LET THEM EAT CAKE
What’s great about London is that there’s always something new for you to see, do or eat in the city. In terms of quirkiness, it has some catching up to do compared to places like Japan or Singapore, but we’re getting there! I’ve recently noticed a bunch of fun dessert places popping up around town, perfect for a post-shopping treat on a Saturday afternoon or a catch up with friends.
Freakshakes
from Molly Bakes,450 Kingsland Road, E8 4AE
So these seem kind of excessive (can anyone actually finish a whole one?)… but I still want to try one!They just look so crazy and indulgent!
Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches
from Yolkin, 40 Great Windmill St,W1D 7LY (check website for current location)
Most of the time I’d rather eat a Ladurée macaron, but these colourful ice cream macarons are really cute and perfect for summer.
Bubble Waffles
from Nosteagia,168-175 Shoreditch High St, E1 6HU
Bubble waffles are basically just normal waffles in a different shape, but the genius is in the toppings. For 50p per topping, you can add as many as you like! Go crazy! Choose fromNutella, M&Ms, Oreos, peanut butter, strawberries, bananas, cream, and a few more.
Cookie Shots, Cronuts, and Frozen S’mores
from Dominique Ansel Bakery,17-21 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9RP
The inventor of New York’s famouscronut is now in London too! I really want to try the frozen s’mores: ice cream inside a brownie, wrapped in warm, freshly toasted marshmallow.
Crazy Frozen Yogurt
from The Sloane Brothers, 214 Brick Lane,E1 6SA
Okay so it’s notreally called ‘crazy frozen yogurt’, but I still think it’s crazy. I mean, just look at the toppings! Sloane Brothers self-describe themselves as “the most fantastical frozen yoghurt in the land”. I went for natural yogurt with strawberries, a piece of homemade brownie and caramel sauce and it was DELICIOUS! Definitely have to go back and try the dulce de leche flavour.
Matcha Everything
fromTombo, 29 Thurloe Place,South Kensington, SW7 2HQ
Tombo is more matcha-crazy than anything I’ve seen in Japan! You could easily overdose on green tea here, with five different types of matcha drinks and pretty much every possible form of matcha dessert available. The afternoon tea looks amazing!
Pretty Eclairs
from Maitre Choux, 15 Harrington Road,SW7 3ES
You may have seen these on Instagram already – they’re a fashion blogger favourite. SO. PRETTY. Each one is like a tiny work of art. Made by three Michelin Star pastry chef Joakim Prat, they’realso supposed to be the best éclairs in London.
Unicorn Poop and Cereal co*cktails
from Cereal Killer Cafe, 139 Brick Lane,E1 6SB
I have to say, Cereal Killerisn’t my favourite concept – it’s mostlyjust overpriced cereal. I do like the quirky cereal box decor though and the idea of selling cereal from around the world is pretty genius.
Duffins
from Bea’s of Bloomsbury, various locations in Bloomsbury, Maida Vale, Farringdon and St Paul’s.
Yep, you guessed it – it’s a cross between a muffin and a doughnut. I promise you though, the Nutella-filled duffin will not disappoint. It’s like a doughnut cake filled with chocolatey deliciousness.
Nitro Ice Cream
from Chin Chin Labs, 50 Camden Lock Place, NW1 8AF
Chin Chin is apparently Europe’sfirst liquid nitrogen ice cream parlour, and The Times named it the best ice cream parlour in England. The ice cream is frozen to order here and they always have vanilla, chocolate and a couple of specials (check their website). Guaranteed to be delicious!
Update: they are now making ice cream tacos and toasted marshmallow-topped hot chocolate! *heart eyes*
Biskies
from Cutter & Squidge, 20 Brewer Street, Soho, W1F 0SP
So I’m notentirely sure what “biskies” are, but they’re definitely some of the prettiest sweet things you’ll find in London! Cutter & Squidge are also doing the most incredible-looking Hello Kitty afternoon tea this summer.
Ice cream Cookie sandwiches
from Milo and Hector’s, Brockley Market SE4 1UT and Primrose Hill Market NW3 3DS
I reckon these little beauties are going to be super popular in the summer months! Who wouldn’t want“all-natural ice cream cookie sandwiches with awesome flavour combos and toppings” on a hot sunny day?
Ice cream cookie sandwiches (again)
from Blu Top, Kerb: King’s Cross and West India Quay, and Druid Street Market
Please forgive me for featuring so many ice cream sandwiches – it seems like they’re the hot new thing for this summer in London! Blu Top promise to give you freshly baked cookies and homemade ice cream with some fun toppings. Mine will be red velvet cookies with lucky charms as a topping, thanks!
Vegan Froyo
from Yorica, 130 Wardour Street, W1F 8ZN
If you’re looking for “free-from” treats, Yorica is the place for you. Everything on the menu is bound to put a smile on any lactose intolerant, vegan, gluten-free, nut allergic person! The only problem is choosing what to order… matcha rice milkshake? gluten-freecone filled with vegan cookies & cream ice cream? or vanilla frozen yogurt with multicoloured sprinkles?!
Doughnut Bites
from You Doughnut, Kerb and Dinerama
This is one of my absolute favourites and is such a treat when I visit Dinerama. Warm little doughnut balls, covered in delicious salted caramel sauce and crunchy pecans, mmmm… just thinking about it makes me drool! My favourite kind of doughnut.
Candy Floss and Soft Serve Ice Cream
from Milk Train, 44 Bedford Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 9HA
So apparently this dessert concept is pretty common in Asia but this is the first place in London to serve soft-serve ice cream with candy floss and other toppings. Choose from vanilla, matcha or hojicha (roasted tea) ice cream and toppings like popcorn, biscuits and Oreo.
Icelandic Soft Serve Ice Cream
by Bears Ice Cream Company, 244 Goldhawk Road, W12 9PE
A few years ago I said to my family what a great business idea it would be to open an Icelandic ice cream shop (and hot dogs – see my post about Icelandic food) in London. Someone actually made it happen! As a (half) Icelander, this is something I am very excited about! Made with the best ingredients, these soft-serve ice creams can be dipped in chocolateand topped withnuts, fruit or sweets.
Caramel Everything
by Fatties Bakery, Druid Street Market on Saturdays
Caramel heaven! Fatties Bakery produces a variety of baked goods but what I really want to get my hands on is the salted caramel hot chocolate with a marshmallow rim. Looks incredible!
The Ice Cream Crone
from DumDum Donutterie, Boxpark Shoreditch E1 6GY andHarrodsSW1X 7XL
Why have a cone when you could have a crone? Or if you’d rather just have a doughnut, try the Zebra:layers of croissant dough and chocolate croissant dough, filled with chocolate buttercream and topped with chocolate ganache.
Homemade Pop Tarts
fromCafé Miami,24 Lower Clapton Road, London E5 0PD
I think this is genius! Why had I never seen homemade pop tarts before?! Makes me wonder what else should be homemade… their homemade smores look pretty epic too.
Japanese Taiyaki Ice Cream
from Bake, 9 Wardour St, London W1D 6PF (Chinatown)
These fish-shaped taiyaki waffle cones have been a huge hit in London. Filled with matcha or vanilla soft serve ice cream, they are a cute way to cool down on a hot summer day.
Coconut and Charcoal Ice Cream
from Soft Serve Society, Unit 35 BOXPARK, 2-10 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6GY
I’ll let you decide whether you think grey ice cream is appetising or not, but the general consensus is that Soft Serve Society’s ice creams are deeelicious! Also available with a candy floss topping.
Phew! That’s a lot of sugar, isn’t it?I’ve been adding to this list over the past few weeks and I’m sure it will keep expanding. Please let me know if you have any sweet suggestions – even internationally! I’d love to write something similar for desserts around the globe.
What’s your favourite dessert in London?
Have I missed anything quirky? Let me know!
