The Queen’s Platinum Pudding: what should it be?

Thea Everett

Deputy editor (audiences) Thea loves to be in the kitchen and has a particular interest in cooking on a budget and deep frying. She thinks Sri Lankan and Indian food is the food of the gods. She looks after the brand’s social channels and newsletter – and contributes features and recipes.

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To celebrate the Queen’s 70-year reign in June 2022, the British public has been invited to suggest a dessert for the celebrations. Department store Fortnum & Mason has launched a competition, encouraging people to come up with ideas for the Platinum Pudding, set to be judged by a panel of experts including Monica Galetti and none other than Dame Mary Berry.

From Queen of Puddings, to Eton Mess, what do you think the new dish should be?

The Queen’s Platinum Pudding: what should it be?

From coronation chicken to now…

Coronation chicken was originally devised as the main course at the banquet of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. That happy matrimony of cold chicken, curry cream sauce and dressing is now a staple at cafés across the country: having become one of the nation’s favourite jacket potato and sandwich fillings. Queue a new challenge put forward to the people: to come up with a Platinum Pudding. What dish do you think it ought to be?

The winner of the Fortnum & Mason competition will be invited to be at the centre of the Jubilee celebrations, so this is a competition worth entering!

10 ideas for the Queen’s Platinum Pudding

Queen of puddings

This one just makes sense… the traditional British queen of puddings is made with a vanilla custard, sweet raspberry jam and a marshmallowy meringue topping. It’s sweet, and comforting, and won’t cost an arm and a leg to make – all the best things in one dessert.

Ultimate bakewell tart

With its sweet, crisp shortcrust pastry, a layer of strawberry jam, a generous frangipane filling and flaked almonds, the bakewell tart (originating from the town of Bakewell in Derbyshire) makes a strong contender.

Trifle

There’s nothing quite like a retro trifle standing with pride in the centre of the table! And if the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee demands anything: it’s your finest glass trifle dish! We love our caramelised clementine and almond trifle as a celebration dessert…

Eton mess roulade

We took the traditional dessert Eton mess, and combined it with a vanilla roulade to make the perfect pudding for a summer celebration.

Treacle tart

Another inexpensive yet genius dessert from the late 19th century: the classic treacle tart is made all the more brilliant by its simplicity.

Battenberg

Battenberg cake requires a little know-how and a few tricks, but isn’t the Platinum Jubilee the time to show off some skills?

Victoria sponge

A classic sponge will never go amiss. This orange and almond twist on the traditional Victoria sponge cake is so good, and so simple.

Swiss roll

Four ingredients, and a lot of fun. A chocolate swiss roll caused a bit of a stir when dressed up as a caterpillar last year, and we think a reinvention of the retro pudding is always worth a try.

Duke of Cambridge tart

Fit for a Duke, fit for a Queen? This traditional sweet tart makes a fine choice for a pudding, with a glass of chilled dessert wine.

Bread and butter pudding

This marmalade bread and butter pudding is perfect: a crunchy topping with a custard, comforting middle. It’s a pudding that manages to be sophisticated yet simple at once.