Jam roly-poly

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Synthesised from Google · Yelp · TripAdvisor · Reddit · 2 food blogs · Updated August 2026

The story the reviews tell

Jam roly-poly is a British steamed pudding born in the early 19th century, built on a foundation of suet dough rolled flat, spread with jam, and wound tight like a Swiss roll before being steamed or baked. Traditionally served with custard, this homely dessert earned its grim nicknames—dead man's arm, dead man's leg—from the Victorian practice of steaming it inside an old shirt-sleeve, which gave the finished pudding its distinctive tubular shape.

What makes this version distinct

Jam roly-poly, shirt-sleeve pudding, dead man's arm or dead man's leg is a traditional British pudding probably first created in the early 19th century. It is a flat-rolled suet pudding, which is spread with jam and rolled up, similar to a Swiss roll, then steamed or baked and traditionally served with custard. In days past, jam roly-poly was also known as shirt-sleeve pudding, because it was often steamed and served in an old shirt-sleeve, leading to the nicknames of dead-man's arm and dead man's leg. In the past it was known as roly poly pudding.

Signature elements