The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is almost upon us, and all across the country, millions of people are looking forward to the celebrations. Whether you’re planning a lavish street party, a picnic in a park, or a garden party, any celebration is a time for sharing delicious food with friends.
If you’re looking for recipes that are iconically British and perfect for toasting the Queen, look no further. Here are 11 Platinum Jubilee recipes to get you feeling patriotic – and hungry!
1. Lemon Swiss roll and amaretti trifle
A delicious lemon Swiss roll and amaretti trifle has been announced as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee official pudding.
Dessert maker Jemma Melvin took inspiration for her trifle from the lemon posset served at Her Majesty’s wedding to Prince Philip in 1947. Jemma, a copywriter from Southport, beat 5,000 people in the Fortnum and Mason’s nationwide competition which required applicants to make a delcious pudding with a memorable story linked to the Queen.
Even better, the pudding had to be easy enough to make so that people across the country could enjoy their own. And while it’s a fairly lengthy recipe, the end result of this delicious trifle is well worth it. With sumptuous layers of amaretti biscuits, custard, chunky mandarin coulis, and chocolate, this dessert will steal the show of any Platinum Jubilee celebration.
To have a go at making your own, you’ll find Jemma’s lemon swiss roll and amaretti trifle recipe on the BBC Food website.
2. Coronation chicken
Of all the recipes that are most fitting for Platinum Jubilee celebrations, coronation chicken has to take the top spot – and that’s because it’s a dish that was invented specifically for the Queen’s original coronation back in 1953.
To celebrate the coronation, renowned florist Constance Spry and cordon bleu chef Rosemary Hume created ‘Poulet Reine Elizabeth’, which was said to have been inspired by the ‘Jubilee Chicken’ that was created for George V’s 1935 silver jubilee.
The original dish was described as boned chicken in a curry cream sauce, served with a salad of rice, green peas, and pimentos. At the time, many of the ingredients were viewed as exotic, and post-war rationing meant that many were incredibly hard to come by. Luckily, today things are quite different!
Coronation chicken consists of chunks of chicken coated in a creamy, yellow curried mayonnaise, and it usually contains mango chutney and sultanas (though the original recipe contained apricots). Not only is it ideal for the Platinum Jubilee, it’s also the perfect filling for sandwiches and vol-au-vents!
To make coronation chicken that’s fit for a Queen, check out this recipe by the BBC. Or, if you’d like to make a quick and easy version, try this BBC Good Food recipe.
You can also see how to make coronation chicken in the video below.
3. Scones
Scones are another retro favourite that are certainly special enough for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Served with jam and cream, scones are an afternoon tea staple, but there are many ways you can enjoy this quintessentially British snack.
If you’d like to make classic sweet scones, try this recipe from Mary Berry. You can add sultanas if you like, and top with strawberry jam and clotted cream. Whether you spread the jam first then top with cream (the Cornish way) or top the cream with the jam (the Devon way) is up to you – but the Queen is a fan of the former!
If you prefer savoury snacks, you can also make savoury scones. These cheese scones by BBC Good Food go really well with a cup of tea – or you could make them even more iconically British with the addition of Marmite, like these cheddar, chive and Marmite scones by Delicious Magazine!
Or, to get guidance from Paul Hollywood on making the perfect scone, have a watch of the video below.
4. Vol-au-vents
Vol-au-vents are the ultimate party food. Though they were once viewed as a bit naff, in recent years they’ve made a real comeback – and just like sandwiches, they’re endlessly adaptable. They might have originated in France, but these days vol-au-vents are classically British.
Vol-au-vents are bite size puff pastry cases that are loaded with all manner of savoury fillings – and as with sandwiches, it’s a good idea to make a mix of meat, seafood, and vegetable fillings.
Jamie Oliver’s creamy mushroom vol-au-vents are some of the best and Simon Rimmer’s coronation prawn vol-au-vents are suitably festive. Other popular fillings include smoked trout, horseradish, and asparagus, chicken with bacon, leek, and cream cheese, and brie and cranberry.
To make flawless vol-au-vents, check out this recipe from Great British Chefs, and for more filling ideas, head over to Insanely Good Recipes.
Or, for more guidance on making vol-au-vents, check out the video below.
5. Afternoon tea sandwiches
Few things are more British than afternoon tea – and no afternoon tea is complete without a tasty selection of assorted sandwiches. The beauty of sandwiches is their versatility, and you can use whatever fillings you like – but since it’s the Jubilee, you might want to keep things more traditional.
Classic afternoon tea sandwich fillings include cucumber and cream cheese, ham and mustard, egg and cress, and smoked salmon, and the type of bread used often depends on the filling (e.g. egg and cress is usually on wholewheat bread, whereas cucumber tends to be on white bread).
You can cut the sandwiches into triangles or rectangles and to make them extra fancy, you can cut the crusts off too. If you’re making sandwiches for a street party, it’s a good idea to cover all your bases and make a meat, vegetarian, and vegan option.
For a selection of delicious and diverse sandwich ideas, check out BBC Good Food’s afternoon tea sandwich recipes. Or, to find out more about preparing the perfect afternoon tea feast, including how far ahead in advance you can make the fillings, head over to Tea With Mum.
You can also see how to make afternoon tea sandwiches in the video below.
6. Eton Mess
Few desserts are as reminiscent of British summertime as the Eton mess. Believed to have originated at Eton College, the term ‘Eton mess’ first appeared in print in 1893, and the dessert was served in the school’s tuck shop in the 1930s. Since then, it’s gone on to be one of the country’s most popular (and prettiest desserts).
Eton mess is a joy to eat; each mouthful consists of crumbled crunchy meringue, softly whipped cream, and plump ripe strawberries in a sweet sauce, and the beauty of this delicious dessert is in its simplicity (and, of course, its taste).
While purists might insist that Eton mess should only contain strawberries, other summer berries like raspberries, blueberries, and redcurrants can be added too – and the sharper taste of these berries goes perfectly with the sweet meringue and rich cream.
Why not try this classic Eton mess recipe by BBC Good Food. Or, for something a bit different, there’s this Eton mess roulade by Delicious Magazine, which features vanilla roulade filled with strawberries, cream, and meringue. You can even make vegan Eton mess; try this recipe from Olive Magazine.
Or, have a watch of the video below to learn more about making Eton Mess.
7. Scotch eggs
Another classic British dish that’s popular at picnics – and is also really suited to street parties – is the Scotch egg. The origins of the Scotch egg are debated, and despite the name, it’s not known to have actually originated in Scotland.
The London department store Fortnum & Mason claim that they invented Scotch eggs back in 1738, as a cold snack for travellers, but there’s no solid evidence for this. However, Fortnum & Mason did definitely popularise Scotch eggs, and over the past century they’ve become a picnic staple.
Traditional Scotch eggs are made from boiled eggs that are then wrapped in sausage meat, covered in breadcrumbs and baked or deep-fried, though these days there are plenty of veggie versions available too. Easy to make the night before, portable and delicious, they’re the ideal Jubilee snack!
To make the best Scotch eggs with a fudgy yolk, check out this article by The Guardian. Mini Scotch eggs, which are made with quail’s eggs, are great for parties, so if you want to make mini versions, try Jamie Oliver’s recipe. Or, to make vegetarian Scotch eggs, have a read of The Guardian’s guide.
Alternatively, to see Gordon Ramsay make Scotch eggs with a twist, check out the video below.
8. Mini sausage rolls
Continuing the sausage theme (a lot of British party food is undeniably sausage based!), sausage rolls are another snack that’s suitable for nibbling at a street party or a picnic. But because you don’t want people to fill up on sausage rolls and neglect the other treats, mini sausage rolls might be better.
As anyone who’s ever tucked into a cold sausage roll bought from a petrol station will know, there’s an art to making really great sausage rolls – and they’re almost always better served hot. However, you can always make them in advance and pop them in the oven to reheat before you serve them.
To make mini sausage rolls, try this recipe from Jamie Oliver. Or, if you’d like to add a twist, Delicious Magazine’s mini sausage rolls with cheddar and red onion chutney are ideal.
For vegetarian sausage rolls, try this recipe by BBC Good Food, and to keep things vegan, try this recipe by The Veg Space.
You can also see Jamie Oliver make his special ‘cheat’s’ sausage roll in the video below.
9. Victoria sponge
Another dessert that’s undeniably suited to Jubilee celebrations is a cake that was named after another Queen. The Victoria sponge was named after Queen Victoria (the great-great-grandmother of our very own queen), who was known to enjoy this cake with her afternoon tea.
The invention of baking powder in 1843 meant that sponge cakes could rise much higher, and it was this invention that was celebrated with a patriotic cake. While the version Queen Victoria ate would only have been made with jam and sponge, these days a Victoria sponge contains cream, while the top is either dusted with sugar or iced.
If you want to make Victoria sponge cake for the Platinum Jubilee, you might want to have a read of The Guardian’s guide to baking the perfect sponge. Or, if you prefer making little cakes, why not make these mini Victoria sponge cakes by Baking Mad?
You can also have a watch of the video below to see exactly how to make Victoria sponge.
10. Quiche
Just like vol-au-vents, quiche is another French dish that us Brits have adopted as our own – as just like vol-au-vents, quiches have also seen a recent resurgence after decades of being viewed as bland and uninspired. When done right, quiches are perfect for street parties, picnics, and garden parties!
A quiche is essentially a savoury baked custard that’s wrapped in crisp, golden pastry, and the beauty of it is that there are endless variations. While quiche Lorraine is the most famous variation, for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee you might want to make something a bit more special.
For inspiration, head over to Delicious Magazine and check out their mouth-watering selection of recipes: this goat’s cheese and marinated beetroot quiche is beautiful, and makes a lovely buffet centrepiece; and this deep-dish Gruyère, spinach and bacon quiche with walnut pastry is also great.
Though traditional quiche is made from eggs, vegans don’t have to miss out on this classic dish, as blitzing tofu with non-dairy milk creates the same soft, wobbly consistency quiche is known for. To keep things plant-based, try this vegan spinach and cherry tomato quiche by BBC Good Food.
If you’d like to make a classic quiche Lorraine, have a watch of the video below.
11. Pimm’s platinum punch
As well as a delicious selection of food, a party also requires refreshments – and if you’re looking for a drink that’s perfect for toasting the Queen, there can only be one contender. Pimm’s is perhaps the most iconically British drink around, and it’s no surprise the Queen serves it at her garden parties.
While most people just add some mint, lemon, cucumber, and strawberries when making a Pimm’s punch, former royal chef Darren McGrady divulged that the Queen has her own favourite Pimm’s recipe – and it’s definitely special enough to serve at her Platinum Jubilee celebrations!
To make Pimm’s platinum punch, you should add lemonade, sliced oranges, lemons, cherries (with the stones removed), strawberries, cucumber, mint, and borage (also known as starflower), which is a flowering herb. Not only will this punch look beautiful, it’ll taste absolutely delicious – and because it’s the official royal recipe, you know it’s fit for a queen.
To see former royal chef Darren McGrady make up some of the Queen’s favourite Pimm’s punch, check out the video below.
Final thoughts…
Whatever you might be planning for the Platinum Jubilee, seventy years of service is definitely worth putting out a good spread! Whether you’re looking forward to hosting a big street party with your neighbours or are planning a more intimate celebration, the festive spirit starts with good food.
From savoury British classics like afternoon tea sandwiches, coronation chicken, and Scotch eggs to mouthwatering sweet treats like Victoria sponge and Eton mess, we hope there’s a recipe for every palate here. And washing it all down with a refreshing glass of Pimm’s punch will make everything taste that little bit more special!