Traditional desserts at risk of dying out, according to new research

A quarter of millennials have never tasted flan, while Eton mess and banoffee pie remain a mystery to 21% of those aged 23-38. More than a third have never tried pineapple upside down cake.

It has also emerged that one in ten millennials have never had a dessert at home, with four out of ten admitting they feel guilty about having a dessert. Instead a fifth choose to have fruit, such as cherries for their dessert. Almost half of the 2,000 young adults surveyed said they wanted to see healthier alternatives on restaurant menus.

Matt Hancock from Love Fresh Cherries, who carried out the research with Northwest Cherries, said: “It seems millennials are becoming more health conscious and only having treats, including dessert, in moderation or looking for healthier options.

“Fruit, including cherries, make the perfect, affordable healthy dessert and could explain why younger adults are opting for that over traditional sweet desserts.”

The study found a fifth of millennials haven’t tried a pavlova, 17% have no idea what a fruit cake tastes like and 16% haven’t eaten black forest gateau. Three in ten people surveyed said they look to see what others are doing after a meal before deciding on what to eat for dessert.  

Hancock added: “The good news for those people trying to be healthy, is that cherries and berries can be just as sweet and delicious, and best of all, completely guilt free.

“Most of the respondents polled admitted they had a sweet tooth, and do still love to treat themselves with a dessert when possible.”

Traditional deserts millennials have never eaten:

1. Rum baba – 59%
2. Figgy pudding – 56%
3. Spotted dick – 36%
4. Pineapple upside down cake – 36%
5. Flan – 26%
6. Eton mess – 21%
7. Banoffee pie – 21%
8. Rhubarb crumble – 19%
9. Knickerbocker glory – 19%
10. Pavlova – 18%
11. Fruit cake – 17%
12. Battenberg cake – 17%
13. Black Forest Gateau – 16%
14. Arctic roll – 15%
15. Rice pudding – 14%
16. Bakewell tart – 13%
17. Roly poly – 13%
18. Trifle – 12%
19. Chocolate sponge and custard – 11%
20. Jelly and ice cream – 7%
21. Sticky toffee pudding – 7%
22. Apple pie – 6%