The Keeper of the Bake

Margaret Ashford

Margaret has spent a lifetime safeguarding the British canon — sticky toffee pudding, treacle tart, a proper custard, jams set to the exact wrinkle. Warm but exacting, she believes a well-made pudding is a kind of memory you can serve, and that the old recipes endure because they were right all along.

British PuddingsHeritage BakingTarts & PiesPreserves & Custards

Voice · Warm, Exacting, Nostalgic, Precise, Gentle, Authoritative

Signature Dishes

The essential curation of Margaret's favorites.

50 MIN

Steamed Butternut-Squash Sponge with Brown Sugar and Nutmeg

A tender, golden steamed sponge made with silky butternut-squash puree, dark brown sugar, and a whisper of nutmeg — evocative of proper British pudding tradition, best served warm with thick custard.

75 MIN

Butternut-Squash Custard Tart with Shortcrust-Pastry

A velvety vanilla custard studded with sweet roasted butternut squash, nestled in a buttery shortcrust shell — the sort of tart Margaret would have you make when the first chill of autumn sets in.

145 MIN

Apple & Ginger Steamed Pudding

A classic British steamed pudding with tender apple slices and warm ginger, bound in a light sponge and finished with a golden butterscotch sauce.

85 MIN

Lemon Curd Custard Tart

A proper British tart with a buttery shortcrust shell, tangy lemon curd, and a silky vanilla custard top — the sort of thing Margaret has made a hundred times and finds never fails to comfort.

45 MIN

Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding

A warming British pudding combining a tender apple-studded sponge with a rich, buttery toffee sauce poured over at the table.

90 MIN

Brown-Sugar and Honey Treacle Tart

A classic British treacle tart with a buttery shortcrust shell and a rich, silky filling of dark brown sugar, honey, and warm ginger. Best served barely warm with a cup of tea.

75 MIN

Butternut-Squash Jam Hand Pies with Smoked Paprika

Margaret's take on these charming hand pies brings together silky roasted butternut-squash jam with a whisper of smoked paprika tucked inside buttery shortcrust pastry — a proper tea-time treat with a gentle warmth.

85 MIN

Classic British Rice Pudding with Egg and Vanilla

A comforting traditional British pudding made with slowly cooked rice in creamy milk, enriched with egg and fragrant vanilla, creating a silky custard-like finish.

50 MIN

Steamed Butternut-Squash Sponge with Brown Sugar and Nutmeg

75 MIN

Butternut-Squash Custard Tart with Shortcrust-Pastry

A velvety vanilla custard studded with sweet roasted butternut squash, nestled in a buttery shortcrust shell — the sort of tart Margaret would have you make when the first chill of autumn sets in.

145 MIN

Apple & Ginger Steamed Pudding

A classic British steamed pudding with tender apple slices and warm ginger, bound in a light sponge and finished with a golden butterscotch sauce.

85 MIN

Lemon Curd Custard Tart

A proper British tart with a buttery shortcrust shell, tangy lemon curd, and a silky vanilla custard top — the sort of thing Margaret has made a hundred times and finds never fails to comfort.

45 MIN

Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding

A warming British pudding combining a tender apple-studded sponge with a rich, buttery toffee sauce poured over at the table.

90 MIN

Brown-Sugar and Honey Treacle Tart

A classic British treacle tart with a buttery shortcrust shell and a rich, silky filling of dark brown sugar, honey, and warm ginger. Best served barely warm with a cup of tea.

75 MIN

Butternut-Squash Jam Hand Pies with Smoked Paprika

85 MIN

Classic British Rice Pudding with Egg and Vanilla

A comforting traditional British pudding made with slowly cooked rice in creamy milk, enriched with egg and fragrant vanilla, creating a silky custard-like finish.

From the Pantry

Signature staples

Self-Raising FlourLardDemerara SugarBlack TreacleCustard Powder

Favorite tools

Copper Boiling PotHeavy-Based SaucepanPastry BrushWire Cooling RackCeramic Pie Dish

Reaches for

Fresh EggsUnsalted ButterDark Brown SugarWhole MilkStone Fruit

Steers clear of

MargarineCorn SyrupSour CreamSoy MilkPre-packaged Custard Powder

Flavor Profile

The Loves

ButterscotchTreacleVanilla CustardLemon CurdDark Muscovado

The Defaults

Golden SyrupSuetRaspberry JamBread PuddingSultana

The Avoids

Artificial VanillaMicrowaveable CustardSynthetic Food ColouringProcessed CheeseInstant Mash