National Pudding Poll. Get top chef Antony Worrall Thompson’s secret recipe for preparing our favourite dessert

Apple crumble and custard has officially been voted Britain’s favourite dessert according to a new national perfect pudding poll released today. Second in the list was the summer favourite, strawberries and cream, closely followed by profiteroles with chocolate sauce, chocolate fudge cake & cream and lemon meringue pie with cream.

As almost six-in-ten Brits admit that there is not an occasion when they would pass up on indulging in their favourite pudding, desserts with all the trimmings are not just for special moments it seems, according to research by Gaviscon Double Action Tablets. The study also shows that the apple crumble and custard pairing was ranked as the number one pudding that people would not consider eating without its traditional accompaniment, while just under half of people polled would eat any pudding without an accompaniment.

While we’re more likely to turn down a pudding while on a work lunch or while eating at home with family (you can’t be too greedy!) –only one in ten of us would dodge dessert on a date.

When top chef Antony Worrall Thompson gives his support, it’s not to be trifled with, and he is not at all surprised that us Brits love our cakes, pies, tarts and gateaux, when they are such a joy to cook and delicious to eat.

So here’s Antony’s personal recipe for a perfect ‘Apple Crisp Crumble’:

Preparation time less than 30 mins

Cooking time 30 mins to 1 hour

Ingredients
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and each cut into 8
4 plums, peeled, stoned and each cut into 4
50g/2oz mixed dried fruits (eg. cranberries, blueberries, cherries)
1 tbsp soft brown muscovado sugar
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp apple pie spice
1 orange, juice and grated zest only
2 tbsp plain flour
175g/6 oz unsweetened muesli or granola
vanilla custard, to serve

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
2. Combine all the ingredients except the muesli or granola and spoon into a baking dish.
3. Sprinkle with the muesli or granola

For more information visit www.gaviscon.co.uk