Famous British Snacks and Treats

In the U.K. there are simply some treats that uniquely belong to the culture. An example is a treat called Millionaire’s Shortbread. Originally Scottish in origin this is crunchy shortbread topped with caramel and then smeared with milk chocolate. This wonderful treat, best served a bit cold, has a wonderful texture that is rarely found in another place.

Another treat is the Full English Flapjack.  This is not a pancake or waffled. Instead it is a compacted bar made out of golden syrup and oats. It is like a crunchy granola bar only tastier.  You can get these plain or dipped in chocolate.

Rock buns are another indigenous treat that look like small rocky cakes.  These are very buttery and crumbly cakes that have many raisins in them. They are a very common after-school treat that is served with a big glass of milk to hungry children.

Wholegrain shortbread is a newer treat that is getting a great deal of attention in the Isles because it is made from wholegrain flour and raw tubinado sugar. This is a treat that is crumbly, grainy and that melts in the mouth. It is also slightly, but not much better for you than ordinary shortbread.

Another wonderful treat is called Eton Mess. This is a mix of hard meringues, strawberries or raspberries and thick clotted cream.   It is like a sweeter and crunchier version of strawberry shortcake. A similar treat that is showing up in high-end restaurants in London is a trifle made from almonds, rhubarb and whipped cream.  This is drizzled with a hazelnut, cocoa or almond based liqueur like Amaretto.

Also peculiar to London is a cake that is called a Battenberg cake. This is a cake made out of yellow and pink squares of sponge cake that is wrapped in a layer of Marzipan. This is the kind of thing that is often served after high tea.

Of course what is a treat for one person is a repugnant mess for another. This can be said of one of England’s most relished seafood treats – a bowl of jellied eels. This is hard for many to look at, never mind eat, as the cut up gray and white are not at their most attractive in the bowl of greenish jelly they are served in. Still eel that is served like this is supposed to be even more delicious than another English treat – sardines on crackers!