New research has revealed that chocolate cake is now the top-rated sweet treat in London, with doughnuts and cheesecake in second and third place, followed by carrot cake and coffee cake.
Despite a Victoria Sponge being one of the most iconic British bakes, only 12% of Londonders voted it as their favourite,
Other non-traditional bakes that made the top 30 list include Doughnuts, Banoffee pie and Cinnamon buns as Londonerss move away from classic cakes to sweet treats more commonly found across the pond.
Only 44% say they prefer traditional cakes compared to 60% of national respondents, with cupcakes, macaroons and nutella cookies enjoyed in the capital.
The poll of 2,000 adults was commissioned by community retailer SPAR to celebrate the Blooming Great Tea Party with the UK’s end-of-life charity Marie Curie for National Afternoon Tea Week.
Marie Curie is encouraging people to bake their favourite cakes, hold a tea party and raise money for a good cause.
Ian Taylor, Retail and Brand Development Director at SPAR said: “We love seeing how baking can bring people together and encourage kindness. Hosting a tea party is a great way to unite the community to show off their baking skills and support good causes. SPAR store teams and shoppers across the country will be supporting the Blooming Great Tea Party to raise money and make a difference to the people Marie Curie help.”
Over half (51%) of adults in London enjoy baking but time (40%) is the biggest factor holding them back from baking more often. On average, Londoners bake three times a month, making those in the capital the keenest bakers in the UK. They’re also most likely to have hosted their own tea party, compared to other counties.
TV shows such as The Great British Bake Off (21%) and Mary Berry’s Absolute Favourites (12%) and Jamie Oliver’s Comfort Food (11%) are inspiring people to bake more, including the younger generation.
Londoners are confident in their skills too, with 17% believing that they’re better at baking than both their grandparents and parents.
Impressively, almost half (46%) said they can make a cake without following a recipe and over a third (39%) can bake without having to check measurements or use scales .
The majority of those in the capital (74%) believe it’s important to share moments with friends and family over a slice of cake and a cup of tea, as 42% feel that baking someone a cake shows that you care.
Just under a third of us (31%) have baked cakes for a charity, and when asked if taking time out to enjoy having a cup of tea and a slice of cake when you feel stressed or anxious helps, 77% agreed.
Suzy Pelta, expert cake maker and winner of Lorraine’s Cake Club Competition, who has created a lemon honey drizzle cake recipe to celebrate the Blooming Great Tea Party, added: “Baking is such a great way to show love to your friends and family! And it’s such a lovely way to help raise money for a brilliant cause like the Blooming Great Tea Party with SPAR.
“I love that baking gives you a chance to be creative, make something delicious and bring joy to others, all with a few simple ingredients. And let’s face it, who doesn’t love a slice of delicious cake and a lovely cup of tea?”
To find out more about how to get involved with the Blooming Great Tea Party visit https://www.spar.co.uk/community/marie-curie-tea-party/