Strawberries are quintessentially British. They always bring back memories of summers in my grandparents' garden: simply sliced and topped with lashings of cream. They’re a total classic. British strawberries are best from late May to early September. They take longer to develop because of the slightly colder climate, which means the sweetness has more time to intensify. When you get them in season, they’re beautifully intense and have a lovely freshness, which is perfect for dessert pizza.

Given how iconic they are, I wanted to share this recipe for an incredible dessert pizza inspired by the flavours of British summertime. It’s estimated that tennis fans at Wimbledon consume nearly 40 tonnes of strawberries — and 7,000 litres of cream — every year, in a tradition going back to the first tournament in 1877. I’ve combined these flavours with Pimm’s (our famous gin-based liqueur made with herbal botanicals), caramelised orange and warm spices to create a quick- and- easy homemade jam. Add fresh strawberries and a few other not-so-secret ingredients, and you get a truly memorable sweet custard pizza finale for any warm-weather meal. And because Pimm’s cocktail is a summertime classic, I think this pizza is best served with a Pimm's cup on the side.

— By Grant Batty, 31 May 2022

Grant Batty is a Cornwall-based recipe developer, sourdough bread baker, pizzaiolo and filmmaker. Follow him @grantbatty.