Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in the 2022 series of BBC TV’s Masterchef competition.

Every Saturday Yemi writes on the Stray Ferret about her love of the area’s food and shares cooking tips – please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.

There is something undeniably comforting about the smell of a cake rising in the oven, biscuits and pies filling the kitchen with warming spice notes, jam bubbling away in the pan or the sight of a perfectly golden loaf cooling on the kitchen counter. 

For me, these smells take me back to simpler times—days spent with my grandma in the kitchen, learning the secrets of well-loved family recipes.

Making the annual 'chin-chin' with my mum and siblings where we set up an assembly line to make crunchy ‘biscuit like’ fried doughs cut into small pieces was the highlight of my Christmas and new year growing up.

But in today’s fast-paced world, it’s becoming increasingly clear that many treasured traditions are at risk of fading away. It’s National Baking Week October 14 - 20, and time to take a closer look at barriers to a much-loved pastime and how we can reignite our passion for baking.

A declining tradition

According to a recent consumer research study commissioned by Del Monte, 74 percent of Brits are concerned that traditional baking recipes may disappear altogether.

 It’s a troubling thought, especially when you consider how central baking is to British culture. From Victoria sponges, lemon drizzle cake, fruit pies to rich fruitcakes, many of our most cherished memories revolve around the kitchen. 

A heartwarming insight from the research is that grandparents remain the biggest influence when it comes to baking. 

For 39 percent of people, it was their grandparent who first introduced them to the wonders of flour, sugar, and butter. The smell of freshly baked scones or a rich fruit loaf was more than just a treat—it was a bonding experience, a moment of togetherness across generations.

Sadly 46 percent of grandparents are no longer passing down their cherished recipes to their grandchildren which means we lose precious opportunities to create memories and share long-held family stories behind the recipes.

Making baking budget-friendly

Our busy lives requiring balancing of work, family, and social commitments often feel like a juggling act so setting aside a couple of hours to bake a cake from scratch can seem like an unaffordable luxury.

But here’s the thing: baking doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. In fact, National Baking Week is the perfect reminder of how baking can bring families together, even in the busiest of schedules.

Many time-saving techniques and quick bakes can fit into hectic day. Why not try a no-bake cheesecake or a tray of classic British fairy cakes, which take just minutes to prepare? Oil-based recipes can be mixed by hand or in a blender saving time.

For those worried about the costs, there are plenty of budget-friendly baking options that pack plenty of flavour like banana bread, shortbread, or flapjacks which require only a handful of staple ingredients.

My favourite cake is still the classic Victoria Sandwich which can be given a twist with different flavours from grating white chocolate and lemon rind to adding bergamot to it. The different flavour profiles are exciting whilst keeping the heart and soul of the cake.

This is the time to reinvigorate the tradition of passing down recipes. Whether it’s writing them in a family recipe book or spending an afternoon teaching a grandchild how to make your favourite biscuits, the value of these moments goes beyond devouring the final product.

It’s about preserving a legacy, sharing stories, and keeping the tradition of British baking alive for generations to come.

So, this National Baking Week, why not dig out that old recipe book, gather your loved ones, and spend some time creating something delicious? There’s something deeply reassuring and comforting about the timeless ritual of baking so let’s do our best bit to keep this tradition going.