British desserts, or puddings, are rich and flavorful, with famous types including fools, tarts and crumbles, trifle, Christmas pudding, and spotted dick. Fools and Eton Mess are easy to make, while tarts and crumbles are similar to pies. Trifle is a layered dessert, while Christmas pudding is a traditional favorite. Spotted dick is a bread pudding-like dish with raisins and currents.
British desserts, often collectively referred to as puddings, are made up of dozens of great recipes for both traditional and modern desserts. Quite unique, the many types of British desserts contain rich, delicate and flavorful ingredients to satisfy any type of sweet tooth. Some of the more famous types of British desserts include silly, tarts and crumbles, trifle, Christmas pudding and the famous spotted cock.
Fools are a fabulously lush and indulgent type of dessert, despite a very basic ingredient profile. A fruit nut usually contains layers of flavored and sweetened whipped cream and fresh or pureed fruit. Easy to whip up in minutes, fools can still be elegantly plated and served in beautiful ice cream glasses. A variation on a fool is the famous Eton Mess, named for a popular dessert at one of England’s most famous colleges. Eton pie combines strawberries, cream, and pieces of meringue or cake, and is often served quite haphazardly.
Tarts and crumbs are two types of British desserts similar to pie. Many tarts are associated with a particular location of origin, such as Bakewell tart, Liverpool tart and Eccles tart. Tarts typically consist of a blend of ingredients cooked into a single flaky, crunchy crust. Crumbs are similar to American cobblers and feature a base of fruit, often apples or rhubarb, topped with crumbly streusel and baked until golden brown. Crumbs are another quick and easy dessert and can make a great quick addition to a brunch or tea buffet.
One of the more spectacular British desserts for presentation purposes is the traditional English trifle. This layered dessert is often served in a clear glass bowl or individual crystal cups, so the layers are visible. Layers in a bit usually consist of thick cream, whipped cream, fruit and sponge cake. Some recipes also call for the sponge to be dipped in liquor, such as rum, sherry or amaretto, for an extra kick of flavor.
Perhaps the most traditional dessert of all Britons is Christmas pudding. Shaped like a cannonball and often made weeks in advance, Christmas pudding is a truly spectacular combination of ingredients. Raisins, brandy, spices, flour, and beef fat are all common ingredients, though you can make a vegetarian suet Christmas pudding. This thick, festive feast is often topped with the brand’s icing or liqueur, and is sometimes set ablaze before serving for extra presentation points.
No list of British desserts is complete without the oddly named spotted dick. Believed to derive from an earlier moniker, “spotted dog,” the dish gets its name from the raisins and currents that dot the dessert’s exterior. This thick bread pudding-like dish is often served swimming in cream or custard and can be deliciously warming on a chilly autumn day.
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