Dessert is going through a culinary Renaissance. From cronuts to milky buns, sweet treats are being reinvented every day by chefs dedicated to impressing sweet tooths around the world. While residents of metropolitan cities such as Paris and New York City are only a stone’s throw away from some of the best confections in the world, everyone else may have to embark on a journey to find the most scrumptious desserts. Here are 11 extraordinary desserts that are worth traveling for:
The Best Desserts in the World: 11 Delicious Treats Worth Traveling For
1. “Lobster Ice Cream” – Bar Harbor, Maine, U.S.
If New England clam chowder can produce a tasty union between seafood and cream, there’s no reason that Lobster Ice Cream should be any different. Featured on Food Network, this unique ice cream is made in-house with fresh, local Maine lobster that is cooked, chopped up, and then folded into buttery vanilla ice cream.
Location: Ben & Bill's Chocolate Emporium
66 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
2. “Pumpple Cake” - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Cake and pie lovers no longer have to segregate their favorite desserts. The Pumpple Cake integrates both sweets into one and serves as the Inception of the dessert world. This beautiful creation is composed of a vanilla cake baked with an apple pie inside as well as a layer of chocolate cake baked with a pumpkin pie inside. These layers are coated with and separated by vanilla buttercream.
Location: Flying Monkey
51 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
3. “L'africaine” - Paris, France
Acclaimed by numerous foodie blogs and reviewers as “the best hot chocolate in the world,” L'africaine is a phenomenal cup of hot cocoa. This decadent treat has a special mixture of three different types of cocoa picked from Niger, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana. The finished product is an exceptionally rich and thick hot chocolate that requires the taster to sip slowly or else be overwhelmed with chocolaty goodness.
Location: Angelina
226 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
4. “Pannacotta Lamingtons” – Woolloomooloo, Australia
At first glance, Pannacotta Lamingtons may seem underwhelming—a mere chocolate cube coated in coconut flakes. However, few would guess that Pannacotta Lamingtons pack multiple yummy desserts into one convenient cube. Inside one of these confections is vanilla sponge cake filled with sweet berry compote and panna cotta.
Location: Flour and Stone
53 Riley St, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011, Australia
5. “Baklava Croissant” - Los Angeles, California, U.S.
The Baklava Croissant is the result of a delicious marriage between a popular breakfast food and lovely Turkish dessert. This treat is made for sweet tooths who love buttery, flakey pastries filled with chopped nuts and honey. It can double as a dessert or breakfast item depending on the time of day that you feel like munching.
Location: Gjusta
320 Sunset Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90291
6. “Bloody Poop” - Taipei, Taiwan
“Bloody Poop” is a treat that shows how menu names can be deceiving. Offered at Modern Toilet, a toilet-themed eatery, Bloody Poop is composed of strawberry flavored shaved ice topped with bits of fruit and a scoop of ice cream. Best of all, this dessert is served in a bowl shaped like a squat toilet.
Location: Modern Toilet
2F, No.50-7 Xining South Road, Taipei, Taiwan
7. “24-Layer Chocolate Cake” - New York, New York, U.S.
The 24-Layer Chocolate Cake is a multi-layered treat that will surely satisfy any chocoholic’s intense craving. This indulgent dessert features moist layers of chocolate cake separated by velvety chocolate cream, and topped off with a coating of semisweet chocolate ganache. Chocoholics can realize their sweet fantasy at one of several Strip House restaurants that are primarily situated in New York City, with one location in Las Vegas.
Location: Strip House Downtown
13 East 12th St, New York, NY 10003
8. Chocolate and Foie Gras Macarons – Worldwide Locations
Foie gras, a fatty liver product, is a controversial ingredient banned by many countries including India and Israel. Some pastry chefs, however, decided that this forbidden food would make a delightful addition to macarons. Thus, the chocolate and foie gras macaron was born. These charming red macarons are one of the few desserts that manages to stick it to the Man.
Location: Pierre Hermé Paris
Various boutiques are located in multiple countries such as France, Japan, Qatar, etc.
9. Tavuk Göğsü - Istanbul, Turkey
Tavuk göğsü proves that unusual combinations such as poultry and sweet cream can be scrumptious—the proof is in the pudding, literally. This signature Turkish dessert is made of finely minced chicken breast, sweetened milk, and a dusting of cinnamon. The inclusion of the chicken meat produces a unique, thick texture.
Location: Özkonak
Akarsu Cad. No 46/B, 34440 Istanbul, Turkey
10. “’The Original’ Churro Ice Cream Sandwich” -
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
"The Original" Churro Ice Cream Sandwich is exactly what it sounds like—two fried discs of spiced, sugary dough with a scoop of ice cream nestled in between. Because of their popularity and extreme deliciousness, these dessert sandwiches often sell out, so arrive early if you want to experience them!
Location: Churro Borough
1726 N. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
11. “Golden Opulence Sundae” - New York, New York, U.S.
True to its name, this renowned thousand dollar dessert is luxury in the form of ice cream and toppings. Since its fine ingredients are imported from various parts of the world, the Golden Opulence Sundae requires a reservation made 48 hours in advance. This decadent sundae boasts a number of rare ingredients such as 24-karat edible gold leaf topping, deluxe Parisian candied fruits, and exquisite dessert caviar created from American Golden caviar.
Location: Serendipity3
225 East 60th St, New York, NY 10022
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This article was written by Justina Tran.