Finding desserts that start with X is not as easy as listing apple crumble, brownies or cheesecake. X is one of the trickiest letters in any alphabet food challenge, but it is not impossible. There are some brilliant X desserts from around the world, plus a few handy English-language options such as Xmas pudding and Xmas cake.

This guide brings together sweet foods, puddings, pastries, chilled desserts and frozen treats beginning with X. Some are traditional dishes, some are modern menu names, and a few use translated or regional spellings. If you are planning an alphabet dinner party, school food project, quiz night or themed menu, this list should give you plenty to work with.

Desserts That Start With X: Quick List

Short on time? Here are some of the best X desserts to consider.

The Best Desserts That Start With X

1. Xango

Xango is one of the most useful answers when someone asks for a dessert beginning with X. It is commonly described as a fried cheesecake dessert. A cheesecake filling is wrapped in a tortilla-style casing, fried until crisp, then often finished with cinnamon sugar, chocolate sauce, caramel or fruit.

It is rich, sweet and very much a treat pudding. If you are making a budget version at home, you can use soft cheese, a little icing sugar, vanilla and reduced-price wraps. Serve in small portions with berries, sliced banana or a spoonful of jam warmed into a quick sauce.

2. Xuixo

Xuixo, sometimes written as xuixo de Girona, is a Catalan pastry from Girona in Spain. It is made from a sweet dough, filled with crema catalana-style custard, fried and coated in sugar. Think of it as a cross between a doughnut and a custard pastry.

It is not the lightest dessert on the list, but it is a fantastic X food for pastry fans. If you cannot find xuixo in a bakery, the closest supermarket swap would be a custard doughnut or a cream-filled fried pastry.

3. Xigua Sorbet

Xigua is the Chinese word for watermelon, which makes xigua sorbet a neat and refreshing dessert that starts with X. It is especially handy because watermelon is often reduced in supermarkets when it is very ripe or sold in larger chunks near the end of the day.

For a simple version, blend chilled watermelon with lime juice and a little sugar or honey if needed, then freeze and stir occasionally until scoopable. If the watermelon is already sweet, you may not need much extra sugar. A pinch of salt can make the flavour pop.

4. Xi Gua Lao

Xi Gua Lao is a Chinese watermelon jelly dessert. It is usually made with watermelon juice and a setting ingredient such as agar. The result is a delicate, wobbly, chilled pudding with a fresh melon flavour.

This is a lovely choice after a heavy meal because it is lighter than cake or pastry. It is also a useful way to use up a watermelon that is slightly too soft for neat slices but still perfectly fine to eat. As with all chilled desserts, keep it refrigerated and eat it within a sensible timeframe.

5. Xingren Doufu

Xingren Doufu is often translated as almond tofu, though it is usually a sweet almond-flavoured jelly rather than tofu in the savoury sense. It is popular in Chinese cuisine and is commonly served chilled, sometimes with fruit cocktail, lychees or syrup.

The texture is soft and silky, somewhere between jelly and panna cotta. Recipes vary: some use agar, some use gelatine, and some include dairy or plant-based milk. If you are serving it to guests, check dietary needs carefully, especially for gelatine, dairy or nut ingredients.

6. Xocolatl

Xocolatl refers to an early cacao drink associated with Mesoamerican food history. Modern versions are usually interpreted as rich drinking chocolate with spices such as cinnamon, vanilla or chilli. While it is a drink rather than a plated pudding, it still works well as a dessert course, especially served in small cups after dinner.

For a money-saving version, use cocoa powder, milk or oat drink, sugar to taste and a tiny pinch of cinnamon. A little dark chocolate stirred in at the end makes it feel more luxurious without needing much.

7. Xocolatl Cake

Xocolatl cake is not one single traditional recipe, but it is a very useful alphabet dessert idea. It usually means a chocolate cake inspired by the flavours of xocolatl: cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla and sometimes a gentle chilli warmth.

This is a clever option for an X-themed bake sale or birthday table because most people will happily eat chocolate cake. To keep costs down, choose an oil-based cocoa sponge rather than a recipe needing lots of butter and melted chocolate. Finish with cocoa icing, cinnamon sugar or a simple ganache if you have chocolate to use up.

8. Xocolatl Truffles

Xocolatl truffles are another chocolate-based dessert that starts with X. They are usually small chocolate truffles flavoured with warming spices. You can roll them in cocoa powder, chopped nuts, crushed biscuits or desiccated coconut.

They are good for using leftover cream and chocolate after Christmas or Easter. Keep homemade truffles chilled, especially if they contain cream, and serve them in small portions because they are very rich.

9. Xurros

Xurros is the Catalan spelling for churros, the fried dough sticks usually rolled in sugar and served with thick chocolate sauce. This is one of the easiest X desserts to explain because most people already know churros.

They are made from very basic ingredients: flour, water, salt, oil for frying and sugar for coating. That makes them a relatively budget-friendly dessert if you are comfortable deep-frying safely. For a lower-effort option, look for frozen churros and serve them with melted chocolate or a quick cocoa dipping sauce.

10. Xerotigana

Xerotigana are traditional Cretan pastries, often made as thin dough strips shaped into spirals or ribbons, fried and coated with honey syrup and nuts. They are especially associated with celebrations and weddings.

The combination of crisp pastry, honey and walnuts or sesame seeds makes them feel special. If you like baklava flavours, xerotigana will probably appeal. They are best eaten fresh, while the pastry still has some crunch.

11. Xue Hua Bing

Xue Hua Bing translates roughly as snowflake ice and is linked with Chinese and Taiwanese shaved ice desserts. Unlike a standard ice lolly or sorbet, snowflake ice is often shaved into soft ribbons or flakes, then topped with fruit, syrup, condensed milk, beans, jelly or boba.

It is a brilliant warm-weather dessert and can be adapted to whatever fruit is cheap. Mango, strawberries, tinned peaches and bananas all work well. At home, you may not get the exact shaved texture without a machine, but crushed ice, ice cream or frozen yoghurt can still give you a similar pudding idea.

12. Xue Mei Niang

Xue Mei Niang is a Chinese snow-skin dessert with a soft, mochi-like outer layer and a creamy filling. It can be filled with whipped cream, fruit, red bean paste, chocolate or other sweet fillings.

These little desserts look impressive and are often served chilled. The texture is soft, chewy and creamy at the same time. They are a fun choice for a dessert platter, although they can be fiddly to make at home if you are new to handling sticky rice flour dough.

13. Xoi Xoai

Xoi Xoai is Vietnamese mango sticky rice. The spelling may vary with accents in Vietnamese, but for an English alphabet list it is a strong X dessert. It usually combines glutinous rice, coconut milk and ripe mango.

This is a fantastic pudding if you enjoy rice pudding but want something fresher. It can also be quite economical when mangoes are on offer, or you can use tinned mango slices in juice. Leftover coconut milk can be frozen in portions or used in curries, porridge or smoothies.

14. Xoi Vi

Xoi Vi is a Vietnamese sweet sticky rice dish, often flavoured with pandan and sometimes mung beans. It is usually cut into squares or wedges and served as a snack or dessert.

It has a chewy texture and a gentle sweetness rather than being sugary in the way many cakes are. If you are building an alphabet foods menu, xoi vi is a good option because it is more unusual than simply choosing an X-branded chocolate dessert.

15. Xmas Pudding

Xmas pudding is, of course, Christmas pudding written with the common abbreviation Xmas. It is a steamed or boiled fruit pudding made with dried fruit, spices, suet or a vegetarian alternative, breadcrumbs and often alcohol.

From a Reduced Grub point of view, this is one of the best X desserts for saving money because Christmas puddings are often heavily reduced after the festive rush. They keep well if unopened and within date, so it can be worth buying one for a winter Sunday pudding later in the year. Serve with custard, cream, brandy butter or ice cream.

16. Xmas Cake

Xmas cake is another practical X dessert, especially in the UK. A classic Christmas cake is a rich fruit cake covered with marzipan and icing, though there are lighter versions too.

If you see reduced fruit cake after Christmas, do not assume it is only useful in December. Slices can be served with tea, crumbled into trifles, used in fridge cakes or warmed gently and served with custard. If the cake has icing and marzipan, it also makes a sweet base for no-bake cake pops.

17. Xmas Cookies

Xmas cookies are an easy X dessert for children, parties and alphabet food challenges. Gingerbread biscuits, shortbread stars, spiced cookies and iced sugar biscuits all fit under this name.

They are also good for using store cupboard ingredients. Flour, sugar, butter or baking spread, spices and a little icing can go a long way. For a cheaper decorating session, use melted chocolate, sprinkles from the back of the cupboard or crushed sweets rather than buying lots of specialist cake decorations.

18. Xtabentun Ice Cream

Xtabentun is a Mexican liqueur made with honey and anise flavours. Xtabentun ice cream is a dessert inspired by that flavour profile, usually creamy, fragrant and gently herbal.

This one is more niche and not ideal for children if alcohol is included. For a family-friendly version inspired by the same idea, use honey and a very small amount of aniseed flavouring or fennel pollen instead. Always label desserts clearly if they contain alcohol.

Budget Tips For Making X Desserts

Some desserts that start with X sound specialist, but you can still keep costs down with a bit of flexibility.

• Use fruit that is already on offer: watermelon, mango and berries all work in X-inspired desserts such as xigua sorbet, xoi xoai and snowflake ice.
• Shop after seasonal peaks: Xmas pudding, Xmas cake and festive biscuits are often reduced once Christmas has passed.
• Make small portions: rich desserts like xango, truffles and xuixo do not need huge servings.
• Use store cupboard toppings: crushed biscuits, cocoa powder, cinnamon, jam, honey and tinned fruit can make a plain pudding feel finished.
• Do not buy ingredients for one recipe only: if you need coconut milk for xoi xoai, plan a curry, porridge or soup to use the rest.
• Check reduced bakery shelves: custard doughnuts, churros and fruit cakes can all work as X-themed shortcuts when renamed appropriately for a party menu.

Easy X Dessert Ideas For Parties

If you are hosting an alphabet-themed night, you do not need to make every dessert from scratch. A few simple menu ideas can look thoughtful without costing a fortune.

• Xigua dessert cups: layer diced watermelon with yoghurt, lime zest and a drizzle of honey.
• Xocolatl hot chocolate bar: serve small mugs of spiced hot chocolate with marshmallows, whipped cream or grated chocolate.
• Xmas pudding bites: warm small pieces of Christmas pudding and serve with cocktail sticks and custard dip.
• Xurros platter: serve churros with chocolate sauce, caramel sauce and cinnamon sugar.
• Xoi xoai bowls: spoon coconut sticky rice into small bowls and top with mango slices.
• Xocolatl brownie squares: add cinnamon and a little chilli to brownies for an X-themed twist.

Which X Desserts Are Easiest To Find In The UK?

If you are shopping in a regular UK supermarket, the easiest desserts beginning with X are usually the ones using Xmas or Xocolatl as the naming angle. Christmas pudding, Christmas cake, festive biscuits, chocolate cake and chocolate truffles are all easy to find.

For more traditional international X desserts, try Asian supermarkets, specialist bakeries, world food shops or restaurant menus. Ingredients for xigua sorbet, xoi xoai and xocolatl drinks are straightforward. Xuixo, xue mei niang and xerotigana may be harder to buy ready-made, depending on where you live.

FAQs About Desserts That Start With X

What dessert starts with X?

Xango is one of the clearest dessert names that starts with X. Other good examples include xuixo, xigua sorbet, Xi Gua Lao, Xingren Doufu, xocolatl truffles, xurros, xerotigana, Xue Hua Bing, Xue Mei Niang, xoi xoai and Xmas pudding.

What is a common dessert beginning with X?

There are not many common English dessert names beginning with X. The most familiar options for UK readers are probably Xmas pudding, Xmas cake, xocolatl-style chocolate desserts and xurros, which is a Catalan spelling of churros.

Is xigua a dessert?

Xigua means watermelon in Chinese. On its own it is a fruit, but it can be used in desserts such as xigua sorbet, xigua granita, watermelon jelly or chilled fruit bowls.

What is xango dessert?

Xango is usually a fried cheesecake-style dessert. A sweet cream cheese filling is wrapped, fried until crisp and served with sugar, cinnamon, chocolate, caramel or fruit sauce.

Are there any British desserts that start with X?

Strictly traditional British desserts beginning with X are rare. The most practical British options are Xmas pudding and Xmas cake, using the common abbreviation for Christmas.

What is the cheapest X dessert to make?

Xurros can be very cheap because the dough uses basic ingredients. Xigua sorbet can also be inexpensive if you find reduced watermelon. Xmas pudding is often a bargain after Christmas if you buy it reduced and keep it for later.

What X dessert is best for children?

Xmas cookies, xigua sorbet, xurros and xocolatl hot chocolate are usually child-friendly choices. Avoid alcohol-based desserts such as xtabentun ice cream unless you make a clearly alcohol-free version.

What can I serve for an alphabet party with the letter X?

For an easy X dessert table, serve xurros with chocolate sauce, xigua fruit cups, xocolatl brownies, Xmas cake bites and small cups of spiced hot chocolate. It gives plenty of variety without needing lots of rare ingredients.