As dessert trucks ride further into the street food spotlight, every sweet tooth in the country can celebrate the wonderful diversity of sugary treats. Serving familiar desserts like ice cream sandwiches and doughnuts to some less readily available treats such as churros and Taiwanese-style shave ice, vendors have truly stepped up to the culinary streets. Without further ado, here are the 14 best dessert trucks in the U.S.
Ice Cream and Dessert Trucks You Should Plan to Visit
1. Leonard's Malasadamobile – Waipahu, HI
Since 1953, Leonard’s has served scrumptious malasadas, Portuguese-style doughnuts made without holes. To cater to the immense demand for these warm, crispy fried balls of doughy goodness, Leonard's Malasadamobile was born. These malasadas can be customized with various fillings including chocolate, coconut, and custard as well as coating options like cinnamon sugar, li hing (salty dried plum), and plain sugar.
2. SnoCream Company – Washington, D.C.
This vibrant and colorful dessert truck operates out of a retro school bus that doubles as a small café where patrons can enter the vehicle to order and enjoy Taiwanese sweet treats. At SnoCream Company, patrons can indulge in fruity shave ice, sweet bubble tea, and milk tea.
3. Coolhaus – Los Angeles, CA
Founded in 2009 by two designers, Coolhaus derives inspiration for its renowned ice cream sandwiches from architectural history. The dessert truck’s inventive frozen treats include profoundly intriguing flavors such as peking duck, Cuban cigar, and pizza.
4. Churros Locos – Portland, OR
The churro possibilities are nearly endless with Churros Locos. Featuring yummy churro creations like ice cream sandwiches, cakes, and sundaes as well as a variety of dipping sauces including dulce de leche, chocolate, and Nutella, Churros Locos genuinely lives up to its name. Fresh vegan churros are also available.
5. Wafels & Dinges – New York, NY
Famous for its Belgian waffles, Wafels & Dinges offers thick, slightly crusty waffles highlighted with an assortment of sweet toppings from ice cream to fruits such as strawberries and bananas to flavored spreads like hot fudge and cookie butter.
6. Undrgrnd Donuts – Philadelphia, PA
As the “Best Dessert” winner of Philly’s 2015 Vendy Awards, Undrgrnd Donuts proves that its doughnuts are the literal and figurative crème de la crème of the city’s dessert truck scene. With tasty, imaginative doughnut flavors such as “Caramel Apple,” “French Toast,” and the “Wake-Up” comprising chocolate coating, cream swirl, and espresso dust, it’s easy to see how Undrgrnd Donuts earned its culinary stripes.
7. Frozen Kuhsterd – San Francisco, CA
Frozen Kuhsterd aims to change the frozen custard game by infusing its creamy base with unforgettable flavors like Saikyo Miso, port wine strawberry, and spicy pumpkin chocolate pie. Featuring both sweet and savory options, Frozen Kuhsterd’s treats will delight dessert lovers of all ages and palates.
8. Chocollazo – San Antonio, TX
Chocolate lovers can rejoice knowing that Chocollazo is devoted to the highly addictive sweet treat. Offering chocolate goodies like gourmet truffles and chocolate covered marshmallows and bacon, Chocollazo knows just how to satisfy chocolate addicts.
9. Cupcakes for Courage – Chicago, IL
Cupcakes for Courage promotes desserts with a cause by selling lovely, moist cupcakes while also raising funds for cancer research. The dessert truck’s philanthropic mission was inspired when one of the founders was diagnosed with cancer.
10. Diggity Doughnuts – Charleston, SC
Luscious, decadent doughnuts are Diggity Doughnuts’ specialty. With creative doughnut names and pairings such as the “Nutty Rooster” comprising peanut butter and Sriracha; “Green Dragon” made of green curry and coconut; and “Boozy Buttercream” featuring cinnamon and rum, Diggity Doughnuts easily demonstrates its sweet genius.
11. The Cookie Monstah – Boston, MA
Patrons of The Cookie Monstah can look forward to fragrant, crunchy cookies and huge ice cream sandwiches. The dessert truck is well-known for its fantastic salted caramel cookies.
12. Like No Udder – Providence, RI
Like No Udder is a dessert truck that’s honestly like no other since it offers an entirely vegan menu of soft serve, shakes, and candy bars. The dairy-free sweets are a hit with both vegans and non-vegans in the New England area.
13. The Treats Truck – New York, NY
True to its name, The Treats Truck serves a vast array of charming desserts including cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and much more. With its enormous selection of sweets, this dessert truck carries something delectable for everyone.
14. HipPOPS – South Florida
Who needs a regular ice cream truck when there’s HipPOPS? Patrons can cool off with one of HipPOPS’ mouthwatering, handcrafted gelato bars. Completely gluten-free, these artisan frozen desserts come in numerous flavors such as chocolate chipotle, pistachio, and pineapple.
This article was written by Justina Tran.