7 Victorian recipes

History Extra

Illustrations of decorative pies from Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, 1861. (Credit: Culture Club/Getty Images)

1) Brown bread ice cream

Made from a mixture of vanilla ice cream and caramelised wholemeal breadcrumbs, brown bread ice cream was a popular treat among the upper-class in the late 19^th century.
To read the Cook it! recipe in full, click here.

2) Classic Victoria sandwich

Possibly the most popular teatime treat in Britain, the Victoria sandwich is made of two simple sponges, with lashings of strawberry jam and cream layered in-between.
To read the BBC Good Food recipe in full, click here.

3) Kedgeree

British colonials based in India first created kedgeree during the 19^th century. After they passed on their recipe to their friends back home, kedgeree became the staple of many breakfast tables across Britain. The dish is made of rice, smoked haddock and plenty of spice.
To read the Cook it! recipe in full, click here.

4) Syllabub

Syllabub is a boozy yet creamy dessert, popular among the elite during the 17^th and 18^th centuries. Usually made with fortified wines such as sherry, this sweet treat also featured at high society banquets during the Victorian period.
To read Mrs Beeton's recipe on the BBC, click here.

5) Spotted dick

Made from suet pastry, dried currants and raisins, spotted dick first appeared in The Modern Housewife cookbook by French chef Alexis Soyer in 1849. Serve this pudding with lashings of hot custard.
To read the BBC Good Food recipe in full, click here.

6) Teacakes

The perfect accompaniment to a strong cup of tea, teacakes are sweet buns filled with dried fruit. Usually toasted and smothered in butter, a recipe for teacakes is mentioned in Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management – the bestselling guide to running a home in the 19^th century.
To read Mrs Beeton's recipe on the BBC, click here.

7) Gruel

Made out of a thin mixture of oats and water or milk, gruel is famously affiliated with the Victorian workhouse, as seen in Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist.
To read the Cook it! recipe in full, click here.