We wish chocolate orange and cinnamon were acceptable year-round flavours, but we fear this is your last chance to taste the best of Leeds festive bakes.
As the countdown for Christmas enters its final few days and the supermarkets start to bring in their Easter stock- to which we are all still horrified by, the festive specials start to disappear from the shelves, hidden until the next festive buildup.
Before our favourite flavours of chai, cinnamon, chocolate orange and gingerbread disappear for another twelve months, here are the best places you can grab a bit of your favourite sweet treats, or get your last batch in for Christmas day.
Chai blend is one of the most underrated festive flavours around, but luckily Leeds-based bakery Chunk Cookies saw their through this and gave it a rightful place in the limelight this Christmas. A chai blend dough, mixed with apple infused cranberries and chopped walnuts, stuffed full of the smoothest vegan white chocolate. The Chai Cookies are packed with one light and sweet flavour with that warm Christmas spice undertone.
Gingerbread Cake, Brew and Brownie Bakeshop
Gingerbread cake with chai buttercream and salted caramel. / Image: Brew & Brownie
Coffee shops are a great source of festive, limited edition, baked goods and a prime example of this is the gingerbread cake with chai buttercream and salted caramel from Brew and Brownie. Chances are, the cakes don't last long here, but there's no reason you can't stock up on delicious slices of sponge before December 25th, or even see if you can preorder your own for the Christmas dinner table.
If you're hosting a buffet-style Christmas, these pre-portioned treats are going to be your best friend. This irresistible selection of donuts from Doboy Donuts are available to order right to your doorstep too, so if you've forgotten to bring dessert to that pre-Christmas get-together- just make sure you get to the door before anyone else and nobody will ever have to know you forgot. Available in six scrumptious flavours, with some vegan options available upon request, we know these are going to be a popular choice this year.
Chocolate Marshmallow and Stout Cake, Wapentake
Vegan Chocolate Marshmallow and Stout Cake. / Image: Wapentake Leeds
Wapentake is the perfect place to go for all things Yorkshire, and that includes your festive treats. All baked with local products, their ever changing supply of cakes and beers make them the ideal place to stop for a pre-Christmas treat. This Vegan Chocolate and Marshmallow Stout cake is perfectly served with a Liquid Boogie, a hot chocolate and marshmallow stout. To find out what's the flavour of the week, you'll have to head in store.
If you're looking for individual desserts for Christmas day, or just fancy a chocolatey snack to get get you in the festive spirit, brownies and blondies are a great solution. Based at Leeds Dock, Dinos Cakery stock all the Christmas snacks you need and more. Flavours include festive favourites like After Eights, Baileys, Toblerone and Terry's White Chocolate Orange, as well as Gingerbread Millionaire slices and Snowflake Blondies.
Think it's too early for 'C word'? Never mind, you've already clicked on this article.
Sure, we may only be into our second full week of September, but given the fact the weather these past couple of days hasn't exactly screamed summer, it already feels like the festive season is around the corner - but whether or not you think it’s too early to be talking about Christmas, it’ll soon be too tricky to escape from.
Especially not when the famous TV channel showing festive film favourites non-stop is now back on air in the UK.
Yes, you heard that right - Christmas films, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
If you’re ready to wave goodbye to summer, and in welcome autumn and winter with open arms, then there's arguably no better way of getting into the festive spirit than with the long-awaited and highly-anticipated return of the TV channel that's charmed audiences for over half a decade now.
GREAT! Christmas the UK’s biggest seasonal channel, and it's now live on Sky, Freesat, Freeview and Virgin Media.
You can expect almost four months of back-to-back seasonal movies.
The 24-hour feel-good and free-to-air channel will be bursting with non-stop Christmas spirit, and will be showing a heartwarming lineup of festive films - including some absolute fan-favourite classics that make it to screens every year without fail, alongside some cheesy Hallmark classics, new channel premieres, and so much more.
Viewers will find GREAT! Christmas on Freeview channel 51, Sky 319, Sky (Glass/Stream) 317, Virgin channel 424, and Freely channel 47.
The channel will run until early January.
Featured Image - Freestocks (via Unsplash)
Christmas
Leeds Santa Dash is returning for 2026 and it’s set to be ‘bigger and better’ than ever
Emily Sergeant
Leeds' famous Santa Dash is returning for 2026, and it's set to be 'bigger and better' than ever.
Back by popular demand with the festive season around the corner, The Trinity Leeds Santa Dash has confirmed its return for 2026 this December, with thousands of Santas set to hit the streets of the city centre with festive fun, Christmas cheer, and an unforgettable atmosphere.
No matter whether you're taking part with your family, friends, colleagues, or little ones, organisers say it's the 'perfect way' to kick-start your festive season.
This iconic event welcomes everyone to take part - you can either jog, walk, or wheel your way around the 5K route, soaking up the sights and sounds of the city as you celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, and prams are also welcome too, making it a fantastic festive day out for all ages and abilities.
And this year, it's set to be bigger and better than ever, as there's an exciting new city centre route.
All Santa suits are provided (except for those under three) with your race entry, and you'll also get an exclusive Trinity Leeds Santa Dash finisher medal once you make it over the line, as well as a festive chocolate treat to nibble on.
So, gather your fellow Santas, embrace the Christmas magic, and get ready to join one of Leeds' most joyful festive traditions.
The Trinity Leeds Santa Dash returns for 2026 on Sunday 6 December, and you can find out more and enter to take part in the race online here.
Sophie Smith -
17th December 2021 
