Serradura (Macanese Sawdust Pudding)
(Updated in 2020)
Serradura is Portuguese dessert that took off in Macau. Sweetened whipped cream layered with crushed cookie crumbs, then freeze. It’s like a hard vanilla ice cream, but better! All you need are 4 ingredients!
“Serradura” means “sawdust” in Portuguese. Sawdust pudding may sound a bit unappetizing, but the sawdust actually refers to the cookie crumbs. The cookies were crushed super fine, which look like sawdust. No matter how weird it may look, I am sure that you will get addicted to this dessert after you have tried it.
I tried this many years ago in Macau in a Portuguese restaurant. It was in a cake slice form. It was creamy and cold, like a hard ice-cream. The sweetness was perfect. It was unforgettable. I have to go and get a slice when I go to Macau every time.
Serradura is originated in Portugal. Since Macau was once colonized by Portugal. Serradura was introduced to Macanese, and it becomes very popular. It’s not hard to understand why. It doesn’t need a lot of ingredients, and it’s easy to make. Most importantly, it’s very tasty!
Serradura is basically sweetened whipped cream and crushed cookies. Then, freeze. The most difficult part is the layering. It requires some patient and time. The more layers there are, the prettiest the dessert look. Creamy & vanilla-y! This is the perfect no bake dessert!
Macau maybe too far to go now, but this recipe has just stopped my craving!
Serradura (Macanese Sawdust Pudding)
Ingredients
- 30 Marie biscuits , (also called Maria cookies in Central America)
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla paste or vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Choose your desired containers (e.g. glass cups, trifle bowls) that are enough to hold about 6-cup of pudding.
- Crush the cookies in a food processor until very fine. If you do not have a food processor, put the cookies in a Ziploc bag. Close the bag tightly. With a rolling-pin, crush and roll the cookies until very fine.
- In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the cream until soft peak forms. Add vanilla and just ½ of the sweetened condensed milk. Whip everything together and taste to try. If it is not sweet enough, add more sweetened condensed milk. Beat until stiff peak forms.
- Place a layer of whipped cream at the bottom of a container. Smooth out the cream with a spoon, especially around the edge. Sprinkle a layer of cookie crumbs over evenly. Gentlely press down the crumbs with a clean spoon. Repeat with another layer of whipped cream, and then another layer of crumbs. Continue with the layers to a desired level. Finish with crumbs over the top of the pudding. Repeat with other containers.
- Cover the containers with plastic wrap. Chill in the freezer for at least 6 hours (best overnight). Leave the pudding at room temperature for 15 – 20 minutes to soften before serving.
Notes
- Marie biscuits are not only common in Europe. It’s also very popular in Central America. It’s usually called Maria cookies. So you can find them either in European or Hispanic grocery stores. I have even found them in regular supermarkets.
- The cookies should be crushed very fine, like sawdust. Fine crumbs would give the pudding better texture.
- To make it more efficient, I like to put the whipped cream in a pipping bag, then pipe the whipped cream in the cups. After that, I smoothed out the surface with a spoon.
- When assembling the pudding, make sure the cookie layers aren’t too thin, you want to see the layers on the side of the glass cups.
- The pudding can last for a few days in the freezer (probably even longer, but I haven’t tried it.).
Hey, you can try adding real vanilla seeds or vanilla paste, will taste much much nicer! later post the photo of vanilla paste fir u on my Facebook. It’s a convenient yummy partner for making dessert!!
Vanilla paste? This is the first time I have heard about it. I just google it, and it looks like the paste is a thicker syrup with vanilla seed. Right? I would love to use real vanilla seed, but it is pretty expensive. I haven’t bought one yet so far. But, I am definitely willing to try the paste!
The secret really is serving it at the right temp. If it’s too cold it’s hard, and if gets too warm, it starts to slip and slide around the bowl… But it’s o-so-very good!
Haha…. Totally agree! Hei Man spilled the crumbs all over the place while eating it, because the pudding was still too hard!
do you cook the pudding as directed on the box and after mix it with the rest of the ingrediants and what size box of pudding thank u very much
Nelia, there is no pudding mix in the recipe. When the heavy cream is whipped and chilled, its texture is like pudding. This dessert is very easy to make and it is absolutely delicious! Have a wonderful day!
oh okay thank you so much gonna make it for easter
Have fun! Let me know how that goes.
What are Marie cookies?
It is a sweet vanilla flavor cookie. It is round and thin. You can say it is like a oreo but in cream color and no filling. It is originally from England. But you should be able to find them in British or Italian food store near you. If not, you can probably get them online, like amazon. Hope this help. Have a wonderful weekend!
Just came back from Macau last week and started searching for a recipe to make this! It was SO delicious, I can’t wait to make it! Thanks for posting this! 🙂
~Andrea<3
You are welcome Andrea! This is a truly simple and delicious dessert. I had to get some when I visit Macau every time. Enjoy and have fun. Please let me know how it turns out.
I’m making Serradura for the Holidays and I wanted to make it beforehand. Can I freeze for 3 days until its ready to serve?
Yes, 3 days would be fine. Just remember to leave it at room temperature 20 minutes before serving. Enjoy and have a happy holidays! Thanks for stopping by, Christina. 🙂
Hi can you explain to me on the condensed milk do we use 2/3 or 12 cup
Hi Christine, it depends on how you sweet you like. Start with 2/3 cup. Taste. If it is not sweet enough, add more. Hope you will like this! Have a great one!
Actually Serradura or Sawdust Pudding is a Portuguese dessert. You can find many portuguese traditions and roots in Macau because it was a portuguese colony until 1999.
I was looking for this recipe in english and I found your blog… Great recipes!
Thank you Ana! I love Macau. It is a beautiful place with a great blend of Portuguese and Chinese cultures. I wasn’t sure whether this is an authentic Portuguese dessert or with local Macanese influence. Thanks for the information. Very good to know. Hope you like it!
Can i soak the cookies in coffee to enhance the flavour? if so, would you suggest I soak the whole cookies first or soak the crumbs?
I wouldn’t recommend adding any kind of liquid to the cookie crumbs. Once moisture is added, the crumbs can turn mushy. When the pudding goes into the freezer, it may freeze too solid and the texture can change, making it harder to scoop. Personally, I love the subtle flavor combination of the cream and Marie cookies. If you haven’t tried it that way yet, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try first. If you’d like a stronger flavor, you could try using a different cookie instead, such as oreo (without the cream filling).