Bollocks to Baking: Buttercup Cake Shop

I don't know about you, but I frequently suffer from shopping induced exhaustion when indulging in retail therapy. All that traipsing around, carrying bags and elbowing other girls out of the way is a tiring business. So it came as a great relief to find that Buttercup cake shop has expanded from Kensington, to both Bluewater and Westfield shopping centres. It's the perfect place to refuel after fighting the crowds for a Sonia Rykiel for H&M sweater.

Once I'd found the Westfield stand - in the middle of the shops between Dwell and Habitat - I perched at the jolly lime green bar and asked for the Buttercup bestseller. This turned out to be the cutesy Red Velvet, subtle chocolate sponge died a not-so-subtle red, topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting and a dinky pink heart on the top. The sponge was springy and not too dry, and the topping sweet without being sickly.

Even better was the banoffee cupcake - the banana cake was deliciously moist, while the butterscotch icing and toffee curls were a super-sweet hit.

The cakes are made by hand every day and cost £2.50 each or £28 for a box of £12. Buttercup also make large cakes (from £30) and mini cupcakes (£39 for 35) to order. Delivery is available in Central London (order online), or cakes can be collected from Westfield.

These are the perfect pick-me-up when you're feeling shopped out and in need of a sugar fix.