Cookies, banana bread and pizza bases among top lockdown treats Britons are enjoying
The country has gone baking mad since the start of the coronavirus lockdown.
With little else to do, Brits have been dusting down their aprons and heading for the kitchen. After all, what other hobby leaves you with something deliciously indulgent to eat at the end of it?
A new study of 2,000 adults looked into our baking habits over the past few months and put together a definitive list of our top lockdown bakes.
Sausage rolls, sourdough bread and banana bread featured high on the list, unsurprisingly.
Read more: Banana bread tops list of most searched for recipes
The treat that topped the list, though, were pancakes.
The versatile pancake, usually reserved for, well, Pancake Day, had a March resurgence pushing it to the top of the leaderboard.
That was shortly followed by cookies, cakes and cupcakes; essential treats to bake, particularly during difficult periods.
Although we had to enjoy VE celebrations in the comfort of our homes and gardens, that didn’t stop people from baking something quintessentially British; the Victoria sponge.
The beautiful, light sponge snuck its way into the top ten simply by being one of the UK’s most iconic bakes.
Read more: Britain’s best-loved cake revealed
The time that we’re spending baking has increased during lockdown.
Previously, we’d bake for - on average - 41 minutes per week. This figure has risen (just like our ever-improving cakes) to 67 minutes per week.
The research, commissioned by KitchenAid, also revealed that one fifth of people have baked for the very first time ever during lockdown.
Many Brits have admitted that the extra time they’ve had during the lockdown has made the re-evaluate what’s important in their lives, and making more time for new found hobbies is bound to factor into that.
Read more: Warburtons reveals top secret crumpet recipe
Perhaps it’s the community camaraderie born out of the lockdown encouraging people to bake more for others.
Whatever the reason, a third of avid bakers are baking their sweet treats for themselves as well as others with door drop care packages proving popular during the lockdown.
What better treat to find at your door?
Top 50 bakes to try during lockdown:
1. Pancakes
2. Cookies
3. Chocolate cake
4. Cupcakes
5. Scones
6. Biscuits
7. Banana bread
8. Brownies
9. Victoria sponge
10. A crumble e.g. rhubarb crumble
11. Pizza base
12. White bread
13. Flapjack
14. Sausage rolls
15. A pie e.g. apple pie
16. Cheesecake
17. Lemon drizzle cake
18. Wholemeal bread
19. Shortbread
20. Carrot cake
21. Fruit loaf
22. Bread and butter pudding
23. Coffee cake
24. Doughnuts
25. Crumpets
26. Millionaires shortbread
27. Cinnamon buns
28. Hot cross buns
29. Sourdough bread
30. Meringue
31. Croissants
32. Sticky toffee pudding
33. Fudge
34. Bakewell tart
35. Lemon meringue pie
36. Rainbow cake
37. Iced buns
38. Red velvet cake
39. Banoffee pie
40. Custard tart
41. Breadsticks
42. Marble cake
43. Macaroons
44. Drip cake
45. Blondies
46. Eclairs
47. Profiteroles
48. Souffle
49. Bundt cake
50. Pretzels
“It seems there has been a real increase in the time spent baking, as well as then sharing that food with others during this unpredictable time.
“It’s encouraging to hear people are taking on new recipes and learning skills with their new ‘spare time’.
“As well as giving you something to do when your usual hobbies and activities may not be available, baking can be very therapeutic which makes it an ideal creative hobby to have – now more than ever,” Simon Langley, spokesperson for KitchenAid UK & Ireland, said.
“But it’s also helping to keep people connected as many are sharing their creations with others, whether it’s leaving it on the doorsteps of loved ones or helping a neighbour who might not be able to get out or bake themselves.”
