Ever wondered what desserts graced the royal palaces in the past? What were the sweet delights that were loved by kings, queens, princes and princesses? Here we unravel the secrets of royal baking and present you with three delightful treats from historic royal kitchens.
The Queen's Bread Pudding
First, let's start with a classic. Bread pudding has been a popular dessert in the royal households for centuries. This dish was commonly made in the royal kitchens, a firm favorite due to its simplicity and the ability to use left-over bread. Here is the traditional recipe:
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of cubed stale bread
- 2 cups of milk
- 4 eggs
- 3/4 cup of sugar
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp of nutmeg
- 1 cup of raisins
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large bowl, combine bread and milk, and let sit for 10 minutes.
3. In another bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
4. Pour the egg mixture over the bread and mix well. Stir in raisins.
5. Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish.
6. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden and the center is set.
The King's Lemon Curd Tart
The next dessert on our list is the lemon curd tart, a refreshing dessert that was loved by many kings in history. The combination of tart lemon curd and sweet pastry made it a favorite in royal courts. Here is how they made it in the royal kitchens:
Ingredients:
- 1 pre-baked tart shell
- 1 cup of sugar
- 2 lemons, zested and juiced
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, melted
- 4 large eggs
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, combine sugar, lemon zest, and melted butter.
3. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
4. Stir in lemon juice and salt.
5. Pour the mixture into the pre-baked tart shell.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the curd is set.
7. Let cool before serving.
The Princess's Raspberry Cream Scones
Last but not least, we have the raspberry cream scones that were adored by princesses. These scones are soft, fluffy, and have a delightful raspberry cream filling. Here is the secret recipe from the royal palace kitchens:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of flour
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 tbsp of baking powder
- 1/2 tsp of salt
- 1/2 cup of cold butter, cut into pieces
- 2/3 cup of milk
- 1 cup of fresh raspberries
- 1 cup of whipped cream
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Stir in milk until just combined.
5. Gently fold in raspberries.
6. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet.
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
8. Let cool, then slice in half and fill with whipped cream.
And there you have it! Three decadent desserts from historic royal kitchens that you can recreate in your own home. Now you too can bake like royalty and enjoy the same sweet delights that were once served in palaces.
