Britain’s once-proud pudding tradition is in danger of fading away faster than a melting scoop of custard.
According to new research from English Heritage, only a tiny fraction of households still make homemade puddings every day – a far cry from the kitchen routines of previous generations.
What was once the highlight of Sunday lunch or a midweek treat has become a rare indulgence, with many families now relying on shop-bought desserts or skipping pudding altogether.
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A Nation Falling Out Of Love With Pudding
The decline of the traditional British dessert began in the 1970s, when busy lifestyles and changing work patterns meant fewer people had time to bake.
Where families once gathered around steaming crumbles, jam roly-polys, and treacle sponges, convenience foods quietly took their place.
Nearly half of those born before 1970 say their parents made homemade puddings several times a week – even during summer – but that figure has since dropped dramatically.
Today, around a third of households admit they never make puddings at all.
Dr Andrew Hann, senior curator of history at English Heritage, summed up the mood perfectly:
“Sweet puddings are closely intertwined with British history and although our waistlines might benefit, I think we’d all agree, it would be a huge shame for them to die out.”
A Taste Of The Past, Reinvented
In a bid to keep tradition alive, English Heritage is finding new ways to rekindle Britain’s love for pudding.
The organisation has teamed up with Northern Bloc to create pudding-inspired ice creams, including Sticky Toffee Pudding and Apple Crumble & Custard flavours, available at its historic sites.
A traditional baking cookbook is also set for release later this year.
The goal is simple – to remind us that desserts like crumbles, pies, and sponges are more than just sweet treats.
They’re part of our shared heritage, steeped in nostalgia and family memories.
So next time you reach for a pudding, perhaps it’s worth dusting off that old recipe book and baking one from scratch – just as your grandparents once did.
