Retro British desserts always bring instant joy but to find them updated, in brilliantly creative ways, makes the pull of nostalgia even stronger. From rice pudding tart to banoclate pie and doughy pillows of apple crumble (almost as good as mum’s), discover your favourite childhood treat with a modern twist.
Eton Mess alternative: gluten-free Eton Mess loaf cake
Fluffy almond and vanilla sponge with an oozy, strawberry sauce filling, a big dollop of vanilla buttercream, crushed meringue and more strawberry sauce on top.
Pearl & Groove. 30 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QE
Rice pudding alternative: rice pudding tart
Flaky wholemeal pastry with creamy cinnamon and citrus-infused rice pudding, plus a crisp walnut crackle on top.
Toklas Bakery. 9 Surrey St, Temple, London WC2R 2ND
Sticky toffee alternative: sticky toffee bun
Fluffy sourdough rolled in cinnamon sugar with a dark, ultra sticky, sticky toffee glaze. Pastry chef Jenny Mosely started baking these pudding-inspired buns during lockdown, and, as one could expect, they’ve been a Walthamstow favourite ever since.
Wood Street Bakery. 21 Wood St, London E17 3JX
Bread & butter pudding alternative: deep-fried bread & butter pudding
Deep-fried bread and butter pudding on a pool of cold vanilla custard. Crisp on the outside, custardy yet so soft and delicate in the centre, somehow, this slab of sugar-coated, deep-fried buttered dough isn’t heavy at all. In fact, as much as the slightly fancy surroundings would disapprove, it will be hard to resist swishing your fingers around the bowl.
Café Cecilia. 32 Andrews Rd, London E8 4FX
Bread & butter pudding alternative: pain au chocolat pudding
Deep-fried pain au chocolat pudding with cinnamon sugar, vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel on top. Imagine a crunchy exterior, a flaky yet custardy interior and pockets of melted chocolate greeting you in the middle.
Snackbar. 20 Dalston Ln, London E8 3AZ
Coconut and jam sponge alternative: Cocoberry cookie
Toasted coconut cookie with raspberry jam and dessicated coconut on top. A flavour combination inspired by old-school coconut sponge, and, according to Blondies Kitchen’s co-founder Chelsie, the most underrated cookie on the menu.
Blondies Kitchen. Selfridges Food Hall or Westfield London
99 flake alternative: charcoal soft serve
Charcoal coconut soft serve with a classic 99 flake. While it’s a mysterious-looking creation, Cadbury provides comfort with that crumbly, creamy topping we all know and love.
Soft serve society. Boxpark, 2-10 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6GY
Chocolate cornflake cake alternative: bocaditos
Deep, toasty, dark caramel-coated cornflakes with a good a pinch of salt. A grown-up take on chocolate cornflakes cakes.
Sweet Things Bakery & Café. 138 Regent’s Park Rd, London NW1 8XL
Apple crumble alternative: Apple Crumble longboy
Brioche finger doughnut filled with Bramley apple purée, super smooth vanilla custard, buttery crumble chunks and little oat granola clusters on top.
Longboys. 119 Lower Stable Street Coal Drops Yard or Seven Dials market.
Banoffee pie alternative: banoclate pie
Sweet shortcrust pastry with banana curd, Virunga chocolate crémeux, a blanket of mascarpone Chantilly plus cocoa powder on top. The fresh banana flavour, the semi-rich chocolate, some sweetness from vanilla and the textures, thick yet faultlessly smooth, this is so much better than a banoffee pie.
Breid. Arch 72 Dunbridge St, Bethnal Green, London E2 6JG
Banoffee pie alternative: banoffee cupcake
Brown sugar banana sponge with luxuriously rich, dulce de leche in the centre, a scoop of cool, creamy, vanilla mascarpone buttercream, plus dark chocolate shards and a banana chip on top.
Gaya’s café. 253 Putney Bridge Rd, London SW15 2PU
