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.
M&S has launched a massive recruitment drive across Yorkshire.
With the festive season fast approaching, and most British stores having already unveiled their Christmas ranges for 2026, one of the country’s largest brands has launched a massive UK-wide seasonal recruitment drives to gear up for what is always one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry.
M&S has announced it will recruit for plenty of new colleagues across the UK.
As mentioned Christmas is one of the busiest moments of the year for M&S, and seasonal colleagues play a ‘vital’ part in delivering that.
Image: Supplied
New recruits will be tasked with helping M&S deliver a ‘brilliant’ service for customers.
Stores with vacancies span the whole of Leeds - including city centre, Moortown, Crown Point, White Rose Shopping Centre and Pudsey.
M&S says the roles are ‘fast-moving and hands-on’, with colleagues required to work together to make sure customers still get the very best of M&S, even at its busiest.
The roles will pay £13.41 per hour, with successful applicants receiving the training, tools and support needed to get up to speed quickly.
“We can’t wait to welcome over 300 new colleagues to our store teams here in Greater Manchester,” commented Zeba Khan, who is the Regional Manager at M&S.
“As we get ready for our busiest time of year, it’s a great opportunity to join us and help bring a magical M&S Christmas to our customers.
“We have a range of opportunities available, whether joining our city centre flagship or our fresh market-style foodhalls. We’re looking for colleagues who are passionate about delivering great customer service and being part of a team.”
Fancy it then? Applications are now open, and you can find out more and apply on the M&S Christmas careers page here.
Leeds Christmas Market is getting two brand-new themed bars for 2026 – including a Scottish Highland Lodge
Clementine Hall
Organisers of the Leeds Christmas Market have announced it will host two new bars for 2026.
Yes, we know it's only October...but is it too soon to be getting excited about Christmas? We think not.
The Leeds Christmas Markets are going to look a little bit different this year, as the owners of Thor's Tipi will be running the festivities at City Square for 2026.
Completely new for this year, the market on City Square will introduce two bars with different themes - a Scottish Highland Lodge and a Folie Ski Bar.
Image: Supplied
Firstly, the Highland Lodge will welcome visitors into a spacious tipi filled with snug seating, twinkling lights, roaring fires and plenty of tartan.
Designed to welcome large groups, the lodge will have space for 280 guests inside and a further 100 outside, whilst the drinks menu will feature Highland favourites including Scottish beers and ales, a selection of whisky and even Iron-Bru.
Over at the Folie Ski Bar on Quebec Street, expect a relaxed festive retreat with the feel of an alpine chalet, complete with rustic wood detailing, fairy lights, faux fur throws and roaring fires.
The bar can accommodate 180 guests inside and 50 outside, serving mulled wine, boozy hot chocolates, Kirkstall Brewery beers and a selection of low and no-alcohol drinks.
Image: Supplied
THORS’s director, Amanda Monaghan said: “We’re excited to bring two new bar experiences to Leeds Christmas market this year. Having hosted THOR’s tipi in the city for many years, we’ve had plenty of practice creating festive spaces and entertainment, so we know what customers love.
“We’ve listened to lots of feedback on what people would like to see at the market and we want to make sure we give visitors and residents of Leeds plenty of reasons to stay with us long after they’ve finished their shopping or a day at the office.
“The new venues have been created to cater for all ages and tastes and will be perfect for passing visitors, after work drinks or planned Christmas get-togethers. From the lively Scottish spirit of Highland Lodge to the cosy alpine atmosphere at Folie, there’s going to be a spot for everyone to settle in and enjoy drinks by the fire and plenty of festive fun.”
Sophie Smith -
17th December 2021 
