Leaves, clutching small sweets (8)
I believe the answer is:
desserts
'sweets' is the definition.
(sweet can mean a dessert or pudding)
'leaves clutching small' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'small' could be 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size) and 's' is present in the answer.
'leaves' could be 'deserts' (to desert someone is to leave them) and 'deserts' is located in the leftover letters.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for desserts that I've seen before include "That may be cobblers" , "Sweets" , "Last courses" , "Final courses" , "Sweet courses of meal" .)