Top 10: Vanilla Cheesecakes in LondonBy Alicia Grimshaw
Passionate about baking? Like a delicious, sweet cheesecake? Well, we’ve teamed up with Nielsen-Massey, the creators of the world’s best vanillas and flavours, to discover the best vanilla products in London. We ate our way through all the biscuit based desserts to find London’s best vanilla cheesecakes:
What: Sernik – White Chocolate and Vanilla Cheesecake (£6)
Why: Baltic is your number one stop for Polish food. Don’t fill yourself on dumplings and carafes on vodka, as their Sernik cheesecake number is well worth an order. The cheesecake is baked twice, with a hard top (it doesn’t make it sound appetising, but it really is). The cheesecake is served with fruit coulis, but we prefer it with a good dollop of ice cream – you’ll thank us for that top tip later.
Where: 74 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 8HA
Photo Credit: Studded Kisses
2. Honey and Co, Warren Street
What: Vanilla cheesecake
Why: Honey and Co may be know for their cold mezze platters, but it’s their cake selection that sets our heart racing. Their vanilla unbaked cheesecake is placed atop a katafiyeh base, and covered in various different fruit compotes (it changes from week to week – they all taste delicious mind).
Where: 25A Warren St, London W1T 5LZ
What: Homemade vanilla and raspberry cheesecake (£6.20)
Why: There’s not better way to finish a meal laden with cheese and carbs than with a creamy cheesecake. We firmly believe that a cheesecake goes to the different part of the stomach. The cheesecake consists of creamy mascarpone, served on a crunchy biscuit base. To finish it’s drizzled with fresh raspberry sauce. This cheesecake is guaranteed to banish any dessert desires.
Where: Available at all London branches (Bishopsgate, Canary Wharf, The City, and Holborn)
4. Las Iguanas, Various Locations
What: Dulce de leche macadamia cheesecake (£5.20)
Why: This cheesecake is a saucy little number, and is as rich as it looks. The good thing about this cheesecake is the biscuit base to vanilla filling ratio – it’s spot on. The vanilla cheesecake is served with roasted macadamia nuts and a sticky dulce de leche sauce.
Where: See locations here
What: Baked Vanilla Cheesecake (£6.50)
Why: This cheesecake is a nod to ‘simple is best’. No need for fancy sides and fruity toppings, the baked vanilla cheesecake is everything you want from a dessert. A rich, velvety cheesecake that has a subtle hint of vanilla. By gosh, this is marvellous.
Where: 55 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BB
6. Melrose and Morgan, Throughout London
What: Individual vanilla cheesecakes
Why: If the cakes bought in Melrose and Morgan were cars, they’d be Jaguars without a doubt. They may not be the cheapest cake on the high-street, but they’re certainly up there with some of the best. The vanilla cheesecake is three things – smooth, flavoursome and delicious. Buy in individual slices or, as it’s Christmas, buy the larger version.
Where: Locations here
7. Lola’s Cupcakes, Across London
What: Deluxe chocolate cheesecake (£35)
Why: Lola’s Cupcakes may well be know for their cupcakes, but it’s their lesser known cheesecake cousins that gets our attention. All of their cheesecakes are specially baked to order, with the cheesecake recipe passed down through generations. The chocolate cheesecake uses the vanilla cheesecake as a base, with chocolate chunks baked inside. You can also request for a nice message to be whipped onto the top – how romantic.
Where: Order here
What: Baked Vanilla Cheesecake with Granola and Apple Sorbet (£5.95)
Why: Chapters is an all-day dining restaurant, which knocks up British fare. Come here on a weekend for a lazy brunch and Sunday roast. And, it true weekend fashion, no good meal is complete with a slice of the good stuff – their vanilla cheesecake. A side serving of crunchy and fruit is a welcome addition, while the biscuit base is of the nutty variety. Sublime.
Where: 43-45 Montpelier Vale, Blackheath Village, London SE3 OTJ
9. Manhattan Grill, Canary Wharf
What: Manhattan Cheesecake with red berry compote (£6)
Why: Manhattan Grill has succeed while many of failed, their desserts here aren’t some shoddy afterthought, but one of the main events (their fillet steak is the stuff beef dreams are made of). It’s a classic cheesecake, baked, soft and with a slightly cooked top compared to the centre. The slice goes really well with a good lashing of cream.
Where: 22 Hertsmere Rd, Canary Warf, London E14 4ED
10. Izzy’s Patisserie, Abel & Cole Website
What: Lemon Cheesecake (£6.29)
Why: This cheesecake is so good, that one slice is never enough – great that it comes as a full cake. If you’re in a rush this Christmas, you could probably get away with saying you baked it yourself (and no one would know). The cake features a zesty zing alongside the sweet vanilla extract. It’s hands down one of the best lemon cheesecakes we’ve ever had.
Where: Buy here
