Quick Answer: The Best British Desserts
The Best British Desserts based on how deliciously mouth-watering they can be are, Sticky toffee pudding, Bread and butter pudding, Banoffee pie, Eton mess, Easy Treacle Tart, knickerbocker glory, Jam roly-poly, Spotted dick, The best victoria sponge cake, English trifle, Bakewell tart, Old-school apple crumble, and so many more. Read to know more!
This article is going to be your ultimate guide to the best British Desserts! So strap on your seat belts because this is going to be one flavorful ride.
I remember making some of the dishes down here for a friend’s birthday, and they were an instant hit! They couldn’t get enough of it and begged me for the recipe, which is why I’m here writing about them.
So without further ado, let’s get into the best Desserts the British have to offer!
The Best British Desserts: Quick Table
| Recipe | Calories (per 100g) | Preparation Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sticky Toffee Pudding | 388.8 kcal | 2 hr 20 min |
| Bread and Butter Pudding | 153 kcal | 1 hr 35 min |
| Banoffee Pie | 327.6 kcal | 6 hr 50 min |
| Eton Mess | 199 kcal | 1 hr 15 min |
| Treacle Tart | 272 kcal | 45 min |
| Knickerbocker Glory | 128 kcal | 20 min |
| Jam Roly-Poly | 242 kcal | 1 hr 15 min |
| Spotted Dick | 422.44 kcal | 1 hr 30 min |
| The Best Victoria Sponge Cake | 403 kcal | 40 min |
| English Trifle | 255.5 kcal | 1 hr 20 min |
| Bakewell Tart | 411 kcal | 1 hr 50 min |
| Old-School Apple Crumble | 156 kcal | 1 hr |
| Syllabub | 56.47 kcal | 10 min |
| Fools | 163 kcal | 30 min |
| Treacle Sponge Pudding | 389 kcal | 50 min |
| Peach Melba | 60 kcal | 30 min |
| Cranachan | 275.41 kcal | 1 hr 30 min |
| Rice Pudding | 134 kcal | 2 hr 55 min |
| Arctic Roll | 203 kcal | 55 min |
| Easy Carrot Cake | 408 kcal | 1 hr 15 min |
| Classic Swiss Roll | 347 kcal | 25 min |
| Buttermilk Burnt Rice Pudding | NA | 35 min |
| Sherry Triffle | 150 kcal | 10 min |
| Queen of Puddings | 195 kcal | 50 min |
| Summer Pudding | 380.6 kcal | 30 min |
| Apple Pie | 265 kcal | 55 min |
| Lemon Drizzle Cake | 268 kcal | 45 min |
| Flapjack | 424 kcal | 40 min |
| Mince Pie | 289 kcal | 1 hr 20 min |
| Fruitcake | 324 kcal | 2 hr 45 min |
| Traditional Dorset Apple Cake | 277 kcal | 60 min |
| Bara Brith - Welsh Tea Bread | 296 kcal | 1 hr 25 min |
| Millionaire's Shortbread | 495.3 kcal | 1 hr 35 min |
| Brandy Snaps | 489 kcal | 18 min |
| Welsh Cakes | 434 kcal | 16 min |
| Authentic Scottish Dundee Cake | NA | 1 hr 55 min |
| Classic Shortbread Cookies | 502 kcal | 30 min |
| Jelly & Ice Cream | NA | 1 hr 15 min |
| Fruity Scones | 352 kcal | 15 min |
| Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream | 160 kcal | 25 min |
1. Sticky Toffee Pudding
Calories (per 100g) – 388.8 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 2 hours 20 mins
Sticky toffee pudding is a staple in Britain.
These delightful mini cakes are moist sponge cakes made with honeyed dates and creamy caramel sauce, usually served with vanilla custard or vanilla ice cream!
Here’s how you can make it! –
2. Bread and Butter Pudding
Calories (per 100g) – 153 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 1 hour 35 mins
This dessert is a well-loved classic. Made with buttered bread, raisins, and egg custard, this dish is super creamy & extremely delicious.
The pudding isn’t too sweet, and you can make it with any bread you like!
Make it yourself! –
3. Banoffee Pie
Calories (per 100g) – 327.6 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 6 hours 50 mins
Banoffee pie is an English pie made with a buttery biscuit base topped with a flavorful combination of bananas, cream & thick caramel sauce.
Garnished with chocolate, each bite of this pie is pure heaven.
Try it for yourself! –
4. Eton Mess
Calories (per 100g) – 199 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 1 hour 15 mins
Eton mess is a very popular summertime dessert.
Made with a refreshing blend of whipped cream, meringue pieces, and strawberries, this dish is a crowd-pleaser – perfect for an after-brunch dessert.
Check out the recipe! –
5. Treacle Tart
Calories (per 100g) – 272 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 45 mins
It’s Harry Potter’s favorite dessert and ours too! Treacle tart is a pie crust pastry filled with a thick, creamy filling made of golden syrup, breadcrumbs, & lemon zest.
It’s best served warm with a dollop of cream!
Learn how to make it! –
6. Knickerbocker Glory
Calories (per 100g) – 128 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 20 mins
Knickerbocker glory is a traditional, childhood delight – the king of ice-cream sundaes.
It’s a confection made with layers of ice cream, jelly, and fresh fruit served in a tall glass.
It’s refreshing, easy to make, and easily the best sundae I’ve had.
Don’t be shy, try it! –
7. Jam Roly-Poly
Calories (per 100g) – 242 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 1 hours 15 mins
Jam Roly-Poly, also lovingly known as “Dead man’s arm”, is a flat-rolled suet pudding that’s covered in Jam and folded up like a Swiss roll before being steamed or baked.
It’s soft, moist, and pairs great with hot custard!
Try it yourself! –
8. Spotted Dick
Calories (per 100g) – 422.44 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 1 hour 30 mins
The English love this amusingly named dessert and for good reason.
It’s a typical fruity, sponge pudding made with suet, citrus zest, & currants, that is deliciously soft, airy & is served in thick slices with heated custard!
DIY Recipe –
9. The Best Victoria Sponge Cake
Calories (per 100g) – 403 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 40 mins
The Best Victoria Sponge Cake is a delicate, soft sponge cake stuffed with a layer of jam and fresh cream.
It is the softest cake ever and when the Jam seeps into it, it’s a total explosion of flavor!
Here’s how you can make it! –
10. English Trifle
Calories (per 100g) – 255.5 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 1 hour 20 mins
An English Trifle is a quintessential dessert that consists of layers of sponge fingers or pound cake (soaked in sherry), jelly, a thick creamy custard, & lightly whipped fresh cream.
Topped with fresh fruit and more cream, this dessert is a must-have.
Try it yourself! –
11. Bakewell Tart
Calories (per 100g) – 411 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 1 hour 50 mins
Bakewell tart is a fragrant almond tart with a buttery pastry base, covered in raspberry jam and a filling of creamy frangipani! A total must-have.
Check out the recipe! –
12. Old-School Apple Crumble
Calories (per 100g) – 156 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 1 hour
This is a traditional British dessert made with the juiciest, jammy apple filling topped with a delicious crumbly layer of streusel.
10/10, I recommend you try this!
Try making it! –
13. Syllabub
Calories (per 100g) – 56.47 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 10 mins
It’s a delightfully light, creamy dessert made with whipping cream, sugar, & lemon zest.
It looks great and is super easy to make!
DIY Recipe –
14. Fools
Calories (per 100g) – 163 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 30 mins
It’s the easiest dessert on this list! Just mix fresh berries and whipped cream, and serve it chilled to make a refreshing healthy dessert!
Make it yourself! –
15. Treacle Sponge Pudding
Calories (per 100g) – 389 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 50 mins
Treacle Sponge Pudding is a steamed sponge cake with treacle baked on top, occasionally poured over it, and frequently served with hot custard!
Check out the recipe! –
16. Peach Melba
Calories (per 100g) – 60 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 30 mins
Peach Melba is a poached peaches and ice cream dessert, covered with a delicious raspberry sauce.
Simple yet satisfying.
Try it yourself! –
17. Cranachan
Calories (per 100g) – 275.41 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 1 hour 30 mins
It’s a traditional Christmas steamed cake-like dessert comprised of brandy, candied citrus peel, spices, & dried fruits like raisins!
Here’s how you can make it! –
18. Rice Pudding
Calories (per 100g) – 134 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 2 hours 55 mins
A homey, creamy pudding made with short-grain rice, served topped with roasted rhubarb or jam! Comfort food at its finest.
DIY Recipe –
19. Arctic Roll
Calories (per 100g) – 203 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 55 mins
It’s British Ice Cream Cake! It’s vanilla ice cream, wrapped in a layer of sponge cake and raspberry jam.
Tart, soft, ice-creamy goodness for the win.
Try making it! –
20. Easy Carrot Cake
Calories (per 100g) – 408 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 1 hour 15 mins
Light, moist & infused with cinnamon & nutmeg, this classic carrot cake is aromatic & delightful!
Make it yourself! –
21. Classic Swiss Roll
Calories (per 100g) – 347 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 25 mins
Swiss Roll is a famous dessert comprised of rolled sponge cake with jam, whipped cream, or icing.
An absolute masterpiece, delicious in every way.
Try it for yourself! –
22. Buttermilk Burnt Rice Pudding
Total Preparation Time – 35 mins
It’s the delicious blend of two British classics – Rice Pudding & Burnt Cambridge Cream! It’s creamy, aromatic & the caramelized top really completes the dish.
DIY Recipe –
23. Sherry Trifle
Calories (per 100g) – 150 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 10 mins
This is the adult version of the Trifle.
Ready-made sponge cake soaked in sherry, arranged in a glass jar with fruit, custard, and whipped cream? Delicious.
Try it! –
24. Queen of Puddings
Calories (per 100g) – 195 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 50 mins
A brilliant dessert with a rich, creamy custard bread base, topped with fruit & covered with meringue peaks.
A beautiful dessert, deserving of its name.
Learn how to make it! –
25. Summer Pudding
Calories (per 100g) – 380.6 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 30 mins
A delightful dessert made with layered sliced bread that encases fruits and fruit juices! It’s the perfect summer treat without being too sweet.
Here’s how you can make it! –
26. Apple Pie
Calories (per 100g) – 265 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 55 mins
Made with Bramley apples & a hint of lemon, this pie is as juicy, soft & tasty as an apple can be.
DIY Recipe –
27. Lemon Drizzle Cake
Calories (per 100g) – 268 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 45 mins
This mouth-watering cake is a lemon pound cake with zest in every bite! Plus the drizzled sugar glaze with this yummy cake is to die for.
Try making it! –
28. Flapjack
Calories (per 100g) – 424 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 40 mins
These lightly browned oat bars will win you over with a single bite! With oats, butter, sugar, & golden syrup, these baked bars are healthy and tasty!
Make them yourself! –
29. Mince Pie
Calories (per 100g) – 289 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 1 hour 20 mins
Another popular Christmas dessert, this pie is beyond yummy.
Sweet, rich minced filling made of dry fruits, spices & brandy, wrapped in pastry? Yes, please.
Try making it! –
30. Fruitcake
Calories (per 100g) – 324 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 2 hours 45 mins
A dark, rich, deliciously spiced fruit cake made during the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Super easy and totally worth the wait.
Try it! –
31. Traditional Dorset Apple Cake
Calories (per 100g) – 277 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 60 mins
It’s a beautiful rustic cake with a lightly spiced apple sponge and a crunchy sugar topping!
Do it yourself! –
32. Bara Brith – Welsh Tea Bread
Calories (per 100g) – 296 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 1 hour 25 mins
It is literally spotted bread! Made with fruits soaked in tea, this fruit loaf is incredibly moist and yummy beyond a doubt!
Here’s how you can make it! –
33. Millionaire’s Shortbread
Calories (per 100g) – 495.3 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 1 hour 35 mins
This dish is so rich, its name is totally appropriate.
With three distinct layers of shortbread, caramel, & chocolate, this dish is decadent.
Do try it! –
34. Brandy Snaps
Calories (per 100g) – 489 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 18 mins
Very popular throughout Britain, Brandy Snaps are tubular, brittle sweet treats usually served stuffed with ice cream or cream!
DIY Recipe –
35. Welsh Cakes
Calories (per 100g) – 434 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 16 mins
They’re flaky, tender, melt in your mouth cakes infused with sweet currants and hints of mace!
Learn how to make it –
36. Authentic Scottish Dundee Cake
Total Preparation Time – 1 hour 55 mins
It’s Queen Elizabeth’s favorite tea time cake! With its unique almond top, this cake is a looker while also being delightful!
Make it yourself! –
37. Classic Shortbread Cookies
Calories (per 100g) – 502 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 30 mins
Made using only three ingredients, these cookies are buttery & melt in your mouth delicious! Perfect for the holiday season!
Try making them! –
38. Jelly & Ice cream
Total Preparation Time – 1 hour 15 mins
As the name suggests, it’s homemade fruit jelly paired wonderfully with vanilla ice cream!
Here’s how you can make it! –
39. Fruity Scones
Calories (per 100g) – 352 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 15 mins
They’re scones studded with fresh berries and sprinkled with coarse sugar & make for a great tea-time snack!
DIY Recipe –
40. Raspberry Ripple Ice cream
Calories (per 100g) – 160 kcal
Total Preparation Time – 25 mins
It’s the perfect homemade raspberry ice cream & can be made without a machine, which makes this a highly recommended refreshing dessert!
Try it for yourself! –
In The End,
We hope you have as much fun trying these dishes as we did writing about them!
Share this article with anyone who’s currently visiting England so they can have an authentic British experience!
And do contact us for any suggestions or edits!