Deliciously nostalgic food ideas

What is nostalgic food?

Nostalgic food is all about the dishes, flavours and treats that bring back happy memories. Whether it's a pudding you loved at school, a family favourite that appeared on the dinner table every week or a party snack that takes you straight back to childhood birthdays, these familiar foods offer a comforting taste of the past.

It's a trend that's showing no signs of slowing down, with classic recipes and retro flavours enjoying a modern revival. From pineapple upside-down cake and vol-au-vents to chicken forestière, prawn cocktail and lemon meringue pie, these much-loved dishes prove that some flavour trends never go out of style.

Retro Christmas food

This Christmas, it's all about adding a touch of retro charm to your celebrations. Whether you're picking up a pack of our archive-inspired Big Six Assortment (in store from 30 September), laying out a deliciously retro buffet for family and friends or recreating a childhood favourite for the big day, this is the time of year when classic flavours always go down well.

Nostalgia is a theme we're seeing across the Foodhall, too, with cherry emerging as one of the standout flavours of the season. Look out for it in everything from our Collection Chocolate and Cherry Flavour Irish Cream Liqueur and Collection Black Forest Gateau by Tom to our Amarena Cherry, Blood Orange and Port Mince Pies (in store from 4 November).

Need some recipe inspiration? Start with these retro party bites that deserve a place on every Christmas buffet.

• Cornish Cruncher, pineapple and chilli jam bites: A sweet-and-savoury retro canapé. Coat pineapple chunks in Chilli Jam, then thread onto cocktail sticks with cubes of Cornish Cruncher Cheddar.

• Prawn cocktail vol-au-vents: Two party classics in one bite. Fill crisp vol-au-vent cases with Our Best Ever Prawn Cocktail, then top with chives, smoked paprika and a squeeze of lemon.

• Bacon-wrapped glacé cherries: Sweet, salty and wonderfully nostalgic. Wrap Glacé Cherries in streaky bacon and bake until crisp and caramelised.

• Curried devilled eggs: A buffet-table favourite, with hard-boiled egg whites filled with a creamy mixture of egg yolks, mayonnaise, mango chutney and curry powder, then topped with toasted almonds and coriander.

Classic nostalgic foods to try

Want to tap into the nostalgic trend? From comforting classics like cottage pie and chicken Kyiv to retro puddings such as school cake and trifle, these much-loved favourites will bring a taste of the good old days to your table.

Old-school chocolates

Inspired by much-loved M&S flavours and wrapped in packaging based on original St Michael designs, these chocolate bars are a sweet treat with an extra helping of nostalgia.

• Take 4 – four crisp wafer fingers coated in smooth milk chocolate, perfect for dunking in a cup of tea.

• Jet – milk chocolate filled with a soft nougat, peanut and caramel centre.

• Now – smooth milk chocolate with a biscuit and caramel filling.

• Coconut Grove – milk chocolate packed with a soft coconut centre.

• Sparks – layers of milk chocolate, nougat, peanut and caramel in every bite.

Retro desserts

Whether served at family gatherings, birthday parties or Sunday lunches, these nostalgic desserts have been sweetening special occasions for generations.

• Trifle – layers of sponge, jelly, custard and cream make this one of Britain's most-loved desserts. Pick up our Our Best Ever Trifle or put a modern spin on the classic with a raspberry and prosecco Eton mess trifle.

• Pineapple upside-down cake – a retro baking favourite featuring caramelised pineapple baked into a light sponge. Try our individual pineapple upside-down cakes with coconut cream and fruit and nut brittle recipe.

• Rice pudding – creamy, comforting and delicious served warm or cold. Keep things simple with our Clotted Cream Rice Puddings or discover new ways to enjoy the classic with these rice pudding recipes.

• Lemon meringue pie – a winning combination of sharp lemon curd and sweet meringue. For a contemporary twist on the classic, try our Lemon Meringue Cheesecake.

School dinner staples

From dinner hall favourites to puddings served with a generous helping of custard, these school-day staples are guaranteed to bring back happy memories.

• Toad in the hole – flavour-packed sausages baked in golden Yorkshire pudding batter and served with rich onion gravy. Try our Meal to Share Toad in the Hole or give it a seasonal twist and pack in extra veggies with our spring toad in the hole recipe.

• Chicken nuggets and curly fries – crispy chicken nuggets served with golden curly fries were a canteen favourite for many millennials. Keep it classic with our Breaded Chicken Nuggets and Curly Fries, or give them a grown-up upgrade with Tom Kerridge's crispy parmesan chicken nuggets recipe.

• School cake – a soft vanilla sponge topped with icing and colourful sprinkles. Make our easy birthday cake traybake with sprinkles recipe and serve with lashings of custard for ultimate school dinner vibes.

• Jam tarts – crisp pastry cases filled with sweet fruity jam that were a fixture of many school lunch trays. Enjoy our ready-made Jam Tarts or try our cornflake and blueberry jam tart recipe for an updated take on the classic.