Traditional Steamed Treacle Sponge Pudding with Custard vs Maritozzi con la Panna (Sweet Buns with Cream)

The treacle sponge pudding offers a dense, steamed crumb deeply flavored by dark molasses and brightened by lemon, serving as a warm, heavy comfort. In contrast, the maritozzi feature an airy, yeast-leavened dough perfumed with orange zest, prioritizing a light and cloud-like texture. While both rely on milk, butter, and eggs for richness, the sponge uses them to create a moist pudding base, whereas the buns utilize them to craft a structural, billowy vessel for voluminous amounts of freshly whipped vanilla cream.