25 Best Traditional British Desserts

Published by Izzy Yu

on Mar 11, 2022

The British are known for their sweet desserts. From moist puddings, to creamy trifles, and light cakes, there are plenty of dessert choices to satisfy your sweet tooth.

The good news is you don’t have to hop on a plane to enjoy traditional British desserts. With a quick trip to the grocery store, you’ll have all of the ingredients you need to create your own luscious desserts at home.

Grab a hot cup of tea and take a moment to check out these 25 Best Traditional British Desserts. Happy baking!

1. Jammy Doggers for Christmas

Can you guess what these treats are based on the name? They’re jam-filled sandwich cookies! The recipe calls for strawberry or raspberry jam, but you can choose the fruit spread of your choice.

2. Perfect Sticky Toffee Pudding

Much of the sweetness in this delectable dessert comes from the dried dates. It takes just 50 minutes to make these treats and they bake in muffin tins. Don’t forget to serve with the toffee sauce, included in the recipe.

3. Banoffee Pie Recipe

If you haven’t tried this luscious pie before, you’re in for a real treat! It has a crunchy graham cracker crust, and is filled with sliced bananas, rich dulce de leche, and topped with real whipped cream.

4. Classic English Eton Mess

The name of this dessert will definitely have you guessing what it is, but trust us – it’s delicious! All you need is some store-bought meringues, fresh strawberries, whipping cream, and a few other ingredients. The end result is a dessert that’s full of amazing textures and is surprisingly light.

5. Jam Roly Poly

Similar to a jelly roll cake, this sweet dessert is a flat cake that’s covered in a jam filling, and then rolled into a log shape. Serve it with warm custard sauce for a real treat.

6. Traditional English Trifle

Loved by kids and adults, trifle is a gorgeous dessert filled with juicy fruit, moist cake brushed with sherry, and airy whipped cream. The recipe calls for fresh strawberries and raspberries but feel free to use other fruit combinations like peaches, mangoes, or kiwis!

Strawberry Fool (Strawberries and Cream)

7. Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Juicy pineapple covered with moist cake is definitely cause for celebration. Serve this classic dessert with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream!

8. Strawberry Fool (Strawberries and Cream)

This is the perfect dessert to make when strawberries are in season. All you need is four ingredients and it’s ready in 20 minutes. Serve it at your next summer get-together!

9. Knickerbocker Glory

This amazing dessert is made with fruit, ice cream, icing sugar, and chopped pistachios. It’s essentially a sundae, and we think it’s the best we’ve tasted!

10. Apple Sponge Eve’s Pudding

We’re not sure who Eve is, but we love this dessert! It’s similar to an apple cobbler and would be wonderful served with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream.

11. Syllabub

Similar to a custard, this creamy dessert is served in glass bowls. Add a dusting of nutmeg, and some berries for a splash of color. Note that because this dessert is made with wine, you won’t want to serve it to children.

12. Traditional Treacle Tart

If you love the tart flavor of lemon, you’ll enjoy this dessert. The rich filling is dense and sweet, and the crust is buttery and flaky. Serve with steaming cups of coffee or tea!

13. The Best Bread Pudding

Often served at brunch spots, bread pudding is incredibly easy to make at home! This recipe calls for fresh blueberries but feel free to use another fruit instead. Strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries would be delicious.

14. Traditional Dorset Apple Cake

The next time you have some fresh apples, make a point of trying this recipe. It’s ready to enjoy in under an hour and is easy to make. Perfect for a mid-morning treat with a hot cup of coffee or tea.

15. British Scones

If you prefer desserts that aren’t too sweet, give this recipe a try. With just 2 tablespoons of sugar, it has a delicate flavor that’s the perfect balance of savory and sweet. Enjoy them with butter, or add a touch of jam, and don’t forget to brew a pot of tea!

16. Bara Brith (Welsh Tea Bread)

This tea bread is reminiscent of traditional fruit cake. It’s loaded with raisins, black currants, and candied peel. It’s called tea bread because the dried fruit is soaked in tea to plump them up. And, just like many other British desserts, it would be ideal served with a hot cup of tea!

17. Cornish Hevva Cake (Heaven Cake)

Made with just a handful of ingredients, this light cake is ready to enjoy in just 45 minutes. Cut it into squares and tuck it into lunch boxes as a treat!

18. Figgy Pudding

Dried figs are the star of this classic British cake. It’s perfectly spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, and also has a touch of zesty orange. Serve this cake at your next gathering – we think your guests will love it!

19. Easy Peach Melba Dessert

This dessert couldn’t be easier to make. All you need are canned peaches, sponge cake, raspberry jam, and vanilla ice cream. To make it extra easy, use store-bought cake. Serve it at your next family barbeque and get ready for rave reviews!

20. Welsh Cakes

These small bites are a cross between pancakes and scones! You’ll probably have all of the ingredients on hand, and they’re ready to eat in less than 15 minutes. Serve them with a dusting of icing sugar, or spread them with butter.

21. Brandy Snaps

Flavored with a touch of ginger, these thin crisps would be ideal served with ice cream, or enjoyed on their own with a cup of hot coffee or tea. You can also shape them into cigars while they’re still warm, and fill them with homemade whipped cream.