Looking for desserts that start with Y? It is not the longest letter in the pudding alphabet, but it is a surprisingly good one. From a classic Christmas yule log to tangy yoghurt cake, sticky Filipino yema and bakery-style yum yums, there are plenty of sweet treats worth knowing.

This guide is written for curious cooks, quiz fans, food bloggers, school projects and anyone working through alphabet foods. You will find well-known puddings, international desserts, quick descriptions, serving ideas and a few money-saving tips to help keep things affordable.

Desserts That Start With Y: Quick List

Here is a handy overview before we get into the details.

1. Yule Log

A yule log, also known as a bûche de Noël, is one of the best-known desserts beginning with Y. It is usually made from a light chocolate sponge rolled with cream or buttercream, then covered in chocolate icing to look like a log.

In the UK, yule logs appear in supermarkets every Christmas, but making one at home can be cheaper if you already have baking basics in the cupboard. A homemade version also lets you choose the filling, from whipped cream to chocolate ganache or even a budget-friendly chocolate spread.

Budget serving ideas

• Dust with icing sugar instead of buying extra decorations.
• Use own-brand cocoa powder for the sponge and icing.
• Serve small slices with tinned cherries or frozen berries to make it go further.
• Turn leftover yule log into a quick trifle layer with custard and cream.

2. Yoghurt Cake

Yoghurt cake is a simple, moist cake made with yoghurt in the batter. It is popular because it needs everyday ingredients and is forgiving, even if you are not a confident baker.

Plain yoghurt gives the cake a soft texture and a gentle tang. Greek-style yoghurt makes it richer, while natural yoghurt keeps costs down. You can flavour it with lemon zest, vanilla, orange, cinnamon or berries.

Why it is a useful budget dessert

• It uses basic store cupboard ingredients such as flour, sugar and eggs.
• It is a good way to use yoghurt nearing its use-by date.
• It works as pudding, snack cake or lunchbox treat.
• It freezes well in slices, which helps reduce waste.

If you are making a dessert for guests, serve yoghurt cake with stewed fruit and a spoonful of cream or custard. For everyday eating, a dusting of icing sugar is enough.

3. Yum Yums

Yum yums are sweet, twisted pastries often sold in UK bakeries and supermarket bakery sections. They sit somewhere between a doughnut and a laminated pastry, usually finished with a sticky sugar glaze.

They are not normally the cheapest item in a bakery cabinet, but they are easy to share because they are rich and sweet. If you buy a multipack near closing time, you may find reduced yellow-sticker deals, especially in larger supermarkets.

How to serve yum yums as dessert

• Warm briefly and serve with vanilla ice cream.
• Slice and layer with custard and berries for a quick pudding.
• Chop into pieces and use in a bread-and-butter pudding-style bake.
• Serve with coffee after dinner instead of a full pudding.

4. Yema

Yema is a Filipino sweet made with egg yolks and condensed milk. It has a rich, fudgy, custard-like flavour and is often shaped into small balls or pyramids, sometimes wrapped in coloured cellophane.

The word yema means yolk in Spanish, which makes sense given the ingredients. Traditional versions are cooked slowly until thick, then cooled and shaped. Some recipes add butter, nuts or citrus zest.

Money-saving note

Yema is a good recipe to consider if you have spare egg yolks after making meringues, pavlova or egg-white omelettes. Condensed milk is often cheaper in world food aisles or larger tins, but compare the price per 100g before buying.

5. Yellow Cake

Yellow cake is a classic American-style cake with a golden crumb. It is usually flavoured with vanilla and made with whole eggs or extra yolks, which give it its colour. It is often paired with chocolate frosting.

Although it is more common in the United States than in the UK, it is similar enough to a vanilla sponge to be easy to make at home. It is a reliable birthday cake option because the flavour is simple and crowd-pleasing.

Cheap decorating ideas

• Top with cocoa buttercream rather than expensive ready-made frosting.
• Use sprinkles sparingly around the edge rather than covering the whole cake.
• Fill with jam for a British-style twist.
• Make cupcakes from the same batter to control portions.

6. Yorkshire Curd Tart

Yorkshire curd tart is a traditional British dessert that deserves more attention. It is made with a pastry case filled with curds, eggs, sugar, dried fruit and spice. Nutmeg is a common flavouring.

Historically, it was a practical way to use fresh curds left from cheesemaking. These days, you can sometimes find curd tarts in bakeries around Yorkshire, though homemade versions are not difficult if you can get hold of curd cheese.

Serving suggestion

Yorkshire curd tart is lovely served slightly warm or at room temperature. Add a spoonful of cream if you want it richer, but it is satisfying enough on its own with a cup of tea.

7. Yuzu Cheesecake

Yuzu cheesecake is a modern dessert flavoured with yuzu, a fragrant citrus fruit used in Japanese and Korean cooking. Yuzu tastes somewhere between lemon, mandarin and grapefruit, with a floral sharpness that works beautifully with creamy cheesecake.

Fresh yuzu can be expensive and hard to find in the UK, but bottled yuzu juice is more accessible in Asian supermarkets and online. A little goes a long way, so it is best used as an accent rather than the main ingredient.

Cheaper alternative

If yuzu is outside your budget, use lemon and lime juice with a little orange zest. It will not taste exactly the same, but it gives a bright citrus flavour that works well in baked and no-bake cheesecakes.

8. Yokan

Yokan is a Japanese sweet made from red bean paste, sugar and agar. It is set into a firm jelly-like block and sliced into neat pieces. There are different types, including neri yokan, which is firmer, and mizu yokan, which contains more water and has a softer texture.

Yokan is usually served in small portions with green tea. It is very sweet and dense, so a little is plenty. You may find it in Japanese food shops or specialist online stores.

Good to know

Agar is plant-based, so yokan can be suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets if the other ingredients are also suitable. Always check labels if buying a packaged version.

9. Youtiao with Sweet Dip

Youtiao are Chinese fried dough sticks. They are more often eaten as a breakfast food with soy milk or congee, but they can also be turned into a dessert when served with sweet dips.

For a pudding-style version, youtiao can be paired with condensed milk, chocolate sauce, honey, sweetened soy milk or cinnamon sugar. Freshly fried youtiao are crisp on the outside and airy inside, which makes them ideal for dipping.

At-home idea

If you buy ready-made youtiao from an Asian supermarket, reheat according to the packet instructions and serve with a small bowl of warm chocolate sauce. It is a quick sharing dessert and much cheaper than ordering several puddings from a takeaway.

10. Yeast Doughnuts

Yeast doughnuts are raised doughnuts made with yeast rather than baking powder. They are light, fluffy and often filled with jam, custard, cream or chocolate spread.

They count as a dessert that starts with Y when described by their method, and they are a useful one for alphabet food lists. In the UK, jam doughnuts are easy to find in supermarkets and often very affordable, especially in own-brand bakery packs.

Ways to make them feel more special

• Warm them slightly and serve with ice cream.
• Cut in half and fill with whipped cream and sliced strawberries.
• Make a doughnut pudding by baking torn pieces with custard.
• Use reduced doughnuts the same day in trifles or sundaes.

11. Yellow Plum Crumble

Yellow plum crumble is a simple fruit pudding made with yellow plums, mirabelles or similar golden stone fruit. The fruit is cooked under a crumble topping made from flour, butter and sugar.

This is a very practical dessert in late summer when plums are often cheaper, especially if you shop at markets or have a neighbour with a tree. Slightly soft fruit is perfect for crumble, so it is a good way to avoid waste.

Cheap crumble topping

• Use a basic ratio of flour, butter or baking spread, and sugar.
• Add oats to make the topping go further.
• Mix in a pinch of cinnamon or ginger for extra flavour.
• Freeze spare crumble topping in a bag for another day.

12. Yam Pudding

Yam pudding can mean different things depending on the country and recipe. In many places, yam is used in sweet dishes because it has a starchy, comforting texture that works well with sugar, coconut milk, spices and dried fruit.

Some Caribbean-style yam puddings are baked until firm and sliceable. Other versions from parts of Africa and Asia may be steamed, mashed or cooked into a sweetened pudding. Sweet potatoes are sometimes used in a similar way, although they are not the same as true yams.

Flavours that work well with yam

• Coconut milk
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon
• Vanilla
• Brown sugar
• Raisins or mixed dried fruit

13. Yoghurt Parfait

A yoghurt parfait is one of the easiest desserts beginning with Y. It is made by layering yoghurt with fruit, granola, biscuit crumbs, compote or honey. You can make it look fancy in a glass, but it takes only a few minutes.

For a cheaper version, use own-brand natural yoghurt, frozen berries and crushed biscuits. Frozen fruit is often better value than fresh berries and can be simmered into a quick compote with a spoonful of sugar.

Simple yoghurt parfait formula

• Layer 1: yoghurt or Greek-style yoghurt
• Layer 2: fruit, compote or jam
• Layer 3: granola, oats, biscuit crumbs or toasted nuts
• Finish: honey, grated chocolate or lemon zest

14. Yoghurt Ice Cream

Yoghurt ice cream is a frozen dessert made with yoghurt, sugar and flavourings. It can be churned in an ice-cream maker or made in a simpler no-churn style. The flavour is tangier than standard ice cream, which makes it lovely with fruit desserts.

If you do not have an ice-cream maker, you can freeze sweetened yoghurt and stir it every 30 to 45 minutes for the first few hours to reduce ice crystals. It will still be firmer than shop-bought ice cream, so let it soften before scooping.

Flavour ideas

• Honey and vanilla
• Lemon zest
• Raspberry ripple using jam
• Mango purée
• Chocolate chips

15. Yuzu Sorbet

Yuzu sorbet is a sharp, refreshing frozen dessert. It is usually made with yuzu juice, sugar syrup and water. Because yuzu has a strong citrus flavour, it works well as a palate cleanser after a rich meal.

For a lower-cost version, blend lemon, lime and orange juices. If you do buy yuzu juice, keep it for recipes where the flavour really matters, such as sorbets, dressings and citrus glazes.

More Sweet Foods That Start With Y

Some Y foods are not always served as formal desserts, but they can definitely satisfy a sweet tooth.

• Yogurt-covered raisins: Raisins coated in a sweet yoghurt-flavoured coating.
• Yogurt bark: Frozen yoghurt spread thinly with fruit and toppings, then broken into pieces.
• Yellow cupcakes: Mini versions of yellow cake, ideal for parties.
• Yuzu tart: A citrus tart using yuzu instead of lemon.
• Yeasted sweet buns: Soft buns made with yeast, sugar and fillings such as cinnamon or jam.
• Yam cake: A sweet cake or pudding-style bake using yam or sweet potato, depending on the recipe.

Best Desserts Beginning With Y for Different Occasions

Money-Saving Tips for Y Desserts

Desserts do not need to be expensive, even when you are trying something new. Here are a few practical ways to keep costs down.

• Use yoghurt wisely: Natural yoghurt can become cake, parfait, frozen yoghurt or a topping for fruit puddings.
• Buy seasonal fruit: Yellow plums and other stone fruits are usually better value in season.
• Check reduced bakery sections: Yum yums, doughnuts and cakes are often discounted late in the day.
• Freeze leftovers: Cake slices, crumble topping and many baked desserts freeze well.
• Choose simple decorations: Icing sugar, grated chocolate and citrus zest are cheaper than elaborate toppings.
• Use own-brand basics: Flour, sugar, cocoa, butter alternatives and yoghurt are often perfectly fine for baking.
• Make mini portions: Rich sweets like yema, yokan and yule log are best served small, which naturally stretches them further.

Food Safety and Storage Tips

For homemade desserts, follow normal food safety guidance and use your judgement. Cakes and pastries are often fine at room temperature for a short time, but desserts containing fresh cream, custard, cream cheese or yoghurt should usually be kept chilled.

• Cool baked goods before storing to avoid condensation.
• Keep cream-filled cakes, cheesecakes and yoghurt desserts in the fridge.
• Store leftovers in clean, covered containers.
• Follow use-by dates on dairy products and ready-made desserts.
• Freeze suitable cakes and crumbles in well-wrapped portions.
• Reheat fruit crumbles until piping hot if serving warm from chilled.

FAQs About Desserts That Start With Y

What is a dessert that starts with Y?

One of the most famous desserts that starts with Y is yule log, a chocolate rolled sponge traditionally served at Christmas. Other examples include yoghurt cake, yum yums, yema, yellow cake, yokan and Yorkshire curd tart.

What British desserts start with Y?

British desserts and sweet treats beginning with Y include Yorkshire curd tart, yule log, yum yums and yoghurt-based puddings. Yellow plum crumble is also a good UK-style home pudding, especially when plums are in season.

What Christmas dessert starts with Y?

Yule log is the classic Christmas dessert starting with Y. It is usually made from chocolate sponge rolled with cream or buttercream, then decorated to resemble a wooden log.

What is a cheap dessert beginning with Y?

Yoghurt parfait is one of the cheapest and quickest Y desserts. Layer natural yoghurt with fruit, jam, granola or crushed biscuits. Yellow plum crumble can also be very affordable when made with seasonal or reduced fruit.

Is yoghurt cake a dessert?

Yes, yoghurt cake can be served as a dessert, especially with fruit compote, cream, custard or ice cream. It also works as an everyday snack cake.

What is yema?

Yema is a Filipino sweet made mainly with egg yolks and condensed milk. It is cooked until thick, then shaped into small sweets. It has a rich, custard-like flavour.

What is yokan?

Yokan is a Japanese confection made with red bean paste, sugar and agar. It sets into a firm jelly-like block and is usually sliced into small pieces and served with tea.

What dessert starting with Y is good for a party?

Yellow cake, yellow cupcakes, yule log slices and yoghurt parfait pots are all good party options. For a casual buffet, mini yum yum pieces or small yeast doughnuts are easy for guests to pick up and share.