Our Most Popular British-Inspired Recipes

If you’re a fan of strawberry shortcake, you’ll adore this British strawberries and cream sponge cake, also known as a Victoria sponge cake (named after Queen Victoria herself!). Whether you serve this up with afternoon tea or for dessert after an elegant dinner party, it’s sure to impress with its layers of rich whipped cream and strawberries stirred with jam.

It’s hard to think of a dessert more quintessentially British than sticky toffee pudding. If you’re unfamiliar with this staple of traditional British cuisine, it’s a soft and spongy cake made with sweet dates and soaked in a rich toffee sauce. Top it off with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you are officially in British dessert heaven.

Related: Sticky Toffee Banana Cake

Although butter chicken is originally from Delhi, India, we’d be remiss not to include this iconic Indian dish on the list of most popular British foods because of how beloved it is in England! England’s Indian food is known to be some of the best in the world outside India, but if you can’t take a trip there to try it for yourself, this recipe is the next best thing.

Related: Spicy Eggplant Bharta

These delightful cookies are a mashup of two classic British delicacies: shortbread and Earl Grey tea. Buttery and tender, these shortbread cookies feature a lightly sweet and creamy glaze that perfectly complements the citrus notes of Earl Grey tea, making it the ideal treat to serve alongside afternoon tea.

Related: Earl Grey Upside Down Pear Cake

Scotch eggs are a classic British dish featuring boiled eggs wrapped in a sausage coating and deep-fried until crispy, but if you’re looking to put a more modern, vegetarian twist on the beloved recipe, try this falafel-inspired take instead! The traditional sausage exterior of a Scotch egg is swapped out for a bright and flavourful falafel mixture, then fried to crispy golden perfection and topped with a drizzle of tahini lemon sauce.

Related: Healthy Middle Eastern Recipes You’ll Make on Repeat

No British afternoon tea would be complete without scones, and this delightful recipe from Flavour Network baking queen Anna Olson rivals the best British scone recipes. The rich, buttery treats are studded with cranberries and drizzled with a lemon glaze, and are best served with a side of clotted cream and your favourite jam.

Related: Carrot Cake Scones Drizzled with Cream Cheese Glaze

One of Britain’s signature dishes is fish and chips, a pub classic featuring crispy battered and deep fried fish with a side of French fries, tartar sauce and mushy peas. If you’re interested in making this dish at home, this recipe featured on Big Food Bucket List Season 3 has you written all over it. The key is to use soda water in the fish batter to create a light and airy breading, allowing the delicate flavours of the halibut to shine through.

Who says hot cross buns are only for Easter? While you’ll typically find them in stores in the spring in Canada, in the UK they’re so popular that they are available year-round. Anna Olson’s version of the beloved baked good features a warm, moist dough that’s complimented with dried cranberries and a rich icing.

If you’ve always thought that mincemeat pie contains meat, you’re in for a big surprise! Originating in England, mincemeat pie actually contains a combination of dried fruits and warming spices that come together to create this delightfully unique and craveable dessert.

If you’re anywhere in the country of England on a Sunday, there’s no doubt that a luscious Sunday Roast is being served somewhere nearby. The traditional British meal of roasted meat, potatoes and vegetables served with gravy and sometimes Yorkshire pudding simply can’t be beat, and makes for a seriously hearty and satisfying meal to warm up with after a long week.

Related: Whole Roasted Tandoori Chicken with Tender Potatoes and Spicy Onions