Classic British desserts to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Jubilee
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Classic British desserts to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s jubilee
This June, the UK will be commemorating 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign with a series of events and festivities.
In honour of her Platinum Jubilee, we're celebrating with some of our favourite classic British desserts!
Whether you're serving up a classic Victoria sponge cake or a rich and decadent chocolate trifle, these desserts are sure to please any crowd.
1. Trifle
One of the most iconic jubilee celebrations is afternoon tea. This quintessentially British tradition is the perfect way to show your support for the Queen, and there are plenty of ways to make it extra special for her Platinum Jubilee.
If you're feeling creative, why not try your hand at making a trifle in honour of the occasion? There's a traditional recipe, of course, but this year the BBC is running a competition to find a new trifle recipe to represent the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
The winner was Jemma Melvin who presented a seven-layer lemon Swiss roll and amaretti trifle.
The winner of BBC’s search for the best new trifle recipe for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was Jemma Melvin who whipped up a seven-layer lemon Swiss roll and amaretti trifle. Credit: BBC.
Technically, the dessert is still a trifle, but it also has infused flavours of citrus and almond, creating a unique take on the delectable treat.
BBC released the full recipe on their website, revealing the techniques to prepare each of the seven layers — including custard, jelly, and cake — of the trifle from scratch.
9Honey's Jane de Graaff noted, however, that not everyone has the time to create a 7-layered dessert.
So, 9Honey shared a much easier recipe that you can try at home.
Jane’s version of Cheat’s Platinum Jubilee trifle. Credit: 9Honey.
Cheat's Platinum Jubilee trifle
Layer 1
- sponge roll (lemon if possible, but jam is fine too)
- lemon/passionfruit jelly
Layer 2
- double thick custard
- amaretto biscuits
- lemon curd
- marmalade (mandarin if possible, but orange is fine)
- tinned mandarins, drained
Layer 3
- whipped cream
- white chocolate of choice, to decorate
- extra amaretto biscuits, to decorate
Method:
Layer 1: Cut your sponge roll into pinwheels and arrange them around the edge of a trifle bowl to show off the swirl. You can use a dot of lemon curd to hold them in place. Make jelly as per the packet instructions and then pour in the jelly to come up the sides of the bowl above the jam roll pieces. Allow to set for four hours or until firm.
Layer 2: On top of the jelly layer, spoon over the double-thick custard to make a custard layer and then dot your amaretto biscuits around the edge. Spoon marmalade and lemon curd around the edges and then scatter across the middle too. Press drained mandarin segments around the edge of the bowl to create a pretty pattern.
Layer 3: Pipe whipped cream all over the top, creating some height in the middle. Break the white chocolate into shards and decorate the top of the cream with the chocolate pieces, extra biscuit and mandarin pieces and anything extra you'd like to add. Chill until ready to serve.
Source: 9Honey/Jane de Graaff
So if you fancy yourself a bit of a budding chef, why not give it a go?
2. Victoria sponge
The Victoria sponge cake is a classic British dessert that has been around for centuries.
This delicious cake is made with a whipped sponge and is filled with either raspberry or strawberry jam and whipped cream.
The cake gets its name from Queen Victoria who was said to love having a slice of this cake with her afternoon tea.
Brits have been serving this classic treat for centuries. Credit: 9Honey.
Today, the Victoria sponge cake is still a popular dessert and can be found in many bakeries and supermarkets.
If you're looking to make this cake at home, there are a few things to keep in mind:
First, make sure you whip the sponge properly to get a light and fluffy cake.
Secondly, you can either make the cake from scratch or use a store-bought sponge.
And lastly, the butter cake version of this cake is also very delicious and is worth trying if you're looking for a richer flavour.
For more tips on how to prepare this decadent treat, we recommend checking out this video:
Credit: YouTube/Donal Skehan
3. Eton mess
The Eton mess is a classic dessert that has been around for generations. It is a simple dessert to make and only requires a few ingredients — meringue, berries, cream, and sugar.
It was said that the mess gets its name from the fact that it is a bit of a messy dish to eat.
Additionally, it was said that the treat was first served in the Eton tuck-shop (or school canteen) in the 1930's, hence, its name.
The decadent dessert is made with meringue, berries, cream, and sugar. Credit: 9Honey.
The mess can be made with store-bought meringue or made from scratch.
Whichever way you choose, the mess is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
Here's a video on how you can make the classic Eton mess at home:
Credit: YouTube/CupCakeJemma
So, there you have it, folks! Get out your best china and raise a toast to the Queen!
What dessert are you looking forward to trying or making? Let us know in the comments below!
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