Best Christmas cakes London 2019
Christmas cakes make a gorgeous hostess present, as well as a festive treat all family members can tuck into.
Best panettone: Carluccio's Panettone Allo Spritz
We always seem to end up with some panettone or other around Christmas, but the difference with a Carluccio's panettone is that you really, really want to eat it. There are tons of flavours available this Christmas 2019, from prosecco-soaked panettone to a gluten-free version, but we're partial to Panettone Allo Spritz, which has an orange citrus filling and is enrobed in dark chocolate. Plus, the packaging is stunning. Quite the upgrade from the Terry's Chocolate Orange of Christmases past...
Read more ...
Best doughnut: Crosstown Doughnuts' Winter Fruit Crumble
Some Christmas cakes are made for sharing; others are firmly designed for us and us alone. Crosstown Doughnuts' Winter Fruit Crumble falls into the latter category, the combination of winter spiced apple and pear compote with maple icing and cinnamon pecan crumble is just the right mix of sweet and spice. Did we mention it's also vegan? It will work with whatever pre-Christmas panic-diet you've chosen to adopt. Look out for other seasonal flavours like Black Forest Cake and Panettone Custard & English Sparkling Rosé.
Best bûche: Mariage Frères Rouge Impérial French Christmas Log
Embrace the most festive cake there is - the bûche de Noël log-shaped Christmas cake, with the decadent logs available at our favourite French tea house, Mariage Frères. We love that all of the desserts are infused with tea, like this stunning Rouge Impérial log, a genoise cake with raspberry marmalade and green Matcha tea flavoured cream, covered in red almond paste icing. There's another version in striking gold, infused with Marco Polo black tea in a chocolate marbled cake. File these in the "looks almost too good to eat but someone's gotta do it" category.
Best vegan cake: Vegan pumpkin spiced panettone
Selfridge's has become the go-to for exciting festive panettone (this season, it's all about the Salted Caramel flavour). If you need a vegan treat that's as delicious as a dairy-filled cake, the vegan pumpkin spice panettone ticks the festive flavour box with pumpkin, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. Yum.
Read more ...Best spiced cake: Konditor Spiced Apple Cake
From fruitcakes to whiskey bombs, Konditor's got a great selection of festive sweet treats. The Spiced Apple Cake is a divine combination of spiced apple sponge and tart apple purée topped with sweet mascarpone apple frosting, a swirl of cinnamon and apple chips. Bonus points if you pretend you baked it yourself.
Read more ...Best winter wonderland Christmas cake: PAUL Gâteau de Noël La Forêt d’Hiver
Yes, French bakeries do really know how to nail the Christmas cake. PAUL's got a range of Yule logs - in flavours including passionfruit and coconut, red fruit and chocolate praline - but this winter forest themed pudding really takes the cake when it comes to striking Christmas centrepieces. It's also delicious, with a crunchy biscuit topped with dark chocolate mousse and decorated with a forest of trees and a dark chocolate chalet.
Read more ...