9 Recipes to Recreate Classic Cakes from Your Childhood
Treating yourself to a slice of cake is all about indulging your inner child. Whether it was something homemade, fresh from the bakery, or a dessert at the school canteen, tucking into your favourite sweet treats was a highlight of growing up.
If you've been feeling nostalgic for those childhood classics and fancy a trip down memory lane, we've come up with a selection of treats and desserts that you and your family can make at home. From sprinkle cakes to Bakewell tarts, we're sure you'll love making these just as much as you will eating them!
Sprinkle cake
A staple of school dinners and birthday parties, this one is a real blast from the past and always went down well – because who could ever say no to those coloured sprinkles? Fancy going old school with your baking? This particular sprinkle cake recipe gets top marks from us and guides you through each step, with a troubleshooting guide if you make a mess of it the first time around. Made with a lovely, spongey cake foundation, it's the sweet, sugary icing sugar and the crunch of the sprinkles that makes it an all-time favourite.
Treacle sponge cake
Another one that satisfied many a hungry schoolchild; you can't go wrong with a treacle sponge cake. Your tastes may have changed now that you've grown up, but one spoonful of this rich, irresistible cake and you'll be eight years old all over again. Try this recipe and tell us we're wrong! Plus, you can serve it with ice cream or custard for some extra school dinner additions too.
Chocolate crunch
If you don't feel like making an entire cake, then there's still some childhood treats you can make a special snack out of, especially these delicious slices of chocolate crunch. This particular recipe has been passed down from a dinner lady herself, so you know it's going to be a good one. Chocolate crunch can easily be made vegan by swapping out the regular butter with a dairy-free alternative.
Iced buns
Shop-bought iced buns are tasty as they are, but it's far more rewarding to make your own version of the bakery classic. They don't take long to make and they're arguably more delicious than the kinds you may be used to. Give this recipe a try for a nostalgic treat; you can even slice the bun in two and spread some jam on before adding the icing.
Chocolate crispy cakes
An impossible-to-resist combo of chocolate and crunchy rice pops, there's a chance you made these as a child they're that easy. Blending milk and dark chocolate with sweet golden syrup, these chocolate crispy cakes take no time at all, and offer plenty of space for customising them the way you like, whether that's sprinkling them with dried fruit, marshmallows or hundreds and thousands. And you get to do the best bit too: licking the bowl clean while they set!
Bakewell tart
A favourite of the Peak District, Bakewell tarts might look a little fiddly, but the rich, flavourful classic is a breeze to make. This recipe, taken from 2014 Bake Off finalist Luis Troyano's recipe book Bake It Great, certainly has some culinary clout after his impressive performance on the show, and really, that's as good a reason as any to make it yourself. As he says, it's a great recipe to try since it not only gets you used to making the frangipane filling, but it also shows the importance of decoration. Don't forget the cherry on top for that iconic finishing touch.
Bread and butter pudding
Perhaps more than anything else on this list, bread and butter pudding feels like a relic from a bygone era; something that not many families would sit down to eat any longer. This seems like a disservice, as a well-made bread and butter pudding is well worth trying, and is a great way to repurpose any stale bread you have at home. Delia's version of the household classic is as fragrant and soft as you've come to expect from the dessert, with a delicious toasted top for added crunch.
Apple crumble
The humble apple crumble remains a thing of beauty to this day. An unmatchable pairing of soft, sweet apples and a crunchy topping, its timeless reputation as one of Britain's best desserts has been more than earned over time. This recipe from Jamie Oliver mixes up eating apples with the more traditional Bramley variety, which may shock the purists, but it's as delicious as the variety you had at school. Of course, it wouldn't be an apple crumble without serving it with vanilla custard, so be sure to get some in for the proper finishing touch.
Cornflake tart
Our final, fondly-remembered dessert comes in the form of the classic cornflake tart. Even the smell alone of this sticky, gooey treat should transport you back to your grandparents' kitchen. This recipe is a worthy contender into the pantheon of cornflake tarts, and can be made dairy-free with vegan butter and Jus-Roll ready-rolled shortcrust pastry!
We hope this article has inspired you to get creative in the kitchen! Looking for more? You’ll find the full range of Breville products, whatever you’re in need of, on our homepage.