Crosstown

Crosstown Doughnuts

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An empty stomach is a dangerous thing to have while walking up and down the streets of Soho.

Temptation is everywhere and despite your best intentions, you won’t be able to resist for very long.

Especially if you come across Crosstown Doughnuts.

Crosstown Doughnuts, London | Cake + Whisky

The tiny stall-come-store built quite a cult following over the years and for good reasons.

Crosstown Doughnuts, London | Cake + Whisky

Not only do they have brilliant ideas (#paydaydoughday should definitely be an official thing!), but their doughnuts are simply divine.

Crosstown Doughnuts, London | Cake + Whisky

Just look at it.

No wonder those babies have been rated #1 British dessert you must try before you die on Buzzfeed.

Crosstown Doughnuts, London | Cake + Whisky

The small Broadwick Street flagship store is pretty much what a sweet-tooth’s dreams are made of.

Crosstown Doughnuts, London | Cake + Whisky

Rows after rows of hand-made sourdough doughnuts in each and every flavour your heart desires.

And then some more.

Crosstown Doughnuts, London | Cake + Whisky

Crosstown Doughnuts, London | Cake + Whisky

And some coffee for good measure.

Crosstown Doughnuts, London | Cake + Whisky

It took all of our restraint not to get one of each, but we settled on -only- three.

Crosstown Doughnuts, London | Cake + Whisky

Part of the selction was a Lamnut (a Lamington/Doughnut limited edition hybrid to celebrate Australia week) and a Sea Salt Caramel & Banana Cream Doughnut.

Crosstown Doughnuts, London | Cake + Whisky

Crosstown Doughnuts, London | Cake + Whisky

A winning combination of chocolate sourdough base, fresh banana cream filling, sea salt caramel glaze and chocolate soil topping.

Crosstown Doughnuts, London | Cake + Whisky

The last pick was the hardest one (crème brûlée? vanilla glaze? peanut butter?) but in the end, I went for the most intriguing flavour of the lot: the Beetroot Lemon Thyme Doughnut.

A colourful beetroot sourdough filled with subtle lemon-thyme infused cream and topped with cream cheese icing and lemon & thyme crumble. Much lighter than it looks and absolutely delightful.

So good in fact I’m looking for another excuse to treat myself to one today… Anyone for #HumpdayDoughday?

Crosstown Doughnuts, 4 Broadwick Street, Soho, London W1F 8HJ  Crosstown Doughnuts Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Crosstown Doughnuts

7 mince pies having an identity crisis

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Mince pies.

The British Christmas staple if there ever was one.

Each family seems to have its own recipe that is not to be messed with.

I on the other hand am still to create my own, so I’m currently sampling every mince pie I can get my hands on (you know, in the name of research… Tough job but somebody’s got to do it!).

And while most places stick to the fruit-mix-in-pastry version, there are also some more… creative ones out there!

1. Crosstown’s mince pie doughnuts

7 mince pies having an identity crisis | Crosstown Mince Pie doughnut

With its mini mince pie doughnuts, complete with brandy butter glaze and vanilla crumble topping, Crosstown has achieve the perfect jam doughnut and mince pie breeding. Pillowy sourdough dough, fruit-rich boozy filling and addictive signature crumble, I wouldn’t mind finding a big box of those under the tree!

2. Joe & Seph’s mince pie pop corn

7 mince pies having an identity crisis | Joe & seph's mince pie popcorn

Going deeper into the novely mince pie market, you’ll find this brandy-infused caramel-coated popcorn which claims to be as “rich, fruity and aromatic [as] a mince pie”. I say, not a bad option for a Christmas movie marathon!

3. Rinkoff Bakery’s Mince pie cronut

7 mince pies having an identity crisis | Rinkoff's Mince Pie Cronut

Given the choice, I’ll always pick a croissant over a pie, so Rinkoff’s mince pie cronuts is very much my idea of festive heaven! (Just don’t think about the calories content. It’s Christmas, it doesn’t count!).

4. Sainsbury’s Mince Pie Ice Cream

7 mince pies having an identity crisis | Sainsbury's Mince Pie Ice Cream

Mince pie ice cream. Now, THAT is a game changer. Serving it over oven-baked apples, in a mince Pie milkshake, as a mince pie sundae… the possibilities are endless (hellooooo creative yet lazy Chrismas dessert!)!

5. Bad Brownie’s mince pie brownie

7 mince pies having an identity crisis | Bad Brownie mince pie brownie

I wasn’t entirely convinced about the mince meat / chocolate combination until I tried one of Bad Brownie boozy and Christmassy Mince Pie Brownie. Dangerously good (just like evrything else they bake).

6. Mince pie chocolate 

7 mince pies having an identity crisis | Nom Nom mince pie chocolateMade fresh in south Wales with boozy mincemeat and shortbread enveloped in milk chocolate, this Mince pie chocolate bar is every Christmas addict chocolate lovers’ dream come true (and a great stocking filler)!

7. Mince pie vodka

7 mince pies having an identity crisis | Mince pie vodka recipe from Waitrose

Why not give your cocktail a bit of the mince pie treatment this festive season? This recipe from Waitrose seems easy enough to make a few bottles at a time (and I can garantee you’ll win at homemade gift giving then!)

Which of those mince pie treats would you like to try? 

7 mince pies having an identity crisis