10 Desserts You Need To Try in Los Angeles Right Now
It’s a fact- I have a sweet tooth. OK, honestly I have a mouth full of sweet teeth. While living in LA I knew I had to find the best desserts in the city. With so many Instagram worthy desserts in SoCal, it can be challenging to fit everything into a short trip. So to help with this difficult endeavor, I have created a list of my favorite spots to grab a tasty treat in LA. Enjoy!
And if you are planning a Califonia trip, check out my guide to the Best Beaches Near Los Angeles.
Milk
1639 Silverlake Blvd
If you are looking for a way to celebrate a Dodger’s win, head to this ice cream shop in Silverlake. Here you can treat yourself to a milkshake, sundae, or ice cream bar. However, this shop is most known for their gorgeous ice cream macarons. The macaron selection changes frequently, but if they are offering the Froot Loops macaron do yourself (and your childhood) a favor and get one!
California Donuts
3540 W 3rd St
Chances are you have seen these donuts appear on your Instagram feed. The people of California have been flocking to Koreatown for these adorable donuts since 1982. This walk-up counter is open 24-7, so there is no excuse not to stop here the next time you are in LA. Go ahead and splurge on the panda donuts. Your ‘gram will thank you.
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
6834 Hollywood Blvd
When you need a break during your stroll along the Walk of Fame, stop into the Ghiradelli store for a chocolate bar or ice cream sundae. Disney fans will appreciate that the scoop shop is located next to the El Capitan Theater, where many Disney and Pixar movies have premiered. The shop also frequently serves specialty sundaes themed to new Disney movies. Pro tip- everyone who walks into the shop is given a free Ghirardelli chocolate square. So if you are not ready for a milkshake, grab a free chocolate and continue your star search on Hollywood Boulevard.
Churro Borough
1726 N Vermont Ave
The only thing that can make ice cream better is to smoosh it between two delicious discs to make an ice cream sandwich. At this Los Feliz specialty shop you can find a unique twist on this classic treat. Choose from a selection of handmade ice cream, including horchata sherbet or brown butter cookie sorbet, to be sandwiched between two fresh churro spheres. Get ready to enjoy the cinnamon-sugary ice cream sandwich of your dreams. They only make a limited batch of these sandwiches each day but if they are sold out you can still enjoy churro fries or churro bits along with your ice cream.
UPDATE: Churro Borough has unfortunately closed their Los Feliz location. Their latest Instagram post asks us to “stay tuned for the next phase of Churro borough and we hope to see you in the near future.” What does this mean?! Hopefully, they will open a new location soon because everyone needs a delicious churro ice cream sandwich in their life. I am going to leave Churro Borough on my list for now and I will update this post when they make any announcements!
CREAM
3335 S Figueroa St
If I had gone to USC this is where you would have found me between classes. This ice cream shop located just off the picturesque campus serves an assortment of tempting ice cream treats. If you remember enjoying a Choco Taco in your childhood you need to try CREAM’s version of an ice cream taco. Choose three scoops of ice cream, two toppings, and pretend that every day is Taco Tuesday.
Barney’s Beanery
1351 3rd Street Promenade
With locations throughout the LA area, you have plenty of opportunities to stop by this gastropub. I recommend visiting the Santa Monica location so you also have the chance to enjoy the promenade shopping and the famous Santa Monica Pier. While this is a great place to grab a meal or a drink, you can’t skip on dessert at Barney’s. Where else can you end a meal by roasting marshmallows and making S’mores at your table? Order the S’mores dessert and a plate complete with marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate bars, roasting sticks, and a small flame will arrive. Relive your favorite camping memory or relish in the fact that you don’t have to deal with the elements while making this gooey dessert.
Afters Ice Cream
1265 E Greet St
When you are ready to introduce yourself to the delicious combination of cold ice cream and warm sweet bread, look no further than Afters Ice Cream. Here you can order a “Milky Bun”, which includes your choice of ice cream stuffed into a doughnut and warmed in a machine that resembles a waffle iron. With so many fun flavors to try, like peanut butter s’mores, cookie monster, and milk and cereal, you will want to order more than one bun.
Diddy Riese Cookies
926 Broxton Ave
This bakery specializes in serving high-quality treats at affordable prices. With an enticing assortment of fresh baked cookies each priced at $0.50, this place can’t be beat. For $2.50 you can choose a scoop of Dryer’s ice cream to be sandwiched between two cookies. Go ahead and order a sundae or sandwich and grab a few cookies for later. I recommend the candy chocolate chip or double chocolate chip cookies, but why not try them all?
Sprinkles
9635 S Santa Monica Blvd
A list of LA desserts would not be complete without the inclusion of the original cupcake shop. In 2005 the first Sprinkles location opened in Beverly Hills and has since expanded into a cupcake empire that extends across the country. Try a traditional black and white cupcake or opt for a cupcake ice cream sundae. Some locations even offer a Cupcake ATM so you can order fresh-baked treats 24/7. You can’t go wrong with a treat from the bakery that started the cupcake craze.
Magpies Softserve
2660 Griffith Park Blvd
Hands down this is the best ice cream in LA. Everything in this Silverlake shop, from the creamy soft serve to the unique toppings, is made in-house. Every time I have visited this shop the line stretches out the door, but don’t let this turn you away. The ice cream is well worth the wait. The flavors change daily, so the line gives you plenty of time to decide which flavors to try. I highly recommend the Toasted Marshmallow but the Vegan Corn Almond is also a delicious choice. Regardless of which incredible flavor you pick you must top your swirl with their housemade butterscotch rice krispies. When you fall in love with these krispies don’t worry because you can order a container of toppings to go.
Have you tried any of these LA treats? Where are your favorite places to get dessert in the city? Let me know what I should try on my next trip in the comments below!
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