Carmela A. Pappas
Houston is a city that takes its sweets seriously. From innovative pastry chefs putting creative spins on classics, to long-standing bakeries that have perfected timeless recipes – the Houston dessert scene offers an embarrassment of sugary riches. Whether you’ve got a hankering for flaky pies, decadent cakes, creamy custards, or boozy adult milkshakes, this guide has you covered with 15 famous, must-try desserts that will satisfy any sweet tooth.
Dessert Gallery Bakery & Cafe
For over 25 years, this local favorite has been serving up some of the city’s most expertly crafted sweet treats. The name really says it all – Dessert Gallery is a veritable gallery of ooey-gooey cookies, layer cakes, brownies, pies and more, all made from scratch daily using top quality ingredients. The signature item is undoubtedly the chocolate-dipped strawberries, but you can’t go wrong with any of Sara Brook’s creations.
Sweet Bribery by Craft Creamery
This new Heights collab between Sweet Bribery and Craft Creamery is a sweet lover’s dream, combining decadent boozy milkshakes, inventive ice cream flights, creative dessert pairings, and some of the most unique ice cream flavors you’ll ever encounter. Case in point – Craft’s award-winning and utterly Texan brisket ice cream. For the full experience, attend one of their specialty ice cream dinners where scoops are expertly paired with wine.
Field & Tides
Seafood may be the focus at this acclaimed Heights restaurant, but leave room for the Alabama Stack Cake – an absolutely sinful dessert composed of layers of chocolatey sponge cake divided by bourbon ganache and sweetened cream. It’s decadence defined.
Pudgy’s Fine Cookies
Who can resist a warm cookie with a delightfully gooey center? Certainly not anyone who’s tried one of Pudgy’s “Thick AF” beauties. From the banana brulee cookie filled with pastry cream to campfire-inspired s’mores, these thick, bakery-style cookies make for the perfect handheld sweet treat. Check their socials for ever-changing, limited-edition flavors.
Underground Creamery
Finding Underground Creamery’s weekly pint drops feels like being let in on one of Houston’s sweetest secrets. Josh Deleon’s innovative, small-batch ice cream flavors like Turtle Power (inspired by the chocolate candy) and his signature cobblers make the $14 price tag and coordinated pick-up process worth the effort. Once you go Underground, your ice cream standards will be permanently elevated.
The Pit Room – Memorial City
BBQ and ice cream may seem like an odd pairing, but The Pit Room makes it work with panache. At their Memorial City location, a dedicated dessert bar dishes out fresh-baked cookies that can be enjoyed on their own or sandwiched with homemade ice cream flavors like sweet cream, pistachio, and red velvet white chocolate. Your smoky main is begging for one of these creamy, frozen chaser.
Coltivare
Tucking into Coltivare’s legendary chocolate rum cake feels like taking a big, sugary bite out of a pillowy dream cloud. Two layers of crumbly chocolate cake embrace a thick pistachio buttercream center, topped with even more chocolate in the form of shiny ganache and crushed pistachios. The interplay of sweet and salty is simply sublime.
Buena Vista Cuban Cafe
When you need a break from savoring Buena Vista’s spot-on Cuban cocktails and cuisine, opt for the velvety, vanilla-scented flan to conclude your meal. This elegant take on the classic Spanish custard is the perfect refreshing sweet bite.
Toca Madera Houston
The team at this stylish new Mexican eatery clearly understands Houston’s obsession with tres leches cake. Their strawberry tres leches is an eye-catching, multi-layered tower of sweet vanilla cake soaked in three types of milk, with bright strawberry mascarpone cream, fresh berries, and extra tres leches anglaise for dunking. Churros with dipping sauces or the moist brown butter cake are also great choices.
Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
Some things are worth the splurge, and the New York-style cheesecake at iconic Pappas Bros. certainly fits the bill. This massive, creamy slice is meant for sharing and arrives with fresh strawberries, sour cream anglaise sauce for drizzling, and a sidecar of rich white chocolate sauce. A decadent way to conclude a celebratory meal.
Xochi
With Mexican desserts overseen by acclaimed pastry chef Reuben Ortega, you know the sweet endings at Xochi are going to be special. The chocolate cacao, presented in an edible chocolate “pod”, is a true work of art featuring aerated tejate foam, a milk chocolate cloud, and a sprinkle of chocolate “soil”. Ortega’s innovative hand is also behind the stellar desserts at Xochi’s sister restaurants.
Cuchara
For a fun, shareable dessert, veer off the traditional tres leches path and order the cinco leches cake. An ultra moist, multi-milk cake arrives in a bowl, making it easy to soak up every last drop of sweet, creamy goodness. Consider kicking things up a notch by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a splash of Rompope, Mexico’s festive almond-flavored liqueur.
Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen
With an entire candy shop’s worth of desserts lining the glass counters, walking into this beloved Houston deli can feel downright dizzying for a sweet lover. Layer cakes, cookies, pies and more all tempt – but don’t miss out on the exquisite coconut cream pie. Old-fashioned treats like milkshakes, ice cream floats and sundaes are also on offer at the nostalgic soda fountain.
Balboa Surf Club
While this laid-back eatery offers plenty of solid savory fare, the secret star of the menu is undoubtedly the simple-yet-sublime chocolate cream pie. With an Oreo crust base, lusciously smooth chocolate filling, pillowy whipped cream topping, and not a cloying note to be found – this pie single-handedly disproves the notion that basic means boring.
Barcelona Wine Bar
End your tapas feast at this vino-centric hot spot by sharing the signature olive oil cake. Light yet decadently moist, with a hint of Mediterranean olive oil flavor and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt to balance the sweetness – a couple bites of this heavenly cake makes the perfect grown-up sweet finish.
Little’s Oyster Bar
Choosing between Little’s inventive Smoked Chocolate Pot de Crème with toasted honey marshmallow or the warm Spiced Carrot Blonde Brownie with cream cheese gelato will be the most delicious quandary you face all day. With quality ingredients and creative flavors, the desserts at this newcomer are already legendary.
Whether you prefer over-the-top indulgences or love showcasing restraint by sharing a few sublime bites, Houston has no shortage of famous dessert options to satisfy your cravings. From the delightfully creative to the comfortingly nostalgic, get ready to experience sugary nirvana with these 15 must-try sweet treats around the city.
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