British Cakes

Pound cake is a British dessert consisting of one pound of each of the following ingredients: flour, butter, sugar, and eggs, hence the name. There is no leavening agent used in the preparation, except the air that is whipped into the batter. It d... READ MORE

Lemon drizzle cake is a traditional cake and a staple of afternoon tea. Although not much is known about its origin, it is believed that the first lemon drizzle was made by a Jewish woman named Evelyn Rose in 1967. This simple sponge cake is usual... READ MORE

Victoria sponge is an English layer cake filled with fruit jam (and sometimes, whipped cream). It was invented by Queen Victoria's cooks in the 19th century, when it was one of the main stars at the Queen's tea parties, along with sandwiches and s... READ MORE

Even though it remains unclear exactly how long this traditional English sponge cake has been around for, one of the earliest known recipes for Madeira cake was found in Elizabeth Acton's Modern Cookery for Private Families, published in ... READ MORE

Battenberg cake is a light dessert consisting of alternating, colored squares of genoise sponge coated with an exterior of apricot jam and almond paste. It is believed that the cake was invented in order to celebrate the 1884 wedding of P... READ MORE

The traditional Scottish almond-studded fruitcake with sultanas and candied peel, known as Dundee cake originated in the city of Dundee while its name appears to have been first recorded in the late 19th century. Interestingly, the cake is said to... READ MORE

Parkin or perkin is a sticky cake originating from Northern England, although it is mostly associated with Yorkshire. It consists of flour, oatmeal, black treacle, and either lard or butter. Many cooks like to spice it up with a hefty dos... READ MORE

Simnel cake is an English dessert that is traditionally prepared during the Easter festivities. The base is made with flour, butter, sugar, eggs, and (sometimes) milk. Once prepared, the batter is combined with dried fruit such as currants, sultan... READ MORE

Fifteens is a traditional cake consisting of digestive cookies, coconut, marshmallows, and cherries. The dessert is usually rolled into a log, left in the fridge to set, and it's then cut in slices. It can be found in numerous bakeries an... READ MORE

Hevva is a cake from Cornwall consisting of spelt flour, butter, sugar, milk, lard, and raisins or currants. The name hevva is linked to the landing of a shoal of fish, and then the huer would shout “hevva, hevva“, gi... READ MORE

Queen Elizabeth cake is a moist, date-based cake with a distinctive caramelized coconut topping. It is known for its rich, sweet flavor and chewy texture and is often enjoyed during special occasions and celebrations. The cake's origins are linked... READ MORE

Believed to be a recipe brought to the American South by the English colonies, tipsy cake was first referenced in 1806, and its name was colloquially used because of the amount of alcohol it contains. Although there are many variations of tipsy ca... READ MORE

Dark, moist, and dense, cassava cake or heavy cake hails from the Cayman Islands, where it's regarded as the unofficial national dish. This intensely sweet dessert is made with a combination of boiled coconut milk, margarine, vanilla, brown sugar,... READ MORE

Gâche melée is a heavy and dense Guernsey cake that is traditionally prepared with a combination of apples, flour, sugar, milk, salt, and suet (instead of butter). When baked, it is recommended to serve the cake cut into squares, and ... READ MORE