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 50 recipes
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Rice puddings
Rice pudding brûlée with caramel bananas
If you love rice pudding, you'll love this indulgent rice pudding brûlée with caramel bananas from dinner party expert Rosie Mackean.
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Easy
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British puddings
Blueberry queen of puddings with brown sugar meringue
Blueberry queen of puddings is the perfect spring dessert. Baked custard is topped with blueberry jam and a cloud of brown-sugar meringue.
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Easy
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Rhubarb
Rhubarb and oat sponge pudding
Dig into this soft, buttery sponge pudding to reveal the pink juicy rhubarb. This easy recipe makes a great change from classic crumble.
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Easy
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Bananas
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.
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Easy
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Frozen dessert
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.
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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.
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Easy
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Crumbles
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.
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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.
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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.
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Medium
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Sweet tarts
Black forest bakewell tart
When black forest gateau meets bakewell tart, something magical happens. These two nostalgic desserts combine perfectly.
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Medium
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Trifles
Traditional English trifle
Raspberry jelly, thick vanilla custard, sherry-soaked sponge fingers and pillowy mounds of whipped cream: it's the ultimate traditional trifle.
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Easy
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Bonfire Night
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.
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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.
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Easy
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Perfect puddings
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.
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Easy
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Best of British
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.
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Easy
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Steamed puddings
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.
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Easy
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