Lovely jubilee platinum pudding
GREAT British Bake Off champion Nancy Birtwhistle has put her own spin on the Platinum Pudding, the official Jubilee dessert created to honour the Queen in her 70th year on the throne.
Hull-born Nancy, who won the Great British Bake Off crown in 2014, has shared a “simplified” version of the pudding, using Bird’s custard powder.
The original was created by Jemma Melvin and selected from thousands of entries, after a televised competition.
Jemma’s lemon Swiss roll and amaretti biscuit trifle recipe has since been shared across the globe and is set to join the ranks of a number of royal-inspired dishes, such as coronation chicken and Victoria sponge, being forever associated with the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
Now baker Nancy, who lives in Barton upon Humber and is known for her cheaper (often free), and eco-conscious cooking and cleaning hacks, has created her own take on the sweet treat.
Nancy said: “My simplified take on the Platinum Jubilee Pudding using ingredients from my pantry (apart from the double cream).
“This was a ‘dummy run’ to work up the recipe - I’ll be making two more at the weekend it’s yummy.”
She included a link to the recipe on her Instagram account, where she was even considerate enough to offer a substitute for her many US followers who might struggle to source Bird’s custard powder.
One of her followers said: “Thank you Nancy! This looks so yum, and approachable, unlike the original recipe”, while another commented: “Certainly fitting for a queen.”
Another fan said: “Love your trifle dish - I’ve been scouring all the charity shops of each high street I go to on the off chance I can find one.”
Nancy said: “You’ll need a one-pint lemon jelly, the custard powder I used was Bird’s. I used toasted flaked almonds rather than amaretti biscuits.”
The original Platinum Pudding competition was run by royal grocer Fortnum and Mason, in partnership with the Big Jubilee Lunch Charity.
But Nancy’s version gives every amateur baker a chance to include it in their jubilee parties this weekend.
Some 5,000 people, aged eight to 108, entered the nationwide competition to craft a new pudding to commemorate the Queen’s 70-year reign, with entries whittled down to five finalists who subsequently competed before a panel of expert judges, led by Dame Mary Berry, in a BBC One show.
Jemma’s winning trifle was crafted with layers of lemon curd Swiss roll, St Clement’s jelly, lemon custard, a mandarin coulis - made with tinned mandarins - amaretti biscuits and whipped fresh cream.
It was topped with more amaretti biscuits and a jewelled chocolate bark.