15 British Recipes

Ten Stilton and walnut crackers arranged in rows on a sheet of parchment.

Stilton and Walnut Crackers1/15

Perhaps the simplest and most sophisticated dinner party precursor ever. Just make the savory shortbread dough, freeze, slice, and bake. You're welcome.

Two bangers and mash with cooked red onion in a bowl.

Bangers and Mash2/15

You could call this sausages with mashed potatoes. But we sorta feel obliged to say bangers and mash. Faux British accent optional.

A parfait glass filled with raspberry fool on a decorative glass plate with a silver spoon and two heart-shaped cookies.

Irish Raspberry Fool3/15

We've no idea where this name came from, as there's nothing foolish about conjuring a conversation-stopping dessert from just three ingredients. Nothing foolish at all.

Two Guiness floats with straws on a grey metal try with a few spoons lying beside them.

Guinness and Ice Cream Float4/15

A marvie blend of bitter stout and sweet ice cream, this inspired adults-only rendition of an old-fashioned float just may take you by surprise.

Welsh Cakes5/15

The size of English muffins, these Welsh cakes are dense, slightly sweet, and packed with golden raisins. They're perfect for breakfast or served with tea.

A chicken and leek pot pie in a white square baking dish with a server and forks and knife nearby.

Tender chicken and sausage meatballs sidle up alongside sweet leeks and a tipsy white wine cream sauce. Then the whole shebang is topped with indecently rich and flaky puff pastry in this recipe from (90s flashback alert) Jamie Oliver.

Two English crumpet on a white plate, each topped with a pat of butter.

English Crumpets7/15

Crumpets with butter. How very English. And how very enticing according to everyone who's tried this authentic homemade version.

Three hot cross buns on a wire rack with a bowl of glaze and a spoon.

Hot Cross Buns8/15

Traditionally sold in bakeries on Good Friday, hot cross buns are little currant-filled rolls that are slightly sweet and richly tender and oh so hard to resist. And even better when made at home.

A loaf of Irish soda bread on a brown plate with a chunk cut out and smeared with butter.

Irish Soda Bread9/15

A sweet nuttiness, a dense crumb, a crunchy crust, and bags more flavor than normal bread. Whatcha waiting for?

A two-tier Victoria sponge cake with raspberry jam in the middle, all dusted with confectioners' sugar on a white plate with a white teapot in the background

Victoria Sponge Cake10/15

This cake, a nod not just to Queen Victoria but British sensibility, defines the very notion of simple yet sophisticated.

A pitcher of Pimm's cup, with a half-filled glass and a vase of flowers on either side of it.

Pimm’s Cup for Wimbledon11/15

A sprightly summer cocktail, this vibrant variant on a Pimm's Cup is a wham bam grand slam of booze, orange, lemon, cucumber, mint, and lemon-lime soda.

Pumpkin-Cider Soup12/15

This pumpkin soup gets a boost from apples and a bite from a cupful of Irish cider. The soup, with its intense pumpkin flavor, makes for great fall fare.

Close-up of a beef Wellington on a plate with a sprig of rosemary

Beef Wellington13/15

A favorite holiday dish, beef Wellington is beef fillet slathered with pate, covered in a dice of mushrooms, wrapped in puff pastry, and baked.

Pink Gin14/15

An old-fashioned cocktail that takes its namesake tinge of pink—albeit a manly man's shade of pink—from a splash of bitters. A cure-all of sorts. Elizabeth Stewart explains.