17 Autumn Desserts to Try in London This Autumn
There is a particular kind of dessert that suddenly makes sense when autumn arrives in London.
You spend the day walking through streets covered in golden leaves, the temperature drops as soon as the sun disappears, and eventually you find yourself wanting something warm, sweet and comforting.
This is when desserts like apple crumble, sticky toffee pudding and warm chocolate cake suddenly become much more appealing.
But autumn desserts don't all have to be traditional British puddings. London is a city where you can find seasonal twists on familiar favourites too from pumpkin and dulce de leche doughnuts to rhubarb and custard creations.
And you don't necessarily have to wait for a restaurant to advertise an "autumn menu". Some desserts simply work beautifully at this time of year because of the ingredients, flavours and warmth they bring.
So, if you're looking for something sweet to try around London this autumn, here are 17 desserts worth putting on your list.
1. Apple Crumble
Let's begin with perhaps the most obvious autumn dessert of all.
Apple crumble has everything you want from a dessert on a chilly London afternoon: warm fruit, cinnamon, a buttery crumble topping and something creamy alongside it.
The contrast between the soft, cooked apples and crunchy crumble is what makes it so good.
For a dedicated crumble experience, you can visit Humble Crumble at Borough Market, Seven Dials or Old Spitalfields Market. The concept is exactly what the name suggests warm crumbles served with different toppings and accompaniments.
Humble Crumble | Borough Market is particularly convenient if you're already exploring Borough Market and the South Bank.
Apple crumble is also one of those desserts where you don't need a complicated presentation. Give me a warm bowl, plenty of crumble and something creamy on the side and I'm happy.
2. Sticky Toffee Pudding
If apple crumble is the classic fruit-based autumn dessert, sticky toffee pudding is the rich alternative.
Soft date sponge. Warm toffee sauce. Ice cream, cream or custard.
It's sweet, heavy and incredibly comforting.
Sticky toffee pudding is a British classic that appears on restaurant and pub menus throughout London, so it doesn't need to be treated as a limited seasonal special.
The reason it belongs on an autumn list is simple: it is exactly the kind of dessert you want when the weather outside has turned cold.
If you see it on the menu during an autumn dinner, order it.
You can thank me later.
3. Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie isn't traditionally British in the same way as apple crumble or sticky toffee pudding, but autumn in London has plenty of international influences.
The classic version combines pumpkin with warming spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg inside a pastry crust.
It is particularly associated with autumn and Halloween, making October a good time to look for it in London's American bakeries, cafés and seasonal menus.
And if you can't find a traditional pumpkin pie, don't worry.
London's pastry scene often uses pumpkin in other ways.
4. Pumpkin & Dulce de Leche Doughnut
This is where autumn dessert gets a little more modern.
Crosstown's current 2026 autumn collection includes a Pumpkin & Dulce de Leche doughnut. It is made with real pumpkin and lightly spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger before being filled with dulce de leche and finished with pumpkin glaze and vanilla glaze. It is currently listed at £5.95.
You can find Crosstown's autumn collection across its London locations, including Crosstown Fitzrovia - Doughnuts, Ice Cream, & Coffee and Crosstown Brick Lane.
This is a particularly good choice if you like the flavours of pumpkin spice but don't want a traditional slice of pie.
It's autumn in doughnut form.
5. Apple Crumble Doughnut
Crosstown has taken another classic autumn dessert and turned it into a doughnut.
The Apple Crumble doughnut is made with handmade Bramley apple compote flavoured with Zanzibar cinnamon and vanilla. It is topped with vanilla icing, buttercream and golden crumble. The current 2026 price is £5.95.
The clever part is that it actually tastes like the dessert it is inspired by.
You get the apple, the cinnamon and the crumble without needing to sit down with a spoon and bowl.
It's ideal for a London afternoon when you're walking between places and want something seasonal to eat along the way.
6. Rhubarb & Custard
Rhubarb and custard is another combination that feels made for cooler weather.
The sharpness of rhubarb works beautifully with sweet, creamy custard, creating a dessert that isn't simply sugary from beginning to end.
For autumn 2026, Crosstown has turned the combination into a Rhubarb & Custard doughnut. The current version uses handmade raspberry and rhubarb compote, raspberry-infused rhubarb icing, vanilla buttercream and lemon zest.
It's also a good reminder that autumn desserts don't have to be heavy.
Sometimes something fruity, slightly sharp and creamy is exactly what you want.
7. Apple Pie
Apple pie deserves a place alongside crumble.
The difference is all about the pastry.
Instead of letting the fruit sit underneath a crumbly topping, you get apples enclosed in buttery pastry, often with cinnamon or other warming spices.
Look for it on bakery and restaurant menus around London, particularly during autumn.
And if you're choosing between apple pie and apple crumble, there's no wrong answer.
The only real question is whether you're in the mood for pastry or crumble.
8. Pear & Almond Tart
Autumn is also a great time to look for desserts made with pears.
A pear and almond tart combines soft, baked pear with almond frangipane and pastry. The result is less heavy than some traditional puddings but still feels wonderfully suited to the season.
This is the kind of dessert you'll more often find in a good bakery, patisserie or afternoon tea than in a casual dessert shop.
Look for terms such as pear tart, pear frangipane or pear and almond tart when seasonal pastry menus start changing.
If you want something elegant rather than extremely indulgent, this is a very good choice.
9. Bread & Butter Pudding
Bread and butter pudding is one of those desserts that feels almost designed for cold weather.
Slices of buttered bread are soaked in a rich custard mixture, often with dried fruit, before being baked until the top becomes golden.
It's soft, warm and wonderfully old-fashioned.
You won't necessarily find it in every trendy dessert shop, but traditional British restaurants, pubs and hotel restaurants are the places to look.
And if it arrives with warm custard?
Even better.
10. Treacle Tart
Treacle tart is another classic British dessert that deserves more attention.
The filling is sweet and syrupy, balanced by crisp pastry. It is often served with cream, ice cream or custard.
It isn't specifically an autumn-only dessert, but it works extremely well in autumn because of its richness.
This is one for people who want to explore traditional British desserts rather than only looking for fashionable seasonal specials.
If you've never tried it, autumn is as good a time as any.
11. Bakewell Tart
A Bakewell tart combines pastry, jam and almond frangipane, usually finished with icing or almonds depending on the version.
It originates from the Derbyshire town of Bakewell, but you can find versions of the tart throughout Britain, including London bakeries and afternoon teas.
It's particularly good with a cup of tea.
And while it doesn't scream "autumn" in the same way that pumpkin or apple does, the almond, jam and pastry combination makes it a lovely choice for a cool afternoon.
Sometimes an autumn dessert doesn't need to be covered in cinnamon to work.
12. Ginger Pudding
Ginger is one of the easiest flavours to associate with colder weather.
A warm ginger sponge or sticky ginger pudding combines that gentle spice with soft cake and, ideally, something creamy.
Look for ginger pudding, ginger sponge or sticky ginger cake on British restaurant and pub menus.
The best versions are served warm with custard.
This is also one of those desserts where the smell hits you before the first bite.
13. Warm Chocolate Dessert
Not every autumn dessert needs fruit or spice.
Sometimes you just want chocolate.
A warm chocolate pudding, fondant, brownie or chocolate cake with a soft centre is an excellent choice when you're sitting somewhere cosy while London gets darker outside.
The Ivy Victoria currently has several chocolate-focused desserts on its menu, including its Chocolate Bombe, served with vanilla ice cream, honeycomb and hot caramel sauce.
The Ivy Victoria is therefore a good example of the kind of restaurant to look towards when you're after a more indulgent plated chocolate dessert.
The important correction here is that this is a Chocolate Bombe, not a chocolate fondant so that's how it should be described.
14. Salted Caramel Chocolate
Caramel becomes especially appealing in autumn.
Add chocolate to it and things get even better.
The Ivy Victoria's current autumn offering includes Salted Caramel Chocolate Truffles, making this another verified example of a seasonal chocolate-and-caramel treat currently available in London.
You don't necessarily need an enormous plated dessert.
Sometimes a couple of rich chocolate truffles alongside a coffee are enough.
This is also one of the easier flavour combinations to find elsewhere in London, with salted caramel appearing regularly in cakes, brownies, tarts and pastries.
15. Cinnamon Bun
A cinnamon bun sits somewhere between pastry, snack and dessert but autumn is the perfect excuse to include it.
Warm cinnamon, soft dough and sweet icing are difficult to resist when you're walking through London on a chilly morning.
Have one with coffee and you've got an excellent autumn break.
The beauty of cinnamon buns is that you don't need to plan an entire dessert stop around them.
See one that looks good?
Get it.
16. Custard Tart
A custard tart is another simple option that works brilliantly with a hot drink.
The combination of crisp pastry and creamy custard isn't flashy, but that's part of its charm.
London's bakeries offer everything from traditional British custard tarts to Portuguese pastéis de nata, which are related but distinct pastries.
If you're exploring somewhere like Borough Market, bakeries such as Bread Ahead Bakery | Borough Market give you plenty of opportunities to look for something sweet to take away.
It's not necessarily the most dramatic dessert on this list.
But sometimes you don't need dramatic.
17. Warm Brownie with Ice Cream
And finally, the dependable classic.
The warm brownie.
A good brownie is already excellent. Warm it up, add vanilla ice cream and a little chocolate or caramel sauce, and suddenly you've got the sort of dessert that feels perfect for an autumn evening.
It's rich, chocolatey and comforting without needing to follow any particular seasonal trend.
You'll find versions across London's restaurants, cafés and dessert shops.
And honestly, if you've made it through this entire list and still can't decide what you want, just order the brownie.
How to Choose Your Autumn Dessert
The easiest way to choose is to think about what you're craving.
Want something fruity? Go for apple crumble, apple pie, pear and almond tart or rhubarb and custard.
Want something warm and traditional? Try sticky toffee pudding, bread and butter pudding or ginger pudding.
Want something lighter with tea? A Bakewell tart or custard tart works beautifully.
Want something modern? Try one of Crosstown's current autumn doughnuts.
Want something seriously indulgent? Go for chocolate, salted caramel or a warm brownie with ice cream.
And if you're visiting London specifically for autumn food, don't assume that every dessert labelled "autumn" will be available throughout the whole season.
Seasonal menus change.
Limited-edition products disappear.
And bakeries can sell out of popular items.
So if you're travelling specifically to try one dessert, check the venue's current menu before setting off.
The Best Time to Try Autumn Desserts in London
October is arguably the best month for the full autumn experience.
The weather has cooled down, the leaves are changing, Halloween is approaching and seasonal menus are beginning to appear.
By November, the food scene starts moving towards Christmas, with mince pies, festive cakes and other winter treats increasingly taking over.
That makes October the sweet spot if you want desserts that actually feel autumnal rather than fully festive.
And you don't have to turn it into a huge food tour.
Pick one dessert.
Find somewhere good.
Take a walk afterwards.
That's enough.
Final Thoughts
Autumn desserts in London don't have to mean pumpkin spice.
Some of the best choices are much more traditional: apple crumble, sticky toffee pudding, Bakewell tart, treacle tart and bread and butter pudding.
Then there are the modern versions like Crosstown's pumpkin, apple crumble and rhubarb-and-custard doughnuts that show how London keeps putting new spins on familiar flavours.
So the next time you're walking around London and the temperature suddenly drops, don't just head for the nearest coffee.
Find something sweet too.
Because autumn in London is simply better with a warm dessert in your hands.
Planning your next London day out? Discover more neighbourhood guides, hidden gems, food spots and things to do on LondonYaar.com.
Follow @rohan.londonyaar for more London places, stories and things worth knowing before you visit.