Forget lumpy custard and stodgy rice pudding – our old-school homemade desserts never fail to please a crowd. We’re dreaming of soft, toffee-soaked sponge and spoonfuls of seasonal fruity crumbles and if you are too, you’re in luck. Whether you’re deovted to the classics or want to try a fun twist on the original, we have triple-tested recipes to suit every situation. Cut yourself a slice of pineapple-upside down cake while you decide – choosing your favourite bake can’t be rushed.
Try making your favourite childhood sweet treats and re-live these nostalgic British desserts.
1. Arctic roll
Try our twist:
Wrap up two incredible retro puds in one in the form of our Black Forest arctic roll. Who could resist chocolate sponge and tart black cherry jam? Try turning your arctic roll into a baked alaska with our extra special yule log with toasted meringue topping.
2. Pineapple upside-down cake
Try the twist:
Our sticky upside-down banana cake gives an irresistible twist to this seventies classic. Deliciously dark brown caramelised bananas on top of a spice-laced sponge is bound to become an instant classic.
3. Jelly & ice cream
Try the twist:
Make the ultimate picnic treat with our layered boozy Pimms jelly jars. Add your favourite summer fruits topped with a layer of cream, a slice of cucumber and a sprig of mint for a refreshing and portable sweet. Go wild with our guide on how to make jelly shots for your next party. Need something to make ahead of time? Try our fun stripy fruity milk jellies.
4. Bread & butter pudding
Try the twist:
We absolutely cannot resist a mash-up, so we’ve created the roly-poly pudding. These snug whirls of colour set in a delicate custard are a real family-friendly treat. Go for an indulgent chocolate version with marmalade glaze for a lazy weekend option. Or, try our toffee apple bread & butter pudding for a doubly delicious puffed up pud.
5. Sticky toffee pudding
Try the twist:
Try our lighter vegan version, packed with dates, spices and squidgy pears. Want the pudding without the wait? Go for our quick version that takes just fifteen minutes to plate up.
6. Crumble
Try the twist:
Got a glut of fruit to use up? Make our orchard crumble stuffed with plums, figs, apples and blackberries. We even love crumble in an easy-to-slice traybake or in rhubarb muffin form. Looking for a simple spin that keeps your favourite flavour? Bake our apple crumble loaf cake. Even confirmed crumble haters will want a slice.
7. Spotted dick
Try the twist:
Make a super speedy 10 minute version of the original recipe in your microwave. Mix up a boozy sloe-gin fruity pudding for an equally addictive dish that’s not for kids.
8. Rice pudding
Try the twist:
Take this basic pudding up a notch with our dinner-party worthy burnt butterschotch rice pudding. Crack the crunchy brûlée topping to get to the creamy, indulgent vanilla base. Or give your childhood favourite a Spanish twist with our recipe for arroz con leche with plump strawberries in sherry.
9. Chocolate sponge with custard
Try the twist:
Give your sponge a subtle nutty flavour with our chocolate & sesame loaf cake complete with sesame snap shards. Take a walk on the wild side and bake our chocolate & raspberry zebra cake. Or check out our chocolate cake recipe collection for even more inspiration.
10. Roly-poly
Try the twist:
If you just can’t resist a choclatey treat, try our jam & white chocolate roly-poly. Our twist fuses a traditional roly-poly and a spongey swiss roll. Want something a little more bite-sized? Try a swiss-roll style scone with our fruity spiced swirls.
Enjoyed these? Take a look at our other classic recipes…
Our ultimate British recipe colleciton
Must-try classic cake recipes
Video: how to make a Victoria sponge cake
What’s your all-time favourite retro pudding? Leave a comment below…