Looking for desserts that start with S? This handy alphabet foods guide gathers together classic puddings, cakes, biscuits, frozen desserts and fruity treats beginning with the letter S. Some are proper British favourites, others come from further afield, and plenty can be made cheaply at home with store cupboard ingredients.

Use this list for quizzes, school projects, themed menus, party ideas, or simply for finding a new sweet treat to try without spending a fortune.

Desserts That Start With S: Quick List

Here is a quick glance at some of the best known S desserts before we get into the tastier details.

Classic British Desserts That Start With S

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Sticky toffee pudding is one of the most loved British desserts beginning with S. It is a soft sponge made with dates, served warm with a glossy toffee sauce. It is brilliant with custard, cream or vanilla ice cream.

Money-saving idea: dates can often be found cheaply in the baking aisle or world foods section. You do not need fancy medjool dates for a pudding; standard chopped dates work well once soaked in hot water.

Spotted Dick

Spotted dick is a traditional steamed suet pudding dotted with currants or raisins. The name may raise eyebrows, but the pudding itself is comforting, filling and ideal with custard.

It is a proper old-school dessert and a good example of how simple ingredients can stretch into a hearty family pudding.

School Cake

School cake, sometimes called school dinner cake, is a simple vanilla traybake topped with white icing and colourful sprinkles. It is cheap, nostalgic and easy to portion.

For a budget version, use margarine or baking spread instead of butter and bake it in a rectangular tin. It is ideal for lunchboxes, parties and bake sales.

Semolina Pudding

Semolina pudding is a creamy milk pudding made with semolina, sugar and milk. Some people remember it fondly from school dinners; others are less convinced. Served warm with jam, stewed fruit or a sprinkle of nutmeg, it is a very economical dessert.

It is also quick to make on the hob, which is useful when you want something sweet but do not want to turn the oven on.

Sponge Pudding

Sponge pudding can refer to a steamed or microwave sponge served with custard. Popular versions include syrup sponge, jam sponge and chocolate sponge.

A microwave sponge pudding is especially useful when you need a fast dessert. Flour, sugar, egg, fat and a spoonful of jam or golden syrup can become pudding in minutes.

Summer Pudding

Summer pudding is made by lining a bowl with bread, filling it with cooked berries, then chilling it until the bread absorbs the fruit juices. It is usually turned out and served in slices.

Despite the name, you can make it all year round with frozen berries. Slightly stale bread works well, making this a clever way to reduce waste.

Syllabub

Syllabub is an old-fashioned British dessert made with whipped cream, sugar, lemon and wine, cider or sherry. It is light, tangy and rich, so small portions are best.

For a simpler family-friendly version, use lemon juice and zest with whipped cream and a little icing sugar, leaving out the alcohol.

Cakes, Bakes and Biscuits Beginning With S

Shortbread

Shortbread is a buttery Scottish biscuit traditionally made with three basic ingredients: butter, sugar and flour. It is crumbly, rich and surprisingly easy to make at home.

Homemade shortbread is often cheaper than buying premium boxed versions, especially around Christmas. Cut it into fingers, rounds or wedges and store in an airtight tin.

Scones

Scones are a classic British bake served with jam and cream. Plain, fruit and cheese scones are the most common, though sweet scones are the dessert option here.

If you are watching the pennies, homemade scones are excellent value. They use basic ingredients and freeze well. Warm them briefly before serving to bring back that fresh-baked feel.

Swiss Roll

A Swiss roll is a thin sponge cake rolled around jam, cream, buttercream or chocolate filling. Despite the name, it is popular in British baking and often appears in lunchboxes and party spreads.

Jam Swiss roll is the cheapest version. You can dress it up with a dusting of icing sugar, a drizzle of chocolate or sliced strawberries if you have them.

Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry shortcake usually combines a shortcake-style biscuit or sponge with strawberries and cream. It is especially good during British strawberry season when fruit is sweeter and often cheaper.

To save money, mix fresh strawberries with a little chopped apple or use fewer berries and more whipped cream or yoghurt.

Stollen

Stollen is a German festive bread-like cake containing dried fruit, spices and often marzipan. It is usually dusted with icing sugar and served in slices.

After Christmas, stollen is often reduced in supermarkets. It freezes well, so it can be worth picking up a discounted loaf if you enjoy spiced fruit bakes.

Sachertorte

Sachertorte is an Austrian chocolate cake layered with apricot jam and coated in dark chocolate glaze. It feels fancy, but the flavours are simple: chocolate, fruit and sponge.

For a cheaper take, make a basic chocolate sponge, spread with apricot jam and top with melted own-brand dark chocolate.

Simnel Cake

Simnel cake is a traditional Easter fruit cake topped with marzipan, often decorated with eleven marzipan balls. It is rich, spiced and packed with dried fruit.

Dried fruit can be expensive, so buy it when on offer and keep it sealed in the cupboard for seasonal baking.

Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles are soft American biscuits rolled in cinnamon sugar before baking. They are simple, cosy and do not need chocolate chips or expensive extras.

They are a good budget bake because cinnamon gives plenty of flavour from a small amount.

Fruit Desserts That Start With S

Strawberry Fool

Strawberry fool is a simple dessert made by folding crushed or puréed strawberries into whipped cream. You can also use yoghurt or a mix of yoghurt and cream to make it lighter and cheaper.

It is a good way to use strawberries that are slightly soft but still safe to eat. Trim any bruised bits, mash the fruit with a little sugar, then swirl through cream.

Stewed Apples

Stewed apples are one of the cheapest S desserts, especially if you have access to home-grown or reduced apples. Cook peeled or unpeeled apple pieces gently with a splash of water, sugar and cinnamon until soft.

Serve with custard, yoghurt, porridge, pancakes or ice cream. You can freeze stewed apples in portions for future crumbles and pies.

Stewed Plums

Stewed plums are sweet, sharp and lovely with cream, custard or rice pudding. They are also useful when plums are reduced because they are ripening quickly.

Add a little sugar and cook gently until the fruit softens and releases syrupy juices.

Strawberries and Cream

Strawberries and cream is one of the simplest desserts that start with S. It needs no baking and feels special with very little effort.

For better value, buy strawberries in season or look for reduced punnets. If some berries are too soft for slicing, mash them into a quick sauce.

Spiced Pears

Spiced pears are pears gently cooked with sugar, cinnamon, cloves or ginger. They can be served warm or chilled and work well with yoghurt, ice cream or custard.

This is a handy dessert for pears that refuse to ripen evenly. Cooking improves the texture and brings out the sweetness.

Frozen Desserts Beginning With S

Sorbet

Sorbet is a dairy-free frozen dessert made with fruit, sugar and water. Lemon, raspberry, mango and blackcurrant are common flavours.

You can make a quick version by blending frozen fruit with a little sugar syrup or fruit juice. It is a good way to use reduced berries, tinned peaches or leftover fruit.

Sundae

A sundae is an ice cream dessert layered with sauce, toppings, cream, fruit, nuts or biscuits. It is easy to make at home and much cheaper than buying one out.

Try value vanilla ice cream with homemade chocolate sauce, crushed biscuits and sliced banana. It looks generous but costs very little per serving.

Semifreddo

Semifreddo is an Italian frozen dessert with a soft, mousse-like texture. It is usually made with whipped cream, eggs or custard, and flavourings such as chocolate, coffee, fruit or nuts.

It does not need an ice cream machine, which makes it more practical for home cooks. Slice it straight from the freezer and serve with berries or sauce.

Sherbet

In some countries, sherbet means a fruity frozen dessert similar to sorbet but with a little dairy. In the UK, sherbet more often means fizzy sweet powder, but frozen sherbet still appears in dessert lists.

If you see sherbet on a menu, expect something refreshing, fruity and lighter than standard ice cream.

International Desserts That Start With S

Strudel

Strudel is a layered pastry dessert often filled with apples, raisins, cinnamon and breadcrumbs. Apple strudel is the best-known version and is popular across Austria and central Europe.

For an easy budget version, use ready-made puff pastry, sliced apples and a little cinnamon sugar. It may not be traditional, but it makes a lovely low-effort pudding.

Soufflé

A soufflé is a light baked dessert made with a flavoured base and whisked egg whites. Chocolate soufflé and lemon soufflé are popular sweet versions.

Soufflés have a reputation for being tricky, but the ingredients are not costly. Eggs, sugar and flavouring do most of the work.

Savarin

Savarin is a ring-shaped yeast cake soaked in syrup, often served with cream and fruit. It is related to rum baba and has a soft, syrupy texture.

Because it is rich, you can serve modest slices with plenty of fruit to make it go further.

Sesame Balls

Sesame balls are a Chinese sweet made from glutinous rice flour, often filled with sweet bean paste and coated in sesame seeds before frying. They are crisp outside and chewy inside.

You may find them in Asian bakeries, dim sum restaurants or the freezer section of some Asian supermarkets.

Sfogliatelle

Sfogliatelle are Italian pastries with crisp, layered shells and a sweet filling, often made with ricotta, semolina and citrus. They look impressive and are usually bought from bakeries rather than made at home.

If you are serving them as part of a dessert spread, cut larger pastries in half so everyone can try a little without waste.

Shahi Tukda

Shahi tukda is a rich South Asian dessert made with fried bread, sweetened milk, cardamom and nuts. It is fragrant, creamy and excellent for using up bread.

A lighter home version can be made by toasting the bread instead of frying it, then spooning over thickened sweet milk.

Serradura

Serradura, also known as sawdust pudding, is a Portuguese dessert popular in Macau. It is made with layers of whipped cream and crushed biscuits.

It is wonderfully simple and budget-friendly. Digestive biscuits work well, and the dessert can be made ahead in small glasses.

More Sweet Foods and Desserts Beginning With S

Still need more ideas? These sweet S foods are useful for alphabet games, dessert boards and themed menus.

• Salted caramel tart: a pastry case filled with salted caramel and often topped with chocolate.
• Snow pudding: a light set dessert usually made with lemon, gelatine and beaten egg whites.
• Sago pudding: a milk pudding made with sago pearls, similar in spirit to tapioca pudding.
• Sweet potato pie: a spiced pie with a smooth sweet potato filling, popular in the United States.
• Strawberry cheesecake: cheesecake topped or swirled with strawberries.
• Strawberry pavlova: meringue topped with cream and strawberries.
• Syrup tart: a tart made with golden syrup, breadcrumbs and lemon.
• Speculoos cheesecake: cheesecake flavoured with caramelised spiced biscuits or spread.
• Saffron rice pudding: creamy rice pudding flavoured with saffron, popular in several cuisines.
• Scotch pancakes with syrup: small fluffy pancakes served as a sweet dessert or teatime treat.
• Smore: a toasted marshmallow and chocolate sandwich, traditionally made with graham crackers in North America.
• Sugar cookies: simple biscuits that can be cut into shapes and iced.
• Spice cake: a soft cake flavoured with warm spices such as cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
• Sticky rice with mango: a Thai dessert made with coconut sticky rice and ripe mango.
• Strawberry mousse: a light whipped dessert made with strawberries and cream or yoghurt.

Cheap Dessert Ideas Using S Ingredients

If you are trying to keep the food bill down, S desserts are surprisingly useful. Many rely on flour, sugar, eggs, milk, bread or fruit that needs using up.

• Use reduced fruit: strawberries, plums, apples and pears can be turned into fools, compotes, crumbles or sauces.
• Keep frozen berries in: they are often cheaper than fresh and work well in summer pudding, fools and sauces.
• Make traybakes: school cake, sponge cake and simple slab cakes are easy to portion and freeze.
• Stretch cream with yoghurt: for fools, sundaes and cheesecakes, half cream and half yoghurt can reduce cost and richness.
• Save stale bread: use it for summer pudding, shahi tukda, bread-based puddings or crunchy toppings.
• Freeze leftovers: many cakes, scones and fruit compotes freeze well when wrapped properly.

Best S Desserts for Different Occasions

FAQs About Desserts That Start With S

What is a dessert that starts with S?

Sticky toffee pudding is a popular dessert that starts with S. Other well-known examples include shortbread, scones, Swiss roll, sorbet, sundae, summer pudding, soufflé and strawberry fool.

What British desserts start with S?

British desserts beginning with S include sticky toffee pudding, spotted dick, school cake, semolina pudding, sponge pudding, summer pudding, syllabub, shortbread and scones.

What cake starts with S?

Several cakes start with S, including Swiss roll, school cake, sponge cake, Sachertorte, simnel cake, strawberry shortcake, spice cake and stollen.

What frozen desserts start with S?

Frozen desserts that start with S include sorbet, sundae, semifreddo and sherbet. Sorbet is usually dairy-free, while semifreddo is creamy and sliceable.

What is a cheap dessert beginning with S?

Semolina pudding, school cake, shortbread, stewed apples and sponge pudding are all cheap S desserts. They use basic ingredients and are easy to make at home.

Which S desserts are good for using leftovers?

Summer pudding is good for using stale bread and berries. Stewed apples and spiced pears use up fruit that is past its best. Sundaes can use broken biscuits, leftover cake pieces, sauces and small amounts of fruit.

Are there no-bake desserts that start with S?

Yes. Sundaes, strawberry fool, syllabub, strawberries and cream, serradura and some strawberry cheesecakes can be made without baking.

What S dessert is best for a party?

School cake is one of the best S desserts for a party because it is cheap, colourful and easy to cut into neat squares. Shortbread, scones, Swiss roll slices and mini sundaes also work well.