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Retro puddings

Retro puddings

Get all nostalgic with our collection of retro puddings and vintage desserts. These old favourites remain popular for a reason: they’re familiar and comforting. A bowl of crumble and custard is a sure-fire way to put a smile on someone’s face. A generous slice of jam roly poly is an edible cuddle, while a bakewell tart can melt troubles away.

Try your hand at timeless classics such as lemon meringue pie and treacle tart, or experiment with our takes on old retro puddings, including rhubarb jelly with custard ice cream and spotted dick with a rum and raisin twist. Our arctic roll and jam roly-poly recipes channel the nostalgic school puddings of the past (but with no homework!).

All of these vintage desserts would be a great finale to a retro party. Get things off the a tasty start with our favourite canapé and cocktail recipes.

Showing 1-16 of 44 recipes

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Banana recipes

Barbecued maple and pecan banana splits

Add flair to the retro banana split by baking on the barbecue coals as they die down. This easy pud will be a hit at your next barbecue.

Gluten-free

Easy

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Frozen dessert recipes

Mini baked alaskas

Introducing our failsafe mini baked alaskas: chocolate no-churn ice cream, sturdy sponge base, no-cook jam and silky torched swiss meringue.

Freezable Vegetarian Make-ahead

Challenge

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Baking recipes

Malt iced buns with raspberry icing

Who doesn’t love an iced bun? These raspberry buns temper the sometimes over-sweet flavour thanks to wholemeal flour and a little malt.

Freezable Vegetarian

Easy

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Crumble recipes

Rhubarb, rose and pistachio crumble

Classic rhubarb crumble reaches new heights in this easy recipe, thanks to cardamom, rosewater and an irresistible pistachio and oat topping.

Freezable

Easy

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Retro puddings

Rum and raisin spotted dick

You can’t get a more traditional British pud than spotted dick. We’re given it a makeover, complete with rum-soaked raisins and rum syrup.

Freezable

Easy

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Retro puddings

Chocolate parkin with marbled custard

Sticky chocolate parkin shares top billing with chocolate and ginger custard rippled with spiced cream in this retro pudding recipe.

Freezable

Medium

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Sweet tart recipes

Black forest bakewell tart

When black forest gateau meets bakewell tart, something magical happens. These two nostalgic desserts combine perfectly.

Freezable Make-ahead

Medium

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Trifle recipes

Traditional English trifle

Raspberry jelly, thick vanilla custard, sherry-soaked sponge fingers and pillowy mounds of whipped cream: it's the ultimate traditional trifle.

Easy

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Bonfire Night recipes

Parkin

Parkin is a squidgy cake traditionally eaten as a warming treat for Bonfire Night or in winter. Try it with lashings of spiced custard.

Easy

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Easy baking recipes to make with kids

Raspberry and custard mini cakes

Reminiscent of school traybakes with pink icing, these raspberry and custard muffins are given a suitably chic update.

Easy

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Perfect pudding recipes

The Hairy Bikers’ pineapple and rum sticky toffee pudding

When upside-down pineapple cake has a rum-punch party with sticky toffee pudding, this recipe from The Hairy Bikers is the glorious result.

Vegetarian

Easy

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Best of British recipes

Proper homemade custard

This easy recipe for proper homemade custard is the perfect finishing touch: pour it over apple pie, steamed pudding, or whatever you fancy.

Gluten-free Vegetarian

Easy

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Steamed pudding recipes

Blood orange and Campari steamed pudding

This blood orange steamed pudding is a showstopper of a winter pud. It can even be cooked in the microwave for a quick and easy hack.

Vegetarian

Easy

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Sweet tart recipes

Duke of Cambridge tart

Chef Tristan Welch has revived the Duke of Cambridge tart while retaining the gorgeous flavours of the original, making it a fine choice for afternoon tea.