Get ready for a serious sugar rush because today’s article is all about the best British desserts!
We’ve searched high and low across the UK to bring you a collection of sweet treats ranging from classic comfort food like sticky toffee pudding and treacle tart to more modern creations like salted caramel brownies and millionaire’s shortbread.
No matter what your taste buds are craving – be it something creamy and indulgent or rich and chocolatey – you’ll find the perfect dessert to satisfy your cravings on this list. Let’s jump right in:
Treacle Tart
At the top of the list, we have treacle tart, a classic British dessert made with golden syrup, breadcrumbs, and lemon zest. The tart has a rich, sweet flavour and a soft, crumbly texture.
Treacle tart is normally served as a comforting dessert on cold winter evenings with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. This British dessert can be served warm or at room temperature.
To make the classic British Treacle Tart, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 1½ cups of white breadcrumbs (about 150 grams)
- 1 cup of golden syrup (340 grams)
- Grated zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons of melted butter
- 1 premade shortcrust pastry shell (about 9 inches/23 cm in diameter)
Before you start, make sure to preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Then, mix the golden syrup, breadcrumbs, and lemon zest in a medium bowl.
From there, proceed to stir the mixture in the melted butter. Take a premade pastry shell and place it on a baking sheet. Then, pour the breadcrumb mixture into the pastry shell. Make sure to spread it out evenly.
Put your tart in the already-preheated oven and bake it for 30 to 35 minutes. You can also bake it until the crust is golden brown and the filling is set.
Finally, remove your done tart from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Sticky toffee pudding is another classic British dessert you must try. It’s usually made with a moist, sponge-like cake soaked in a rich sauce made from brown sugar and dates.
Like the treacle tart, this British dessert is served with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Also, you want to serve it while it’s warm.
Here’s what you need to prepare sticky toffee pudding:
- 1 cup of chopped dates (220 grams)
- 1 cup of boiling water (225 grams)
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- ¾ cup of packed light brown sugar (150 grams)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (115 grams)
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ cups of all-purpose flour (225 grams)
- 1½ teaspoons of baking powder
- ½ cup heavy cream (120 ml)
- ½ cup (100 grams) packed light brown sugar
To prepare the pudding, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Also, grease an 8-inch square baking pan and set it aside.
Combine the boiling water, baking soda, and dates in a medium bowl. Allow this mixture to sit for about 10 minutes. This helps to soften the dates.
In a different and larger bowl, beat the brown sugar and butter together until they’re well combined. Then start adding the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Adding eggs one at a time while beating them is a trick used even by seasoned bakers while preparing cakes for restaurants to make the perfect batter.
Okay, now whisk the baking powder and flour together in a medium bowl. Then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients gradually, mixing until just combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top. Now you want to bake the pudding for 35 to 40 minutes. You can also bake it until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
While the pudding is baking in the oven, start making your source. Use a small saucepan to boil the brown sugar and heavy cream. Use medium heat while stirring constantly.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer the sauce for 2 to 3 minutes. You can also simmer it until the sauce thickens slightly.
Once the pudding is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Go ahead and cut it into squares and serve while warm. Of course, you want to pour the sauce over the top and a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream on the side.
Millionaire’s Shortbread
Millionaire’s shortbread, also referred to as caramel shortbread, is a layered dessert consisting of a layer of chocolate on top, a layer of caramel in the middle, and shortbread at the base. This is a rich and indulgent treat. Millionaire’s shortbread is super popular in the UK, but you can also find it in other destinations.
However, if you want the classic millionaire’s shortbread, here is the recipe to follow. Start by collecting the following ingredients:
- 1 cup of unsalted butter, softened (225 grams)
- ½ cup of granulated sugar (100 grams)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (250 grams)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup of packed light brown sugar (200 grams)
- 1 can of sweetened condensed milk (396 grams or 14 ounces)
- 2 cups of semisweet chocolate chips (340 grams)
Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Then, line a 9×9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Set it aside for now.
Take a large bowl, and beat the granulated sugar and butter together until they’re well combined. Add the salt and flour and mix until a dough forms. Take the baking pan and press the dough evenly into it.
Proceed to bake the shortbread for 20 to 25 minutes. You can also bake it until it is lightly golden brown. Once done, remove the shortbread and let it cool.
Put the brown sugar and sweetened condensed milk in a medium saucepan and boil over medium heat. Make sure to stir it constantly. Then, reduce the heat to low and simmer the caramel for about 5 to 7 minutes (or until it thickens slightly).
Now pour the caramel over the shortbread and smooth the top. Take the chocolate chips and melt them in a microwave-safe bowl in 25 to 30-second intervals. Stir after each interval until the chocolate is smooth.
Pour the melted chocolate over the caramel layer, spreading it out evenly. Now chill the millionaire’s shortbread in the fridge for 2 hours (or until the chocolate is set). It’s now time to cut the shortbread into squares and serve.
Caramel brownies
Caramel brownies are a unique type of brownie made with a layer of caramel in the middle. The caramel adds a layer of flavor to the classic chocolate brownie, making for a truly rich dessert.
Caramel brownies can be made using various caramel flavors, like classic caramel, salted caramel, and even peanut butter caramel. These brownies can be served as a dessert or sweet treat at gatherings or parties and gatherings.
Here’s what you need to make caramel brownies:
- 1 cup of unsalted, melted butter (225 grams)
- 1 cup of granulated sugar (200 grams)
- 1 cup of packed light brown sugar (200 grams)
- 4 large eggs
- 1½ cups of all-purpose flour (180 grams)
- 1 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder (100 grams)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup of caramel bits (200 grams). You can also use store-bought caramel sauce.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a 9 by 13 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside the pan, then pick a large bowl and whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until they’re well combined.
Start adding your eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Whisk the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients gradually, mixing until they’re just combined.
Pour about half of your brownie batter into the prepared baking pan. Smooth the top and sprinkle the caramel bits (or caramel sauce) over the top of the batter.
Now pour the remaining brownie batter over the caramel layer and smooth the top. Bake these brownies for 30 to 35 minutes. You can also insert a pick into the center and bake it until the toothpick comes out clean.
Once the brownies are done, take them out of the oven and let them cool for several minutes. Then slice and serve your caramel brownies.
Classic English Eton Mess
Classic English Eton mess is a traditional English dessert made up of whipped cream, strawberries, and meringue pieces. It’s a refreshing dessert perfect for summertime. But, of course, you can enjoy it any time of the year when you want something sweet and fruity.
It’s also a very simple dessert to make. You only need five ingredients:
- 4 large egg whites
- 1 cup of granulated sugar (200 grams)
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 pint of fresh strawberries (450 grams). Make sure they’re hulled and sliced
- 1 cup of heavy cream (240 ml)
Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C), and use parchment paper to line a baking sheet. Set the baking sheet aside.
In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Then gradually add the sugar, beating well after each addition. Next, add and beat the vanilla extract.
Then drop spoonfuls of the meringue mixture onto the baking sheet. Be sure to leave a few inches of space between each spoonful. Now bake your meringues for 1½ to 2 hours.
Once the meringues are done, take them out of the oven and let them cool completely. Next, break the cooled meringues into small pieces with your hands. You can also use a rolling pin.
Go ahead and beat the heavy cream inside a large bowl until they form stiff peaks. Then, layer the whipped cream, meringue pieces, and sliced strawberries in individual serving dishes.
That’s your Eton mess. Serve it right away or chill it in the fridge.
