Britain’s most traditional desserts are in decline as millennials turn to fruit, poll claims

Favourites such as crumble and banoffee pie dying out as more turn to healthier alternatives

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Some of Britain's best known traditional desserts are now in decline as millennials are unaware of their existence, a poll has claimed.

Rhubarb crumble, spotted dick and figgy pudding are among the British desserts in decline, researchers say.

A quarter of millennials have never tasted a flan, while Eton mess and banoffee pie remains untouched by 21 per cent. More than a third have never tried a pineapple upside down cake.

Other classics such as flan and rum baba are unknown to those aged 23 to 38, and one in six say at least 11 years have passed since they last ate jelly and ice cream.

It also emerged more than one in ten never have dessert at home, with four in 10 feeling guilty if they succumb to the temptation of a sweet treat.

Instead a fifth opt for healthy alternatives including fruit, with almost half of those in their twenties and thirties keen to see more healthy options on dessert menus when eating out.

Matt Hancock from Love Fresh Cherries, which carried out the research of 2,000 adults in association with Northwest Cherries, said: “It seems millennials are becoming more health conscious and only having treats, including dessert, in moderation or looking for healthier options.

“Fruit, including cherries, make the perfect, affordable healthy dessert and could explain why younger adults are opting for that over traditional sweet desserts.

“The good news for those people trying to be healthy, is that cherries and berries can be just as sweet and delicious.

“Most of the respondents polled admitted they had a sweet tooth, and do still love to treat themselves with a dessert when possible.”

SWNS