With Christmas fast approaching, we’ve rounded up the must-have festive bakes of the season, from the classics, to the alternatives, and not forgetting the outright quirky!
The Classic: Gingerbread House & Friends @ Brew
The renowned antipodean brunch pit stop, Brew, have pulled out all the stops this Christmas, to ensure you feel right at home. Available from 1st December at all sites (Chiswick, Wimbledon, Battersea, Putney and Wandsworth), Brew’s bespoke Gingerbread house (£49.95) is sure to satisfy those Christmassy cravings, or even make the perfect gift. For those who don’t do things by half, Brew’s festive offerings also include a pack of six gingerbread men and women (£5), hand crafted and baked on site, just like their home.
The Alternative: French Favourites @ Halva Bakery & Patisserie
Located just a short walk away from the Kings Road, Fulham’s go-to bakery has a whole range of alternative festive offerings, all expertly hand made on the premises using traditional French ingredients. From the classic Galette de Rois, a pie based on a French Christmas tradition, made up of 2 layers of crumbly puff pastry with a generous layer of homemade almond frangipane, to the Mandarin Mont Blanc, another French classic consisting of a homemade choux filled with mandarin compote ,fluffy meringue filling and mandarin cream, topped with a rich French Chestnut cream. Still not sold? Try out Halva’s limited edition Christmas Igloo cake, encompassing a delicious concoction of almond flake biscuits, a caramelised milk chocolate centre, all topped with a hazelnut mascarpone mousse and a light Tonka bean ganache. Parfait!
The Quirky: Mince Pie Cupcakes @ Sweet Things
Sweet Things, the award winning bakery and cake shop in Primrose Hill is famous for its mouth-watering cupcakes created by owner Natalie Allen and her team. For the festive season, guests can tuck into mince pie flavoured cupcakes! A scrumptious treat to enjoy this Christmas, the cakes have all the flavour of a traditional mince pie, topped with the creamiest icing – perfect to enjoy after a wintery stroll on Primrose Hill.
