Dame Prue Leith reveals she does not make her own puff pastry

Dame Prue at home in her kitchen
Dame Prue made the admission in her latest cookbook, Life’s Too Short to Stuff a Mushroom - Television Stills/ITV

Dame Prue Leith revealed she does not make her own puff pastry.

The Great British Bake Off judge disclosed the information in her latest cookbook, which is titled Life’s Too Short to Stuff a Mushroom.

Dame Prue claimed that cheating in the kitchen is fine and said she does it all the time.

Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival with host Tim Hubbard on Tuesday, she told the audience: “I haven’t made puff pastry in 25 years.”

Discussing her book and the shortcuts some of her recipes offer, Dame Prue added: “This book is still about gastronomy.

“It’s still about the best possible food. It is delicious food, but it’s simple and you can cheat.”

However, she admitted that it is not possible to cheat with all recipes, saying: “I don’t think you can cheat in the sense that you can just buy absolutely anything from the supermarket and combine it.”

Dame Prue pictured with fellow Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood on the 14th series of the show
Dame Prue, pictured with fellow Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood, also said it is not possible to cheat with all recipes - Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4

The 84-year-old also told the audience that she prefers to use pre-made custard instead of making it from scratch.

“I haven’t made custard, real custard, in years. I buy the little boxes and they’re delicious. Some are more delicious than others, I like Ambrosia.

“It’s good because my husband will eat anything as long as it’s got custard in it,” she said.

Dame Prue also praised the virtues of air fryers and said she recently made a chocolate cake using the miniature oven.

“I hate to say it, but the air fryer causes the least mess.”

Asked what she thinks is the most useful piece of kitchen, Dame Prue said the traditional potato peeler was her favoured item.

The revelation comes weeks after the Bake Off judge walked the runway at London Fashion Week wearing a black latex dress forthe  avant-garde eco-designers Vin + Omi.