a key strategy for managing intake.

Yes, a marmalade-based bread and butter pudding can be a lower potassium alternative, as marmalade replaces high-potassium dried fruits like raisins.

Some low-potassium dessert alternatives include jelly, plain sponge cake, non-chocolate custard, or fruit crumbles made with low-potassium fruits like apples or rhubarb.

Not all ingredients are high in potassium, but the combined effect of milk, eggs, and especially dried fruits can lead to a significant total amount. Ingredients like butter and white bread contribute less individually.