By Jane Sandwood
Tea and Cake: a British favourite!
Tea and cake is a quintessentially British pastime, enjoyed all around the country. From a tasty treat at a catch-up with friends, to a beautifully decorated centrepiece at a big celebration, cakes are just part of our everyday life. The rich and diverse heritage of baking in Britain means there are many different cake recipes to choose from. Whether you’re looking to decorate something special to wow your guests or just want to try your hand at something new, we’re here to guide you through the best of British cakes.
The Queen of Cakes…
Named after Queen Victoria because it was her favourite, the Victoria Sandwich cake is a British national treasure on a par with Stonehenge and Big Ben.
While the traditional combination is a vanilla sponge with cream and raspberry jam, you can get creative and go for whatever flavour tickles your fancy. Why not try a chocolate ganache filling or a coffee sponge?
An excellent base for birthday and other celebration cakes, it’s straightforward to make, lends itself to creativity for decoration, and can even be made gluten-free.
Look to the vegetable plot…
The humble carrot cake is another teatime favourite, harking back to the middle ages when sweeteners were much rarer.
It surged in popularity during the Second World War, and was upgraded in the 1960s with the addition of the famous cream cheese icing. It’s a great alternative to more decadent chocolate cakes, and is mouthwateringly moist as well.
The debate rages on as to whether it should include raisins and/or walnuts; we’ll leave you to decide!
Learn how to make the perfect carrot cake with our quick and easy tutorial!
A fruity festive delight
With Christmas just around the corner, you’re probably already thinking about a good old classic fruitcake. Part of christmas tradition for hundreds of years, this tasty blend of dried fruit, alcohol, and dark, rich sugars is also popular at weddings, christenings and other celebrations.
This year, have a go at making one yourself: it’s not as tricky as you think. Let us know what other cakes you would feature on this list in the comments below!
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