There has been a definitive change in the world of ice cream over the last few years. With increasing numbers of dedicated ice cream parlours and the explosion of specialist drinks, the ice cream season doesn’t have to end once the children go back to school.
As the UK heads into autumn, customer tastes begin to change. The long evenings and crisp mornings bring with them a craving for comfort, indulgence and warmth. For dessert businesses, this shift is an opportunity to refresh menus, boost sales and make the most of the season. Summer may be the traditional peak for ice cream and cold treats, but autumn is equally full of possibilities for creative businesses willing to adapt.
At Takeaway Supplies, we support dessert parlours, cafés, ice cream vans and takeaway shops with the packaging, syrups and toppings they need to thrive year-round. In this article we explore the dessert trends shaping customer demand this autumn, and how you can use them to grow your business.
Warm Desserts Paired with Ice Cream
One of the strongest trends in autumn is the pairing of warm desserts with cool ice cream. This combination never goes out of style. The contrast between hot and cold, soft and creamy, makes it irresistible for customers.
Classic examples include brownies with vanilla ice cream, hot waffles drizzled with chocolate sauce and paired with cinnamon or salted caramel ice cream, or freshly made crêpes filled with fruit and topped with a scoop of your best-selling flavour.
The benefit of this trend is that it allows you to continue selling ice cream even after the summer ends. By positioning it alongside warm desserts, you create a sense of indulgence that appeals in the colder months. For businesses offering takeaway or delivery, our sturdy tubs and dessert boxes make it simple to serve these combinations without compromising presentation.
Autumn Flavours that Customers Love
Seasonality plays a huge role in how customers make choices. Just as summer is about fresh fruit and light flavours, autumn is about richness, spice and comfort. Adding seasonal flavours to your menu is one of the easiest ways to show customers you are in tune with what they want.
Popular flavours in autumn include:
- Salted caramel: sweet, indulgent and versatile enough for desserts or drinks
- Cinnamon: warm and fragrant, perfect in crumbles, pastries or sprinkled over ice cream
- Gingerbread: a flavour that carries through autumn into the festive season
- Apple: especially when paired with cinnamon in pies, crumbles and fritters
- Nutty flavours: hazelnut, almond and pecan all add richness and depth
- Pumpkin spice: popularised by large coffee chains, but now widely recognised and expected by customers in the UK
By introducing even one or two of these into your autumn menu, you give customers a reason to return and try something new. Coffee syrups and dessert toppings are a cost-effective way to add seasonal flavours without overhauling your entire menu.
Indulgent hot drinks as desserts
Another clear trend is customers treating hot drinks as desserts in their own right. A standard coffee may not feel indulgent enough, but a caramel latte topped with cream and sprinkles becomes an experience. A hot chocolate may be familiar, but a loaded hot chocolate piled with marshmallows, sauces and toppings is something customers will pay extra for.
Popular indulgent drinks for autumn include luxury hot chocolate with cream, marshmallows and chocolate curls, flavoured lattes such as gingerbread, hazelnut or cinnamon, mochas enhanced with caramel or orange syrup, and seasonal milkshakes made with syrups like biscoff, nutella or spiced apple.
Presentation plays a key role here. Serving drinks in attractive takeaway cups with secure lids not only keeps them warm but also makes them appealing for social media. Customers love to share pictures of eye-catching creations, giving your business free marketing in the process.
Shareable Desserts for Families and Groups
Autumn is a time when people spend more evenings indoors with family and friends. This has created a growing demand for desserts designed for sharing. Businesses that package up indulgent treats for multiple people can capture this market easily.
Ideas include dessert boxes filled with brownies, cookies, doughnuts and tubs of ice cream, family-sized waffles topped with sauces and sprinkles, or even sundae kits that allow customers to assemble their own desserts at home.
Takeaway Supplies offers packaging that makes shareable desserts practical and professional. Sturdy boxes with clear lids not only protect the product but also make it look inviting as soon as it arrives. Customers are far more likely to reorder when presentation and freshness are maintained.
Comfort Food with a Seasonal Twist
As the evenings grow darker, customers gravitate towards comfort food. The most successful businesses take these familiar favourites and add seasonal twists that make them feel new.
Some examples include apple crumble paired with cinnamon ice cream, sticky toffee pudding drizzled with salted caramel sauce, warm doughnuts dusted with spiced sugar, or chocolate brownies served with gingerbread syrup and cream.
These desserts feel familiar and nostalgic but are elevated through flavours and toppings that connect with the season. They are also simple to prepare and cost-effective, making them a smart addition for businesses looking to increase autumn sales.
Why Presentation Matters
In the age of Instagram and TikTok, presentation has become just as important as taste. Customers want desserts that look as good as they taste, because they often share their experiences online.
Businesses can take advantage of this by investing in packaging and presentation. Using colourful tubs, adding whipped cream and sprinkles, or drizzling sauces in eye-catching patterns all help desserts stand out. Clear-lid boxes and premium cups also encourage customers to show off their purchase, which doubles as free advertising for your business.
At Takeaway Supplies, we provide a wide range of food-safe packaging that not only protects your desserts but also makes them more visually appealing.
Marketing your Autumn Menu
Introducing new desserts is only half the job. The other half is making sure customers know about them. Marketing your autumn menu should be a priority if you want to maximise sales.
Start with social media. Share photos of your autumn desserts, hot drinks and sharable boxes, and use seasonal hashtags to increase reach. Run limited-time offers such as Cosy Night In Deals or discounts on drink and dessert bundles. Update your printed menus or boards to highlight seasonal flavours clearly.
Another effective tactic is to tease your festive offerings early. By November, many customers are already thinking about Christmas. Giving them a preview of gingerbread lattes or Christmas dessert boxes can build excitement and encourage them to choose your business when the festive season arrives.
Autumn is a season filled with opportunity for dessert businesses. Customers are actively seeking out comfort, indulgence and novelty, and by aligning your menu with these trends, you can keep sales strong even as the weather cools. From warm desserts paired with ice cream to indulgent hot drinks, sharable boxes and seasonal flavours, there are countless ways to stand out.
By stocking up on syrups, toppings, tubs, cups and packaging from Takeaway Supplies, you will be well equipped to deliver the desserts that customers are craving this autumn. A few simple adjustments to your menu can turn autumn into one of the most profitable times of the year.