From Twelfth cakes to creepy greetings cards and booze-soaked desserts, Annie Gray guides us through festive feasting in the Victorian era. Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne, for the third episode in our mini-series on Christmas food through history, she also touches on turkey, trifle and whether the Victorians really did “invent Christmas”.
Previous episode: Georgian elegance | Next episode: WW2 rationing & postwar absurdity
Inspired to cook up some treats from the past? Browse our historical recipes:
- Nesselrode pudding – a delicious Victorian alternative to traditional Christmas pudding
- Buttered beere – a sweet, slightly alcoholic drink that warmed the cockles in Tudor times
Annie Gray is the author of At Christmas We Feast: Festive Food through the Ages (Profile Books, 2021)
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