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Thanks to English chef Darren McGrady, we’ve gotten a peek behind what cooking for the British royal family was like. McGrady was a personal chef to the British royal family in the 1980s and 1990s, and he was even portrayed by actor Sean Harris in the critically acclaimed 2021 film “Spencer.” Now, Chef McGrady is sharing recipes and memories from his time cooking in the palace on YouTube and in his cookbook, “Eating Royally.”
With his warm, cheeky personality and surprisingly accessible recipes, Chef McGrady’s videos are a delight to watch. On his YouTube channel, he shares humorous anecdotes from his time at Buckingham and Kensington Palaces, like Princess Diana offering to make him a cup of coffee when she wandered into the kitchen or Prince Philip huffing “bloody organic” when he saw Prince (now King) Charles’ basket of organic produce.
Last month, Chef McGrady shared a recipe for a traditional British dessert called Queen of Puddings, which, according to McGrady, was a favorite of both Prince William and Harry. They would “request it all the time” when they were home on the weekends. Chef McGrady would also make it for Queen Elizabeth and writes in “Eating Royally” that even “Princess Diana, not a huge dessert eater, would occasionally succumb to a taste.”
What is Queen of Puddings?
Queen of Puddings dates back to the 17th century and traditionally consists of sweet breadcrumbs soaked in custard and topped with a layer of jam and meringue. It’s sweet, rich, and creamy, with a slightly sticky and chewy bite, thanks to the meringue. While the use of the word “pudding” may confuse some Americans here, it just means dessert in British vernacular.
How to Make Queen of Puddings
According to Chef McGrady, the palace’s original recipe for Queen of Puddings dates back to the reign of Queen Victoria. However, Chef McGrady served an updated version to the royal family that relied on an easy store-bought shortcut: Instead of breadcrumbs, he opted for a Sara Lee pound cake.
To make the dessert, cut the pound cake into 1/2-inch pieces and place them in a casserole dish. Next, make the custard by mixing eggs, sugar, vanilla, and hot milk in a bowl. Pour the egg mixture over the cake pieces, then transfer to the oven to bake. While that cooks, warm up some jam in a pot. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites and sugar to make the meringue. Once the custard has set, spread some warm jam over the top, then pipe the meringue. Sprinkle sliced almonds on top and return to the oven for 10 minutes.
Tips for Making Queen of Puddings
You can use any type of jam for this pudding. Prince William and Harry loved the pudding with strawberry jam, while blackcurrant jam was one of Queen Elizabeth’s favorites. Be careful not to let the jam run down the sides of the baking dish or mix into the custard when spreading. If you can’t find a Sara Lee pound cake, use another pre-made pound cake like Entenmann’s, a boxed pound cake mix like Betty Crocker’s, or a homemade version. The Queen of Pudding can be served hot or cold and is best paired with ice cream or whipped cream.
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