It's no secret that the Brits are renowned for being a nation of biscuit lovers. From Digestives to Gingernuts, classic accompaniments to a cuppa are best enjoyed in many ways: dunked, nibbled plain, or, for sandwich biscuits like Custard Creams, separated to savour the creamy filling first. But there is one biscuit that is guaranteed to transport you right back to being a child again, and that's the Jammy Dodger.
First made at Burton Biscuit Company's South Wales factory in the early 1960s, these biscuits took their name from Beano's Roger the Dodger. Their signature thick raspberry or strawberry jam between two shortbread layers, visible through the heart-shaped cut-out, inspired the 'Jammie' moniker.
Today, this national treasure is given a modern update at Claridge's Bakery, where chef Richard Hart and head baker Frederic Doncel-Latorre celebrate the craft and heritage of British baking. Their 'Jammy Dodger', priced at £5 a pop, features a rich homemade raspberry jam filling with a smiley-faced sablé breton biscuit on top, and a light dusting of icing sugar. Suddenly, dunking them in hot tea feels like a crime!
Claridge's Bakery, Brook's Mews, London W1K 4HR