English Heritage has warned that the traditional British pudding is facing extinction, with research showing that two-thirds of households in England, Wales and Scotland now make puddings only once a month or less. A third of households never bake, boil or steam a pudding at all.
The charity defines puddings as cooked sweet courses that follow a main meal, including not only steamed or boiled desserts but also fruit pies and crumbles. Dr Andrew Hann, senior curator of history at English Heritage, said: 'Sweet puddings are closely intertwined with British history and it would be a huge shame for them to die out.'
The research, conducted by YouGov, found that only 2% of British households eat a daily homemade pudding. While half of people born before 1970 said their parents made puddings several times a week, that figure dropped to 26% for those born in the 1970s, and the trend has continued downward since.
Dr Hann attributed the decline to changing lifestyles, particularly the increase in women entering the workforce from the 1970s onwards, which reduced time for cooking and prioritised convenience. He warned that if the decline continues, the classic British pudding could vanish within 50 years.
In response, English Heritage has launched two new pudding-inspired ice-cream flavours at its sites: sticky toffee and apple crumble and custard. The charity will also publish The English Heritage Baking Book in early September, featuring recipes for classic and forgotten puddings along with historical notes.
