Have avoided astringent dessert (6)
I believe the answer is:
afters
'dessert' is the definition.
(afters can mean a dessert course)
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for afters that I've seen before include "Strafe with desserts" , "Dessert, sweet" , "Dessert (colloq.)" , "Possibly fools" , "food for pudding" .)