What does Prue Leith believe is the biggest difference between baking in the UK and US

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show - Press Day
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show - Press Day | Jeff Spicer/GettyImages

We all know that Prue Leith is one of the queens of baking or at the very least, she is one if its most interesting judges. As a judge on both Great British Menu and Great British Bake Off (known as the Great British Baking Show in the US), she has proven time and time again that she understands not only how to put together a delicious meal, but also how to bake an amazing sweet treat.

With Leith being well known both in the US and the UK thanks to both Great British Bake Off and the Great American Baking Show as well, it makes sense that we would be interested in her thoughts on baking. And in an interview with Delish from earlier this year, she was asked about what the big difference she has noticed between the US and the UK in terms of baked goods.

While she did point out that the differences are not that great, there is at least one or two things of note.

Prue Leith reveals the differences between baking in the UK and US

One thing that Leith pointed out specifically was that, "there are some things which seem to be particularly American, like babka in New York." And that makes perfect sense, as we all know that there are some treats that aren't necessarily international. Or they aren't the same in other countries because of the ways things change as they meld with different cultures in the US.

But that's not all she pointed out, as she also touched on the difference in sweetness levels between treats in the US and UK.

"From a flavor point of view, the chief difference is probably that you guys like a bit more sugar than we do, and you like a bit more frosting on top. We’d put a smear of frosting, and you’d put an inch of frosting."
Prue Leith

Honestly, this makes sense. In the US, we do tend to like our sugar. So knowing that this is the primary difference in terms of what we make and how we make it, does make sense. Having Prue Leith point this out is not nearly as surprising as we might have thought.

What do you think of Prue Leith's answer? Were you expecting something different from our GBBO judge?