Each week we publish one of our favourite Dairy Diary or Dairy Cookbook recipes. We present them here in an easy to find alphabetical list. Just click and enjoy!
All-in-one-Brunch
Hearty and delicious, the perfect weekend breakfast.
Apple and Blackberry Tartlets
Perfect for an afternoon treat – go on, spoil yourself.
Apple and Plum Crumble
Rather than make a traditional crumble mixture, here oats are used as a topping.
Apricot and Lamb Couscous
A Moroccan inspired dish, packed with flavour and really is an all-in-one meal.
Asparagus with Poached Eggs
The English asparagus season only lasts a couple of months, so make the most of it.
Autumn Chutney
A perfect way to make use of home-grown apples and pears. And very satisfying to make.
BBQ Sauce
Don’t buy BBQ sauce, make this fabulous fruity version in no time at all!
Black Forest Gâteau
A gorgeously retro celebration cake to cook for a special occasion
Blueberry Crumble
Blueberries given a sharp lemony edge beneath a comforting topping.
Blueberry Rice
Delicious rice pudding that’s low in calories!
Brandy Butter
Perfect for Christmas puddings, mince pies, baked and steamed fruit puddings.
Brie Burger
A stylish take on the ubiquitous cheeseburger.
Brunchtime French Toasts
Perfect for using up leftover egg, bacon and tomato. It’s quick and easy too!
Calypso Pudding
Refreshingly different with pineapple and mango as well as prunes and apricots. Perfect for Christmas Day.
Carrot, Apple & Celeriac Soup
Packed full of flavour and low in calories here is a tasty soup to hit the spot when you fancy a light snack.
Celebration Cake
A simple recipe for a beautiful cake that’s perfect for celebrations.
Champ
The smoothest, creamiest, fluffiest mashed potatoes ever.
Cheese & Tomato Bake
A super comforting dish rather like eating a hot cheese and tomato sandwich.
Cheshire Pasties
A delicious variation on the ever popular pasty.
Cheese and Ham Souffle Omelette
A delicious and easy omelette from Clever Cooking for One or Two
Cheese Flapjacks
Very morish and perfect for an energy boost on the move.
Cherry Bread Pudding
Moist and sticky with glistening succulent fruit.
Cherry Cupcakes
Children will love them – if you don’t eat them first!
Chestnut Soup
Perfect for warming you up after a wintry stroll and for using up that surfeit of chestnuts.
Chicken and Avocado Salad Sandwich
Avocados are a rich source of vitamin E, which is required for healthy skin.
Chicken Satay with Indonesian-style salad
Succulent, nutty chicken served with a bowl of crunchy finely chopped vegetables.
Chocolate Layer Cake
Perfect for birthday cakes or afternoon tea
Cinnamon Toast
Quick, scrumptious and a great way to start the day.
Coffee Battenburg
Surprisingly easy and very British despite its name
Corned Beef Flan
This tasty dish is a winner with children
Courting Cake
A real summer treat. Bake it in August, when strawberries are good value.
Cranberry Sauce
The perfect accompaniment for duck, goose, game, turkey and lamb.
Cranberry Stuffing Loaf
A delicious alternative to traditional Christmas turkey stuffing.
Cranberry & Cinnamon Cookies
A rich shortbread lightly spiced with cinnamon with a contrasting tang from the dried cranberries.
Cranberry & Muesli Muffins
Serve these muffins for breakfast or tea – they are best eaten on the day they are baked
Cranberry Sauce
Simple and easy to make. Why buy it in a jar?
Cullen Skink
The name of this rich, tasty soup comes from the fishing village of Cullen, in Morayshire.
Curried soup
A quick and easy warming soup for the chillier months.
Danish Pastries
A super-speedy way to enjoy an indulgent breakfast or coffee-time snack.
Duck with Plum Sauce
A bed of noodles with rich and succulent duck breasts and fruity sauce.
Easter Biscuits
Easter biscuits are made with currants but this version is made with wild blueberries.
Egg and Bacon Toastie
A hearty breakfast that’s healthy too!
Eggs Florentine
A deliciously healthy variation on simple bacon and eggs
Eve’s Pudding
A wonderfully comforting pudding. Use Bramley apples for best results.
Fat Rascals
Biscuits originally cooked on open turf or peat fires on Whitby Moor.
Fish Provençal
Provençal flavours in a delicious fish dish which is superbly easy to make.
Five-spice Beef with Chilli & Peppers
Warming and lightly scented, this meaty meal is a treat for the taste buds.
French-style Peas
When lettuce is crisp and young, it is deliciously sweet when very lightly cooked.
Frosty Top Lemon Cake
Quick, easy and lemony lovely
Fruit Baked Custard
This fluffy pudding is perfect autumnal comfort food.
Fruity Coffee Pancakes
This dessert is wonderfully light and fruity and so works well after a heavy main course.
Fruity Gin
Try the sweet and subtle taste of fruity gin with a splash of cava or tonic.
Gingerbread Clowns
Fun for all the family.
Green Omelette
A delicious watercress omelette made in just 10 minutes
Ham and Green Pea Soup
A delicious and easy soup from Clever Cooking for One or Two
Homemade Muesli
Start the day a super-healthy way with this delicious breakfast.
Honey Flapjack Cookies
Both wheat and dairy free, these little oaty crunchies are completely irresistible.
Honey Roast Parsnips
Christmas isn’t Christmas without roast parsnips. And these are very special.
Jewelled Christmas Cake
A fabulous cake that is both delicious and a beautiful additional to the dinner table.
Kent Plum Pudding
Not quite as rich as a traditional Christmas pudding, it can be made a few days before, then steamed for an hour before serving.
Lamb Burgers with Figs
Gourmet lamb burgers with style!
Lemon Chicken with Potato Wedges
This recipe is a good alternative to roast chicken.
Liver & Bacon on Irish Soda Farls
A classic combination of succulent meats on toasted Irish soda farls
Luxury Florentines
Surely one of the most divine biscuits you can bake. And they look fabulous!
Mackerel with lime and caper sauce
Delicious and nutritious ready in less than 30 minutes.
Marmalade Cake
Simple to make and delicious on a summer afternoon.
Minty Lamb Patties
One of the best ‘burgers’ you’ll ever taste.
Nutty Pesto Tomatoes
Big juicy tomatoes with a crunchy pesto-infused filling.
Oaty Fudge Treats
Irresistible treats that disappear in minutes
One-pan Pasta for One
Delicious and nutritious, and takes just 30 minutes to prepare and cook
Orange Iced Cup Cakes
Daintily iced buns, perfect for a girly coffee morning or tea party.
Oriental Chicken Stew
This Chinese-style dish is low in fat but certainly not low in flavour.
Paprika Sausage Supper
The tangy crunch of dill pickle provides a delicious contrast to this goulash-style dish.
Pea and Watercress Soup
The peppery, sweet soup contrasts wonderfully with the salty pancetta
Pecan Chicken
Deliciously tasty and surprisingly simple to prepare.
Pesto Chicken
A super-tasty chicken dish cooked up in less than 30 minutes.
Pitta Pizza
Pitta breads make a quick and light pizza-style base which goes crispy in the oven.
Ploughman’s Lunch Chutney
A firm favourite since its creation in the 1960s.
Plum Semi-Freddo
Very tasty, very quick and uses your own Spiced Plums
Pumpkin Gratin
Perfect for a chilly Halloween celebration.
Quick Cottage Pie
The perfect comfort food in an unbelievable time!
Quick Pawn Wraps
Make your own lunchbox. Healthier, tastier and fresher sandwiches.
Raisin Parkin
Perfect with a nice afternoon cup of tea.
Raspberry, Mango & Stilton salad
A tangy yet fruity salad with the distinctive taste of Stilton.
Raspberry, Sherry & Amaretto Trifle
A wonderfully flavoured trifle that’s perfect for celebrations
Ratatouille and Ham Pasta Bake.
Fabulous comfort food and the perfect meal to prepare in advance and freeze.
Real custard sauce
It doesn’t take long to make at all, but it is worth the effort.
Red Pepper Soup
Warming food for cool Autumn evenings.
Red Pesto Lamb with Pasta
Here is a tangy, tasty alternative to Bolognaise.
Rhubarb and Custard Ice Cream
Simple to make and perfect for an afternoon treat.
Rich’s Fruit Cake
Perfect for afternoon tea.
Rice Pudding
Who can resist home-made rice pudding?
Roast Potatoes
Delicious crunchy roast potatoes are essential for any roast dinner
Ruby Beef Stew
A hearty dish which is perfect for an autumn dinner
Rumbledethumps
From the Border regions of Scotland, mashed potato and in-season cabbage.
Salmon and Ginger Fishcakes
Thai inspired flavours without the fuss.
Salmon with Minty Sslsa
Deliciously tasty and so healthy too!
Savoury Biscuits
What can be more delicious than freshly baked biscuits?
Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon
A European twist on this breakfast classic
Shepherd’s Pie
Traditional comfort food at its best.
Simnel Cake
Simnel cake has at some point been adopted as a traditional Easter cake. It’s easy and fun to make.
Skate with Capers
Capers and vinegar perfectly complement the taste of skate.
Spiced bread pudding
A healthy, tasty twist on the traditional bread pudding.
Spiced Plums for Stir Fry Pork and Plum Semi-Freddo
This recipe makes enough sauce for 2 separate dishes and can be frozen until required.
Spaghetti Soup
A perfect dish after the excesses of Christmas – wholesome, healthy and delicious.
St George’s Day Roast Beef
Traditional roast beef dinner from Around Britain Dairy Cookbook. Always a winner with all the family!
Stir Fry Pork with Spiced Plum Sauce
Very tasty, very quick and uses your own Spiced Plums
Stuffed Mediterranean Chicken
Healthy, wholesome Italian food at its best.
Summer Pudding
A simply stunning dessert packed with summer goodness
Sweet Potato and Pepper Omelette
A colourful vegetarian dish that is just as good served hot as it is cold. It’s good for a picnic, too.
Sweet Spicy Nuts
Wrap in cellophane and tie with a ribbon to make a tasty gift.
Tasty Tomato Potatoes
Baked potatoes filled with a delicious tomato, onion and cheese filling.
Thai chicken curry with noodles
One of my favourite recipes from Just One Pot Dairy Cookbook.
Tomato Scones
Irresistible hot from the oven with a little cheddar cheese
Tomato Soup with Pesto Cream
This soup is so rich and tasty you will never want to have canned tomato soup again.
Traditional Roast Turkey
An essential part of Christmas. Try this recipe to guarantee perfect results.
Treacle-Glazed Red Cabbage
Serve this wonderful treacle-glazed red cabbage with traditional roast turkey.
Tropical Christmas puddings
Add a few rays of tropical sunshine to a traditional favourite.
Tropical Ginger Creams
Forget about the calories – this dessert has a large helping of ‘the feel good’ factor.
Two Cheese and Onion Tart
Perfect comfort food for wet and windy autumn days.
Veggie Crisps
Perfect for munching while watching a great movie
Vegetable Curry
A scrumptiously spicy dish, which is easy to prepare and ideal for vegetarians.
Vegetarian-Moussaka-style-Bake
Delicious Mediterranean vegetables layered with creamy sauce.
Welsh Leek Soup
Also known as cawl cennin, the word ‘cawl’ meaning broth.
Wholesome raisin scones
Home-baked scones are a fabulous comfort food and surprisingly good for you.
Yorkshire Pudding
No roast dinner can be complete without a Yorkshire Pudding
Hi there, do you have the recipe for Spinach, Cheese and Tomato Stack? It’s from the one of the Dairy Diaries from a few years back. It is really delicious – my seven year old said it’s “better than Macdonalds”!!!!
Thank You.
Fantastic site. A lot of useful information here. I am sending it to some friends ans additionally sharing in delicious. And obviously, thank you to your sweat!
hi there i can remember a recipe for a crispy lamb bake (made with curry powder) from my mums diary diary when i used to live in the uk.(would be late 80s early 90s)i now live in new zealand and have always fancied cooking it again.my new wife would love it.if you could find it and email to me at the given email address i would be over the moon.
many thanks
chris wells
auckland
Hi, I can’t find my dairy diary (1990 or around there) and it had a brilliant recipe for carrot and orange soup – can anyone help me?
Hi Andrea
Sorry for the delay. Things have been a bit manic here! This Christmas cake recipe is from the Dairy Book of Home Cookery:
RICH FRUIT CAKE F
Preparation 40 mins Cooking 4½ hrs Serves 8-10
225g (8oz) flour
(1 tsp) mixed spice
(½ tsp) ground cinnamon
(½ tsp) ground nutmeg
(1 tsp) cocoa powder
175g (6oz) butter
175g (6oz) soft brown sugar
1 (1 tbsp) black treacle
(1 tsp) each grated orange and lemon rind
4 eggs
550g (1¼lb) mixed dried fruits (currants, sultanas and raisins)
110g (4oz) chopped mixed peel
50g (2oz) chopped walnuts or blanched almonds
50g (2oz) dates, chopped
50g (2oz) glacé cherries, chopped
1 (1 tbsp) milk
1 Prepare a 20.5cm (8in) round or 18cm (7in) square cake tin (see page 303).
2 Sift flour with spice, cinnamon, nutmeg and cocoa.
3 Cream butter with sugar, treacle and orange and lemon rind.
4 Beat in eggs, one at a time, adding 1 (1 tbsp) of sifted dry ingredients with each one.
5 Stir in currants, sultanas, raisins, chopped peel, nuts, dates and cherries.
6 Fold in dry ingredients alternately with milk.
7 Transfer to prepared tin and smooth top with a knife.
8 Bake at 150°C (300°F) Mark 2 for 4 to 4½ hours, or until a skewer, inserted into centre of cake, comes out clean.
9 Leave in tin for 15 minutes. Turn out on to a wire cooling rack.
10 When completely cold, wrap in aluminium foil and store in an airtight container until needed.
***
ICED CHRISTMAS CAKE
Preparation 1 hr plus 1 week standing Serves 8-10
1 rich fruit cake (above)
60ml (4 tbsp) apricot jam, melted
almond paste made with 275g (10oz) ground almonds (page 326)
Royal icing made with 2 egg whites (page 326)
Christmas cake ornaments to decorate
1 Brush top and sides of cake with melted jam.
2 Turn almond paste on to a sugared surface (either sifted icing or caster). Roll out about half into a 20.5cm (8in) round or 18cm (7in) square. Use to cover top of cake. See page 304.
3 Roll out remaining paste into a strip – same depth as cake – and wrap round sides.
4 Press edges and joins well together with fingers dipped in caster sugar.
5 When almond paste has set (overnight) wrap cake loosely in aluminium foil. Leave at least 1 week before icing.
6 To ice cake, stand on a suitable silver board.
7 Spread Royal icing thickly and evenly over top and sides.
8 Flick icing upwards with back of a teaspoon so that it stands in soft peaks.
9 Decorate with Christmas ornaments. Leave cake undisturbed overnight while icing hardens.
Enjoy!
Emily
Wow that is an old one!
my email is lacerta_brujah@hotmail.com Thank you so much 
Hi Paula
I have hunted through the old diaries and cookbooks and have finally found it in the 1968 Dairy Book of Home Cookery!
I will scan it in and mail it to you. What’s your email address?
Best wishes
Emily
Hi there
I have been searching for a recipe from one of the old dairy diary books for eggnog, it was my favourite but my mum threw out all her old diaries when they moved. Does anyone have it?
Hopefully
Paula
Hi there
I am trying desperately to find the recipe from an old dairy diary for eggnog. It was my favourite and hope that you an locate it!!
Paula
I’m afraid not Emily,perhaps you could just share one of them with me and I’ll give it a go?
) Andrea x
Hi Andrea
We have had several Christmas cake recipes over the years. Have you any idea roughly what year it would have been published?
Thanks
Best wishes
Emily
Hi I am looking for a Christmas cake recipe from an old version of the Dairy Diary,used to have loads of these as my dad worked for the co-op dairy but over the years they’ve gone walk about and now I don’t have any,a friend of mine recommended the recipe but now I can’t find it?Can you help please?Kind regards Andrea x
Hi Emma
The Chicken Myers is from the Dairy Book of Home Cookery – available to buy on our website. We are also revamping it for a big relaunch next year, so watch this space. Here is the recipe:
CHICKEN MYERS
Preparation 15 mins Cooking 55 mins Serves 4
225g (8oz) broccoli florets
4 x 175g (6oz) chicken breast portions, skinned
298g (10.5 floz) can condensed cream of chicken soup
50g (2oz) mayonnaise
60ml (4 tbsp) fresh double cream
2.5ml (½ tsp) curry powder
25g (1oz) English Cheddar, grated
1 Cook broccoli in boiling water until almost tender. Drain well.
2 Place drained broccoli and chicken in a shallow ovenproof dish.
3 Mix together soup, mayonnaise, cream and curry powder. Spoon over chicken and broccoli, coating them well. Sprinkle with cheese.
4 Bake at 190°C (375°F) Mark 5 for 45-50 minutes or until chicken is tender
Enjoy!
Best wishes
Emily
hi everyone….
i used to have a receipe for Chicken Myers and i lose it. It was from years ago…does anyone have it please xx
Hi Sam
I will have a look and see if I can find it for you.
Best wishes
Emily
Hi,
I’ve lost a recipe from a 1990s (I think, maybe late ’80s) Dairy Diary for spicy tuna fish plait. My children love it and I was wondering if you could help.
Thanks,
Sam
Hi Sam
I have found this recipe in the 1990 Dairy Diary. I will scan it in and email a PDF to you. What’s your email address?
Best wishes
Emily
Hi Sian
I have found this recipe in the Dairy Book of Family Cookery.
I will email a PDF of the recipe to you directly.
Enjoy!
Best wishes
Emily
Hi
My aunty used to make a lovely ice cream with brown bread which i think was from the dairy diarys
can you help me
Kind rgards
Sian
Hi,
I’m looking for the recipe for Strawberry Shortcake – I make it every year when strawberries are in season and I can’t find it! I think its in The Dairy book of Home Cookery.
Hope someone can help!
Alyson
Hi Alyson
I can’t find it in the Dairy Book of Home Cookery, but it is featured in the Year Round Dairy Cookbook. This is available to buy online http://www.dairydiary.co.uk or I can email the recipe to you.
If you would like the recipe emailed, please give me your email address and I will send it to you.
Best wishes
Emily
Hi Emily,
Many thanks for the reply re Strawberry Shortcake recipe. Would love the recipe to be emailed to me if poss.
Email address as above – but just in case : alysew50@yahoo.co.uk
Many thanks,
Alyson
Hi
I am looking for a very old reciepe which was pineapple gateaux. It was a real family favourite and would love to re-create it.
Hope someone can help
Vicky
Hi Vicky
I have found a Pineapple Victoria Sandwich in the Dairy Book of Home Cookery and a Pineapple and Chocolate Ring Gateau in Creative with Cream.
Do you think it might be either of these?
Best wishes
Emily
Hi Christine
I am a bit snowed under at the moment, but as soon as I get a few spare minutes I will email PDFS of these three recipes to you.
Best wishes
Emily
Hi Emily,
I would be most grateful if you could send me the recipes for:-
Pina colada cheesecake
Chocolate Brandy
Iced Coffee Gateau
Thanking you in anticipation,
Hi Matt,
I have looked through our early diaries and cookbooks and can’t find that exact recipe, but I have found the following:
Chocolate Brandy, which uses chocolate, eggs, brandy and trifle sponges and is topped with cream. It’s similar, but without the coffee.
or
Iced Coffee Gateau, which uses boudoir biscuits, eggs, coffee and sherry and cream.
Do you think it might be either of these?
Emily
Hi Emily,
I’ve lost recipe for a favourite dessert from a 1980′s Dairy Diary which was made with lady finger biscuits soaked in a coffee and brandy mix, set between chocolate layers and left to soak and chill in the fridge overnight.
It was then covered in whipped fresh cream after removing it from the baking tin.
Thanks
Matt.
Hi Ruth
That recipe is from the Dairy Book of Home Cookery – a book I am editing for a brand new relaunch next year. We have some copies of the original book available, which will be on special offer within a couple of weeks. Keep an eye on the website for a bargain!
If you would like me to email the recipe to you please give me your email address and I will send it.
Best wishes
Emily
Hi there, what a coincedence! I remember making that lovely pina colada cheesecake but have misplaced the recipe. Please would you kindly email me the recipe as my sister wants me to make it for her engagement on the 29th Jan, she as well as I adored it.
Many thanks
Lisette
Hi.
Please can some one help me?
I have lost the recipe for Pina colada cheescake which was in a very old Diary, possibly back in the eighties.
My son remembers me making it and would like me to make it again for his birthday.
Thank you.
Ruth
Hi Emily,
OOOh Thankyou very much for finding this recipe
Regards.
Caroline Taylor.
Hi .
I have Lost The Recipe for Cheshire Cheese Pie.
This was in an old Diary possably 2003.
Can Anyone help me to find it?please.
regards
Caroline Taylor.
Hi Caroline
I have found the recipe you are looking for in the 1998 Dairy Diary. I will scan it in and email it to you. There are also some delicious Cheese and Apple Parcels in the Around Britain Dairy Cookbook – on sale for only £2.99 at the moment!
Best wishes
Emily