London’s bakeries are looking brighter than ever, their counters overflowing with fresh strawberries; sliced peaches baked in the oven until caramelised and extra sweet; and mango purée bringing a lovely buttery touch to silky buttercreams. There’s even a ‘Feelin Fab’ cake pop, dipped in chocolate and rainbow sprinkles to give you joyous feelings of nostalgia… without the melt.
Read this guide to London’s best summer desserts and make it the best (most delicious) one yet.
Apricot cake: E5 Bakehouse
Almond cake buttoned with a big juicy apricot, thinly sliced almonds and a dusting of powdered sugar; not only is this little bake stunningly squidgy but it’s completely vegan too.
396 Mentmore Terrace, London E8 3PH
Mango lamington: Daisy Green
The softest, springiest sponges always brightening up the Daisy Green counter have been given a seasonal update: silky mango meringue buttercream, slices of fresh mango, a white chocolate coating and like always, a dutiful dusting of shredded coconut to really send your taste buds out of town.
Multiple locations
Passion fruit cake: Le Choux
Almond and coconut sponge with blobs of sweet-tangy passion fruit curd, crisp coconut flakes, juicy berries and an extra squeeze of passion fruit because your usual slice of comfort (aka cake) can be so so refreshing too.
332 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5AH
Blackcurrant cupcake: Lily Vanilli
British blackcurrants shine in this humble cupcake. Velvety smooth Swiss meringue frosting, folded and speckled with tiny pieces of blackcurrants and swirled onto vanilla sponge, a pillowy soft buttery-rich base that gets offset by a handful of chewy tart blackcurrants thrown in; finished off with a crisp French meringue flower and served in a courtyard so peaceful and calm (if you visit on Saturdays!), Lily Vanilli is perhaps one of the nicest places to spend a summer morning in London.
The Courtyard, 18 Ezra St, London E2 7RH
Strawberry bun: The Elder Press Café
Brioche dough baked until golden brown and crisp, the inside super fluffy and stuffed with heaps of cardamom custard that is smooth yet wobbly thick like vanilla pudding; a sliced strawberry reminds you summer is (finally) here, as will everything else on the ever-tempting Elder Press counter.
3 S Black Lion Ln, London W6 9TJ
Lemon drizzle: Honey & Spice
A doorstop-sized wedge of lemon drizzle cake, its sponge dense but super syrupy, its flavour sharp but definitely not bitter, and finished with elderflower mascarpone swirled high and confident… perhaps not the quintessential British loaf like we all know, but oh, how Honey & Spice gets the ‘cake-to-frosting’ ratio perfectly right.
52 Warren St, London W1T 5NJ
Strawberry cupcake: Violet
A sponge light as a cloud; pastel pink buttercream with a texture firm enough to fold over, and over, and over again, yet somehow, meltingly soft as soon as it hits your mouth; fresh fruits at the peak of their season (this time our very own British strawberries), this pretty sight can only mean one thing: Violet.
Ps. if you see the Alphonso mango cupcake, a package of buttery-sweet perfection, make no mistake and order that too.
47 Wilton Way, London E8 3ED
Feelin’ Fab cake pop: Dolly Sticks
A densely textured red velvet sponge baked with cream cheese and encased in paper thin yet pleasingly crisp vanilla candy, creamy milk chocolate and rainbow sprinkles; an ice cream this is not, but a Feelin’ Fab cake pop that really makes you feel just that.
London markets
Perfect match cruffin: Morny Bakehouse
Layers of crisp flaky pastry with a very sharp pineapple yuzu crémeux filling, topped with white chocolate shards and diced candied cucumber proving sweet and savoury are indeed, the ‘perfect match’.
216B Francis Rd, London E10 6PR
Key lime cheesecake doughnut: Morny Bakehouse
Fluffy dough overflowing with whipped vanilla cheesecake and zingy lime curd, dusted in sugar and topped with crisp meringue, milk crumbs (we need more of these, on everything and every day: granola bowls, porridge, a packet to keep in our pocket perhaps?) and a shard of creamy white chocolate.
216B Francis Rd, London E10 6PR
Peach tart: Breid
A thin base of shortcrust pastry layered with basil custard, its texture satiny smooth yet firm, its flavour sweet yet beautifully refreshing, and thinly sliced peaches gone curly-edged and chewy yet still deliciously juicy beneath.
Arch 72 Dunbridge St, Bethnal Green, London E2 6JG
Mini strawberry cake: Ozone
A mini layer cake with fluffy vanilla sponge, creamy vanilla mascarpone and a generous slathering of sweet strawberry jam, so syrupy it oozes right over its golden-brown edge.
Emma St, London E2 9AP
Raspberry bun: Fabrique
Sweet vanilla custard buttoned with sharp tangy raspberries and wrapped like a true gift in layers of buttery-rich dough, the top golden brown and chewy yet the bottom ultra squidgy (this may be too underbaked for you, others will feel their inner kid jump for joy); little dots of cardamom bring their unique citrusy-yet-warming flavour and the subtlest of crunch.
Multiple locations
Stay tuned for another London summer guide coming soon… in the form of soft serve!
