Iconic Jubilee Bakes Of The Last 70 Years

By Mason Cash

Dominic Perkins © Woman in polka dot top arranging colourful iced cupcakes

Ahead of the Jubilee, British heritage brand Mason Cash has revealed the classic Victoria sponge as Britain’s most iconic bake during the Queen’s reign.

In a poll of 1000 UK respondents, Victoria sponge cake was crowned Britain’s most iconic cake with 77.7% of the vote.

The traditional English trifle came in a distant second place with 7.5% of the vote. The 2020 lockdown favourite, Banana Bread, was put firmly back in its place receiving a measly 0.57% of the vote.

Keen to uncover the iconic bakes that we should be baking this Jubilee, Mason Cash asked the UK public to vote for the most iconic British bake overall.

The results are in!

Victoria sponge – 77.7%
Trifle – 7.5%
Carrot cake – 4.27%
Lemon drizzle cake – 3.7%
Cheesecake – 2.75%
Black forest gateau – 1.9%
Cupcakes – 0.95%s
Tray bakes – 0.66%
Banana bread – 0.57%

Decade by decade

Carrot cake was popular when Her Majesty ascended the throne

Celebrating the best of British baking over the past 70 years, the kitchenware manufacturer also crowned the best British bakes from each decade under Queen Elizabeth’s reign.

The Sixties swung, and the Victoria Sponge came back into vogue

Collating a range of data sets, studies, search data and historical evidence, they collated the most iconic recipes and baked each one in the timeless Mason Cash mixing bowl (as seen on The Great British Bake Off).

At the time of the Silver Jubilee, Black Forest Gateau was all the rage

Here are the most iconic British bakes in each decade under Queen Elizabeth. Click on each to see an exciting My Weekly recipe:

1950s – Carrot Cake
1960s – Victoria Sponge
1970s – Black Forest Gateau
1980s – Trifle
1990s – The Tray Bake
2000s – Luxury Cupcakes
2010s – Lemon Drizzle
2020s – Cheesecake
Banana Bread (honourable mention)

Is trifle a cake? Like many other things from the 80s, it’s questionable!

The full research behind cake popularity in each decade, and a complete list of Jubilee recipes, can be found on the Mason Cash blog.

Bright and basic, the traybake sponge had its day in the 1990s

Brand manager of Mason Cash, Rachel Dunleavy, said of the results:

“As a nation of cake lovers, it’s no surprise that we hold a number of British bakes in high regard. Our tastes for cake may have changed over the years, but it’s comforting to see a firm royal favourite like the Victoria sponge is regarded as the most iconic British bake.”

We all went cupcake-crazy in the Noughties… and we still are on My Weekly!

Rachel added, “With the Jubilee around the corner, we have no doubt some of these classic cake recipes will be part of the celebrations.”

Lemon drizzle cake – an elegant choice in the decade of the Diamond Jubilee

Mason Cash bowls have been the choice of home cooks and bakers for centuries. The origins of Mason Cash can be traced back to a pottery operating at Church Gresley in the heart of the English ceramic industry in 1800.

Three cheers for cheesecake, and Her Majesty!

Are you making a special Jubilee cake for a street party or family get-together? Send us a photo, with your details, to the email or postal address in the magazine and you could win £25!