Coconut desserts in London range from subtle to super strong, traditional to contemporary. The capital offers all the international classics – lamingtons, Anzac biscuits, buko pie, Danish dream cake – as well as some incredibly creative desserts, like white and milk chocolate disguised as an actual coconut. Whether you love it, hate it or need some convincing on the tropical flavour, these are London’s best coconut desserts.
Coconut cake: The Lily Vanilli Bakery
Coconut vanilla sponge covered in toasted coconut with Lily’s signature, silky-smooth, Swiss meringue buttercream underneath, it’s sticky and super soft.
18 Ezra St, London E2 7RH
Lamington: Ozone Coffee Roasters
Vanilla sponge with strawberry jam and heaps of desiccated coconut, it’s firm but fluffy, sweet but refreshing, massive but incredibly light.
11 Leonard St, London EC2A 4AQ or Emma St, London E2 9AP
Coconut dessert: The Connaught Patisserie
Coconut mousse with zesty pineapple lime compote in the centre, a delicately thin white and milk chocolate shell, a base of coconut almond dacquoise – dipped in white chocolate – and coconut chips on top.
The Connaught, London W1K 2AL
Coconut flapjack: Oatopia
Coconut flapjack with golden syrup and a handful of glace cherries, it’s chewy and soft rather than crispy, oaty – not syrupy sweet – and very wholesome.
2-10 Bethnal Green Road, Boxpark, London E1 6GY
Cocoberry: Blondies Kitchen
Toasted coconut cookie with raspberry jam, desiccated coconut and a hint of vanilla, it’s nostalgic – reminiscent of old-school coconut sponge cake – and perfectly chewy.
400 Oxford St, London W1A 1AB
Piña colada cake: Breid
Golden syrup sponge with pineapple chunks, toasted coconut flakes and a sprinkling of pink peppercorns to finish, it’s sticky and super moist, juicy and sweet but also a little spicy. A perfect, piña colada-inspired cake from London’s most underrated bakery.
72 Dunbridge St, London E2 6JG
Coconut & lime doughnut: Crosstown
Spirulina doughnut topped with a lime glaze, vanilla crumble and a filling of creamy, subtly sweet, coconut custard. It’s zesty and sharp, strong in coconut flavour and lusciously light.
Multiple locations
Coconut custard tart: Café de Nata
Crisp puff pastry with a filling of custard and coconut – super thick, not as creamy as the classic Pastéis de Nata – plus some extra desiccated coconut on top.
Multiple locations
Pan de Coco: Kapihan
Pandan-infused sourdough brioche with a filling of macapuno – young coconut strings marinated in a rich cream – plus a sprinkling of toasted coconut on top. Soft, super fluffy and sweet, make sure to pre-order the Filipino coconut bread at the weekend as Kapihan sells out fast.
13A Parkgate Rd, London SW11 4NL
Danish dream cake (Drømmekage): HJEM
Vanilla sponge covered in a layer of crunchy, super sticky, caramelised coconut. It’s light and airy, sweet but not cloyingly so, a traditional Danish treat that truly lives up to its name.
3 Launceston Pl, London W8 5RL
Coconut almond cake: Bonbon Delicatessen
Flourless almond cake with coconut in the sponge – soft, moist, oh so refreshing – and a smooth layer of dark chocolate ganache on top.
127-129 Wandsworth Bridge Rd, London SW6 2UL
Coconut cream puff: Café Kitsuné
French choux filled with coconut cream – velvety, sweet, very subtle in coconut flavour – and pineapple tonka compote, plus a swirl of vanilla mascarpone cream and white chocolate curls on top. Light, delicate and so creamy, it just melts in your mouth.
19 Motcomb St, London SW1X 8LB
Anzac: Juliets Quality Foods
Australian Anzac biscuit made from rolled oats, golden syrup and desiccated coconut, it’s super chewy – right from the start – and ever so slightly crispy.
10 Mitcham Rd, London SW17 9NG
Buko pie: Mamasons Dirty Ice Cream
Thick buttery pastry with a crumble topping, a sweet custard-like young coconut filling and a scoop of milo ice cream to finish, it’s crisp around the outside but incredibly creamy within.
91 Kentish Town Rd, London NW1 8NY or 32 Newport Ct, London WC2H 7PQ
Kärleksmums: ScandiKitchen
Chocolate cake with chocolate coffee frosting and a sprinkling of desiccated coconut, it’s dark and bitter but also a little refreshing, fluffy and light at the base but deliciously chewy on top.
61 Great Titchfield St, London W1W 7PP
Red velvet lamington: Radio Lamington
Red velvet sponge dipped in raspberry hibiscus jelly, shredded coconut and a layer of tangy, twice-whipped cream cheese frosting in the middle. Radio Lamington offers a whole range of untraditional lamingtons, some with coconut, some without, always pillowy-soft and on their way to NHS staff.
6C Sheldon Square, London W2 6EZ or online
