The best luxurious Christmas desserts in London

Christmas in London is a magical time, and this year is no exception. And as the big day gets closer, one of the most marvelous elements of the holiday season starts to emerge: the luscious cakes and pastries from the best bakers in the city. Here are our top picks of the best luxurious Christmas desserts in London this year: cakes, bûches de nöel, cookies and more. Whether you’re presenting one as a host or hostess gift or making it the centerpiece of your holiday party, here’s where to go for world-class Christmas desserts. Order off the menu or work with the bakers on a bespoke creation. Either way, it’s guaranteed to be a sweet holiday.

the best luxurious Christmas desserts in London this year

1. Lily Vanilli

Lily Vanilli’s East London bake shop is serving cool and creative works of art for holiday dessert this year. You can work with the team to design a fully bespoke cake. But we think going straight for the Salted Caramel Fig cake (£55), the Chocolate Sponge Party cake with Glitter Cherries (£65) or the Gold Painted Raspberry Cake (£60) is an excellent plan, too. These could all make star turns on a holiday dessert buffet.

2. Anges de Sucre

Anges de Sucre founder pâtissier Reshmi Bennett, who trained as a chef at the famous École Grégoire Ferrandi in Paris, bakes every element of her towering creations from scratch. And the Christmas 2019 offerings do not disappoint.

The traditional Christmas Croquembouche (£825) takes at least three days to make. There are five other dazzling cakes this year, including the Cheeky Cherub Christmas Yule Log £55 (chocolate cake topped with buttermilk doughnuts, golden chocolate flakes, golden pearls, golden mint-chocolate twigs and gold candied popcorn). And the Horny Rudolph (£105) with red velvet cake, a buttercream reindeer mane, golden chocolate crispearls and golden fondant horns.

We’re finding it hard to choose between the groovy Disco Santa cake (£55), the Cosmic Constellation cake (£55) and the over-the-top Christmas Turkey Roast cake (£109). It’s made of vanilla cake, brownie “meat” fudge, popcorn turkey and Brussels sprouts, and a stuffing of walnuts and hazelnuts. It’s drizzled with salted caramel “gravy.” Wow.

3. Peggy Porschen Cakes

The 2019 holiday theme at boutique bakery Peggy Porschen Parlour is Sugar and Ice. The collection of “haute couture sweets” was inspired by “the majesty and fragility of the Arctic.” It’s a series of truly lovely creations featuring snowy landscapes, polar bears, penguins, and igloos.

There are layer cakes, cookies, cupcakes and more. We really kind of want to taste one of each. 

4. Fiona Cairns Cakes

Fiona Cairns created the cake for the 2011 Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. This year’s Christmas cakes from her bake shop include the Magic Mistletoe (£12.50 – 37.00); the Poinsettia Parcel (£15.50 – 40.00); and Snowman Fairy Cakes (£6.50). Who could resist this adorable Father Christmas Cake (£20)?

5. Claire Ptak, Violet Cakes

The proprietor of Violet Cakes, Claire Ptak, is the mastermind behind the gorgeous cake at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Her Christmas 2019 menu includes mince pies (£2 each) and Christmas puddings (£20).

There are also three Christmas cakes on the menu: vegan ginger molasses cake (£12); chocolate caramel rum cake (£12); and a Christmas cake with candied fruits, molasses and winter spices (£55). Plus cookies, savouries and hampers. Like the Duchess of Sussex, this bake shop has a laid-back Californian vibe. So throughout the year, expect delicious and pretty treats, often topped with real flowers.

6. Konditor

The Holly Jolly Whiskey Bomb Cake  (£48) definitely sounds festive. Ingredients include chocolate, orange and whiskey cake, cloaked in chocolate marzipan velvet and finished with sugar paste.

Forget everything you ever thought about fruit cake and give the bakery’s Holly Jolly Christmas Fruit Cake (£48) decorated with festive cookies a try. Konditor’s Spiced Apple Cake (£38) would definitely find a place on our table if it were available in New York. It’s apple sponge cake sandwiched between apple compote and mascarpone frosting. Oh, yes.

7. PAUL pâtissierie

The Gâteau De Noël La Forêt D’Hiver  (£22.95) from PAUL is a winter wonderland made of dark chocolate mousse cake on a crunchy biscuit base. It’s topped by a forest of frosted chocolate trees and a dark chocolate chalet.

Prefer a warm beach to a winter forest? New for 2019, the Coconut & Passion Fruit Yule Log  (£35.95) is light and refreshing. It’s made with an almond dacquoise biscuit topped with creamy coconut mousse. Inside, there’s a passion fruit, mango and dragon fruit compote.

If autumn is lingering in your mind, consider the Le Verger Normand, the Normandy Orchard Cake (£35.95). It’s Genoese sponge cake with crème mousseline and cinnamon apple pieces. The pretty romantic topping is roses made of apple slices flavored with cinnamon.

8. Crosstown Doughnuts

There are three luscious Christmas-themed doughnuts this year at Crosstown. The Vegan Winter Fruit Crumble is vegan sourdough filled with a winter spiced apple & pear compote, topped with homemade maple icing and a cinnamon pecan crumble.

The Black Forest Cake doughnut is chocolate cake dough filled with black forest compote, topped with white chocolate glaze, dark chocolate soil and finished with a homemade almond praline shard. Finally, the Panettone Custard doughnut is made of black cocoa sourdough filled with panettone-infused custard, topped with a Gusbourne English sparkling rosé glaze and finished with candied Seville orange peel.

9. Georgia’s Cakes

Founded in 2015 by Georgia Green, Georgia’s Cakes quickly became an Instagram sensation. Each cake takes two days to make, and Green and her team create all of toppings from scratch. Her celebrity clients include Rihanna and Cara Delevingne, and her wedding cakes are now on display at the Food Hall at Harrods. At last check, Green uses ‘real’ ingredients and hasn’t embraced the notions of gluten- and sugar-free. There are more than a dozen examples of the elaborate “Mad Hatter” cakes that the bake shop can create. Any one of which will keep all of your friends and family in high holiday spirits.

10. Gelupo artisan gelato

If you’re in the mood for a frozen holiday treat, the artisan gelato shop Gelupo has Holiday 2019 specials that include flavors like gingerbread and caramel, mulled red wine with winter spices, a speculoos ice cream sandwich and scoops of Christmas Cake gelato. Fun!

the best luxurious Christmas desserts in London

That’s it! Those are our top picks for the best Bûches de Noël, gingerbread houses, Christmas cakes and other special desserts in London this holiday season. Did we miss anything? Which one is your favorite? Happy holidays, dear reader.