For some, Christmas is all about spending time with loved ones, singing carols, and spreading festive cheer. But let’s be real – for most of us, it’s all about the food, and we have a sweet tooth that’s craving chocolate and festive flavours all December long.
From London bakeries with last-minute Christmas delivery and epic festive offerings in-store, to decadent desserts at some of London’s best restaurants, here’s where to get your sugar fix in the capital this festive season.
Looking for even more Christmas-themed sweet treats? Check out our guide to the most festive afternoon teas in London.
The Swan At The Globe’s Chocolate Sphere
The Swan At The Globe has some stunning Christmas desserts on offer this year, including the Dark Chocolate and Morello Cherry Sphere.
Smash the stunning gold Christmas bauble to reveal gooey chocolate and morello cherries inside as you sip mulled wine and take in twinkling views of The Thames and St Pauls.
WHERE: 21 NEW GLOBE WALK, BANKSIDE, LONDON SE1 9DT
WEBSITE: WWW.SWANLONDON.CO.UK
Doughnut Time’s Quality Treats
Fancy a free festive doughnut? This week, Doughnut Time is giving away its limited-edition range in an effort to combat ‘shrinkflation’ i.e. the ever-shrinking number of chocolates inside Christmas tubs.
Simply bring a tub of Quality Street to select Doughnut Time stores and they’ll top up your tub with one of six Quality Street-inspired doughnuts: ‘The Purple One,’ ‘The Orange One,’ ‘The Green Triangle,’ ‘Caramel Swirl,’ ‘Coconut Eclair,’ and ‘Strawberry Delight’ – also available to buy in a six-pack.
The location of the store offering the freebies is rotating daily, so if you want one, you’ll need to head to Covent Garden on Wednesday 14th, Islington on Thursday 15th, Windsor on Friday 16th, Shaftesbury Avenue on Saturday 17th, and Notting Hill on Sunday 18th.
WHERE: MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
WEBSITE: WWW.DOUGHNUTTIME.CO.UK
Bill’s Festive Pancakes
‘Tis the season for food, fizz and festivities and what better way to celebrate than with some mouth-wateringly magical festive pancakes?
For a limited time only, Bill’s have given their pancakes a seasonal makeover to create a festive pancake special of buttermilk pancakes topped with banana, gingerbread, whipped cream, meringue pieces and hazelnuts, drizzled with Gingerbread syrup and festive sprinkles. Available in a 3 stack or a 5 stack, order them alongside a ‘Let It Snow’ cocktail (Monkey 47 Gin topped with candy floss) for a fabulously festive sweet treat.
WHERE: MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
WEBSITE: WWW.BILLS-WEBSITE.CO.UK
Peggy Porschen’s Christmas Collection
If there’s anyone we can count on to provide the ultimate instagrammable festive sweet treat, it’s Peggy Porschen.
From seasonal cupcakes and intricately designed festive cakes to jolly gingerbreads and Christmas cookies – it’s the perfect London bakery to pop into whilst on a festive wander – all washed down with pistachio hot chocolate.
WHERE: BELGRAVIA / CHELSEA
WEBSITE: WWW.PEGGYPORSCHEN.COM
SHIOK!’s Hand-Crafted Christmas Treats
Pan Pacific’s resident patisserie has transformed into The Nutcracker’s Kingdom Of Sweets scene this festive season, decked out with a host of impressive hand-crafted Christmas treats, including an intricate gingerbread house designed by Executive Pastry Chef, Cherish Finden.
The shelves have also been transformed into a life-sized advent calendar for December – so pop in, spend £20 or more, open a door and be in with a chance of winning one of their daily prizes, which include Lanson Champagne, 10% off Pan Pacific spa treatments, and a round of cocktails in Ginger Lily. Now that’s what we call a Christmas treat.
WHERE: DEVONSHIRE HOUSE, 3 BISHOPSGATE, LONDON EC2M 4JX
WEBSITE: WWW.PANPACIFIC.COM
Bun House’s Christmas Buns
This Festive season Bun House is celebrating with its most elaborate trio of warming Christmas buns yet, marrying the best of both Chinese and British traditions. Pre-order a trio of Santa buns filled with golden gingerbread salted caramel, or some pillowy Christmas presents hiding a molten lava black sesame centre.
In-store, there’s a vibrant strawberry lollipop bun with a limited edition matcha dip at £8 a pop.
WHERE: 26-27 LISLE ST, LONDON WC2H 7BA
WEBSITE: WWW.BUN.HOUSE
By The Handbook