From ice cream sundaes piled high with toppings to truly mammoth cakes, outrageously flavored donuts, and indulgent treats that cost a small fortune, there are some truly astounding desserts being whipped up all over America. Some look relatively normal but marry unusual flavors, while others simply must be seen (and tasted) to be believed. We’ve sought out the most extravagant dessert in every state.
Ready for a serious sugar rush? Click or scroll through our roundup of America's most incredible desserts, state by state.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team.
A charming dessert place with two locations in Alabama, K&J's Elegant Pastries offers an array of delectable treats. Without a doubt, though, the standout menu items are the Kolossal Shakes. As the name suggests, these milkshakes are huge and come adorned with everything from biscuits and chocolates to entire slices of cake. One of the favorites is the Cotton Candy milkshake (pictured), with its whirl of whipped cream, clouds of cotton candy, sprinkles, and frosting-topped cupcake.
Anchorage's Sweet Caribou is a family-run patisserie that's all about macarons, which come in a range of fascinating flavors. Delectable macaron boxes and stunning macaron trees aside, the tasty joint also treats its customers with incredible ice cream sandwiches, where macarons in flavors such as birthday cake, passion fruit, and chocolate mint hug wedges of real dairy ice cream.
Sugar-laden and sensational looking, Sweet Republic’s Campfire S'more Sundae is a show-stopper dessert if there ever was one. Two scoops of house-made chocolate ice cream are topped with an oversized roasted marshmallow, hot fudge sauce, and whipped cream, all served in a waffle bowl. With three locations across the state – in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe – Sweet Republic is never too far away when you’re in need of a sweet treat.
A popular Arkansas chain, The Purple Cow Restaurant is famous for its unique signature treat: purple ice cream. The menu features vibrant purple ice cream sodas and specialty desserts, such as purple ice cream pie and rich and creamy lavender purple milkshakes. In keeping with the theme, the decor is also (you guessed it) purple.
They don’t shy away from doing things differently at Nadia’s Cakes, and nowhere is this clearer than in its range of limited-edition, specialty cupcakes designed to trick the eye (and taste-buds). Previous illusion cupcakes include a Turkey Dinner selection for Thanksgiving (pictured) and a realistic-looking spaghetti and meatballs treat. While the flavors and presentation may change, pay this place a visit and you’re guaranteed to find unusual cakes a-plenty.
An avant-garde dessert shop in Denver, The Inventing Room is part spectacle, part regular restaurant, and dining here is a seriously memorable experience. Each demonstration includes five samples painstakingly whipped up by pastry chefs who resemble scientists. Amongst a glittering array of staggeringly impressive sweet treats, the standout is the glow-in-the-dark cotton candy, made possible by the science behind molecular gastronomy.
When simple scoops of ice cream are no longer doing it for you, head to Stamford's Drop & Fry, a fried ice cream parlor that specializes in the hot and cold dessert. There's a number of so-called 'wild creations' on the menu, but we're fans of the Strawberry Pleasure, which doubles down on strawberries. A scoop of strawberry ice cream is drizzled with strawberry syrup, then wrapped in pound cake before being fried and finished off with powdered sugar, whipped cream, fresh strawberries, sprinkles, and yet more strawberry syrup.
This charming ice cream parlor is much-loved in Wilmington for its retro milkshakes, colorful snoballs, and dreamy sundaes, but the stand-out order at Sweet Lucy’s is its amazing larger-than-life ice cream cakes that can be fully customized, too. The Cookie Monster is a crowd-pleasing favorite; cookie dough ice cream is topped with gooey chocolate fudge sauce, vanilla icing, whole cookies, chocolate chips, and cookie dough bits for the ultimate sweet treat.
The chefs at Fireman Derek’s know their way around the Sunshine State’s most famous dessert – their version, featuring zippy, hand-squeezed Key limes and a smooth and buttery graham cracker crust is a sweet-tart delight. A classic it may be, but for something more indulgent, the Pie Sampler – which allows you to combine six pie flavours in one – is the way to go. Decadent and delicious options include the Cookie Monster, minty Grasshopper, classic apple, pecan, Nutella, and a dulce de leche, banana cream and caramel sauce number.
Delectable desserts and fancy creations are what Saint Germain in Atlanta does best. Among the extravagant creations is the Lemon Drop, a lemon poppyseed cake with lemon cream and white chocolate. Intended to resemble a pear, this gorgeous pastry is incredibly realistic. The restaurant’s Mon Cheri dessert, reminiscent of a vibrant red cherry, is also well worth a try.
Ube (purple yam) is the order of the day at Makani's Magic Pineapple Shack, whether churned into unicorn-like ice cream or made into an eye-catching custard filling for donuts. The Magic Dragon is a sight to behold and a treat to eat; a scoop of ube ice cream tops a dragon fruit smoothie bowl, with the whole thing served inside a pineapple and finished with fresh fruit and crunchy granola pieces.
An Idaho classic, this dessert is inspired by the state vegetable and most famous export: the potato. An optical illusion (albeit a very convincing one), it's made by forming vanilla ice cream into a baked potato shape, which is then tossed in cocoa powder. Topped with whipped cream (to resemble sour cream) and garnished with chocolate shavings, the dish was invented at the Westside Drive In over six decades ago, and has been popular ever since.
The final flourish on the lavish tasting menu at Chicago's hugely renowned restaurant Alinea is a dessert prepared right in front of diners' eyes – directly on their table, in fact. The vision of revolutionary, award-winning chef Grant Achatz, the ingredients in the now legendary edible piece of art change on a regular basis, but often include the likes of dark chocolate sauce, bits of candy, tropical fruit, and crumbles of cake, all painted on the table canvas by well-choreographed servers.
Can't decide between ice cream or a donut? Have both! At TeeJay's Sweet Tooth, take your pick from a variety of ice cream flavors and have two scoops squeezed inside a warm, glazed donut, then top it all off with a choice of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Oreos, cheesecake bites, rainbow sprinkles, Lucky Charms, or even Fruity Pebbles.
For an incredibly sweet and sugary affair, order the M.C. Waffle from Des Moines restaurant Eggs and Jam. While the flavors change on a rotating basis, the dessert always features sweet cream waffles layered with frosted cake donuts and flavored donut holes, and the whole thing is finished with vanilla icing, syrup, powdered sugar, and whipped cream.
This coffee and ice cream shop's namesake, the Churn & Burn dessert is essentially everything the outpost offers rolled into one. Made to order, the special dish sees freshly brewed coffee churned through ice cream, with your choice of add-ons such as Snickers pieces, pecans, caramel sauce, and amaretto folded in for good measure. It might take them a little while to whip this one up (once the base is made, servers then freeze it using liquid nitrogen), but it's definitely worth the wait.
If you're a fan of sweet and salty flavors, you’ll already know that bacon can make everything taste better… Sink your teeth into this maple-glazed donut topped with crispy, salty bacon for a taste sensation that’s nothing short of mind-blowing. One of the most popular items at Nord's Bakery in Louisville, it's definitely not for everyone, but those who love it can't get enough.
Showcasing equal layers of chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and peppermint ice cream, topped with flame-torched meringue, and finished with a drizzle of liquid chocolate, the towering Mile High Pie is a New Orleans' staple that appeared on the menu at the Pontchartrain Hotel's Caribbean Room restaurant for generations. Now known as the Jack Rose, the restaurant might be more sophisticated these days, but the famous Mile High Pie remains a must-try dessert. (Pictured is the Mardi Gras version, featuring the festival's bold colors and available throughout February.)
Choosing just one option at this incredible dessert restaurant can be quite the challenge, so the chefs at Gross Confection Bar came up with this tasty solution. The Entourage Board allows diners to select four desserts to sample and share – the sweet treats on offer include sticky toffee pudding, a chocolate and caramel torte, baked Alaska brownie sundae, tropical pavlova, and more.
All the donuts at this artisan shop veer towards the extravagant – and we mean that in the best way possible. The crème brûlée flavor (caramelized on top and filled with custard) is a long-time favorite, while the unicorn-themed option, with its vanilla glaze covered in Fruity Pebbles, has its fair share of fans. Our top pick is the Captain Chesapeake – a caramel donut finished with a sprinkling of Old Bay seasoning.
A signature dessert at this Asian-inspired cafe in Boston, Cube Toast takes French toast to new, sugary heights. The famous dish sees brioche toast hollowed out and filled with myriad fillings and toppings. The Muddy Madness option, for example, includes a mix of chocolate ice cream, fruit, mochi, Frosted Flakes, Pocky, M&M's, chocolate sauce, and condensed milk.
Iced coffee? That's no big deal, you might think. Well, it certainly is at Street Sweets, where 'Street Iced Coffees' are stacked high with glazed donuts and cupcakes for the ultimate sugar rush. If that's not enough to curb your cravings, there's also a bestselling dessert pizza and various waffle pops on offer.
Not a fan of having to make tough dessert choices? Head to Milkjam Creamery, where the aptly named All of Them dessert will, quite literally, get you all of the ice cream. An extravagant 16-scoop platter, it includes all the flavors available on the day which are served adorned with crushed waffle cones, chocolate sauce, marshmallows, and more. The ice cream flavors range from the usual suspects (such as chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry) to inventive combos like orange and cilantro milk with candied Fruity Pebbles cereal.
Inspired by an antique pie pan and a family recipe passed down through generations of founder Mary Russell's family, the chocolate meringue pie served at Sugaree's Bakery has been the talk of the town for quite some time. Each epic pie combines flaky pie crust with indulgent creamy chocolate filling, finished off with a (snowy) mountain of lightly torched, billowing meringue. The result is an absolute show-stopper.
The now legendary levee pie was created in 1993 at this very bakery. Intended to resemble the mountains of gravel and sand that the town of Kimmswick used to save itself from a devastating flood, each pie is made with 18 hand-sliced apples, layered with cinnamon sugar. After the pie is baked, the whole thing is covered in a buttery caramel and crumbled pecans to resemble the sand and gravel of the life-saving levees, after which the pie is named.
This beloved spot has been churning perfect milkshakes and making mouth-watering sweet treats since 1938. The signature dessert, The Huckleberry Finn, makes a star of huckleberries, the blueberry-like berries that are prized across the state. Rich and creamy huckleberry ice cream is matched with sweet-tart huckleberry sauce for the ultimate Montana dessert experience.
When a traditional cake won't do, Omaha's Sweet Magnolias bakery has the answer: Cookie Cake. Featuring multiple giant cookie layers all sandwiched together with frosting, there’s no arguing with the fact this is a seriously indulgent dessert, albeit one that’s intended for 12-14 people to share. Favorite flavor combinations include birthday cake cookies with cake batter buttercream, and salted honey cookies with marshmallow buttercream and chocolate ganache (intended to evoke that classic s'mores taste).
What’s more interesting than a regular burrito? Why, one made from cotton candy, of course! At Creamberry the usual savory ingredients are swapped for sweet ones. That means an outer burrito shell made from pure cotton candy (dentists, look away now) is filled with rolls of ice cream and a shimmering selection of out-there toppings, from gummy bears and Reese’s Pieces to Rainbow Sour Belts and crispy bacon bits.
The Crust and Crumb Baking Company in Concord is rightly famed for the many sweet treats that grace its menu, but when something utterly extravagant is called for, its American layer cake (three generous layers of cake with your choice of filling and frosting) is the answer. Every flavor on the list is pretty special. The Everything But the Kitchen Sink Carrot Cake (walnuts, raisins, coconut, pineapple and orange cream cheese frosting all get a look in) and gorgeously gleaming, elaborately iced Maple Mocha share the crown for being the most indulgent, though.
New Jersey is known for its great pizzerias and delectable pies, but there's not too many pizzas like this one available. Brother Bruno's has extended its pizza menu to include desserts, with the option to order an utterly extra, super-sweet baked pie topped with the likes of Nutella, peanut butter and jelly, red velvet icing, cinnamon bun crumbs, gooey brownie chunks, sprinkles, and much more.
For an incredibly indulgent dessert experience, make your way to A Heavenly Taste Cakery. This bakery is quite rightly renowned for its cheesecakes, which come generously adorned with a range of delectable toppings. The caramel churro cheesecake, which is crowned with a cluster of miniature churros, clouds of whipped cream, and a generous drizzle of caramel sauce, is a fan favorite. One taste and you’ll realize exactly why.
The team at this stunning bakery in New York City’s Midtown are trained in French confectionery and inspired by Asian flavors, so dessert lovers get the best of both worlds. Bibble & Sip serves everything from cute animal-themed macarons to jumbo Earl Grey–infused cookies, but it's the super-sized, overstuffed cream puffs that really get people talking. Specifically, the vibrant green matcha and white chocolate flavor (pictured). It's technically a choux au craquelin – buttery choux pastry topped with a sweet, crunchy cookie crust – and is filled with a delicious white chocolate and matcha cream. Fans also rave about the black sesame and walnut flavor.
Similar to a cookie cake, this sweet treat from Suárez Bakery in Charlotte sees the cookies swapped for donuts. Known as the Texas donut cake, this beauty is made by layering three of the bakery’s huge Texas donuts (and a Texas donut hole) together with vanilla cream and a choice of dip, filling, and sprinkles. Big enough to serve eight people, it's perfect for a special occasion. That said, if you fancy a whole donut cake to yourself, we totally get it.
This cute bakery, with four locations in North Dakota, has come up with a fun – and sweet – dedication to the King of Rock 'n' Roll himself. The Elvis donut is a nod to Elvis Presley's favorite sandwich, first served to him at the Colorado Mining Company restaurant in 1976. Here, they take the now classic banana, peanut butter, and bacon combo and serve it up in donut form, adding a chocolate drizzle for good measure.
If you're a frequent visitor to Canal Park for Akron RubberDucks games, you'll be familiar with the ‘extreme’ menu items served from the concession stands at the ground. On the menu since 2011, a monster dessert known as The Screamer sees baseball fans tucking into 21 scoops of ice cream served atop a chocolate brownie and finished with chocolate syrup, bananas, whipped cream, sprinkles, and maraschino cherries.
The Roasted Pecan Ball at Cheever's Cafe is a regional specialty that brings diners a globe of vanilla ice cream, coated in sticky pecans and brown sugar, and served dripping in warm caramel sauce. Order this decadent dessert and you'd be well advised to wolf it down quickly (because it's delicious, for one thing, and before it melts, for another).
Known for their killer crust (flaky, buttery, golden and crisp), the pies dished up at Pie Spot might be smaller than average, but that doesn’t mean they don’t deliver big in the flavor stakes. Plus, because they’re so small, you’re given full license to pick up more than one. For the most extravagant order of all, plump for the Baker’s Dozen option and sample a range of delicious flavors including brown butter pecan, lemon vanilla bean, banana cream with salted caramel, and peanut butter chocolate.
Dominique Ansel may have started the hybrid pastry trend with his famous cronuts, but the chefs at Frangelli’s in Philadelphia have made the idea their own by way of the franolli. What's a franolli, you may ask? Half donut, half cannoli, it's an irresistible marriage of two of the best desserts around. A freshly cooked signature donut is split open, filled with light-as-air cannoli cream, and showered with powdered sugar.
Opened by a US Army vet who was stationed on the border of France and Belgium for three years, The Burgundian is his tribute to the area and the place where he discovered ‘the greatest waffles in the world’ – the Liège variety. A homage to those waffles (made with rich, brioche-like dough) appears on the menu here in both sweet and savory form. The most indulgent option of them all might just be the banana, caramel sauce, whipped cream, and cinnamon-sugar topped Banana Churro Con Caramel (pictured).
The famous coconut cake at the Peninsula Grill in Charleston is a gargantuan affair that the restaurant says will easily serve 18-20 hungry dessert fiends. The towering triumph features 12 layers of pound cake, each surrounded by fresh coconut buttercream frosting. It’s not called ‘ultimate’ for nothing; each slice contains nearly a whole stick of butter, and the The New York Times once described it as ‘a little slice of heaven.'
Intricate pastries that resemble works of art await at this cute French-inspired patisserie in Sioux Falls. Meaning 'little cakes,' the petite gateaux here come in various shapes, sizes, and flavors. Whether covered in a gleaming mirror glaze or hiding a perfectly set mousse, you can always count on tucking into innovative, eye-catching, and delicious creations at this chic shop.
A donut unlike any you've ever had before, this mammoth creation from Five Daughters Bakery packs the dough from five classic donuts into one. These 100-layer, croissant-style pastries are available filled with myriad flavors, from the classic vanilla to seasonal favorites, such as the fall-inspired salted caramel apple. Year-round options include the King Kong (vanilla buttercream, maple glaze, and candied bacon bits) and our go-to, a chocolate sea salt number.
Imagine a pie that weighs 24 pounds, stands nearly a foot (30cm) tall, and comes with a $300 price tag. What started out as a joke at the Three Brothers Bakery in Houston is now one of the bakery's most famous – and most popular – items. The enormous three-layer invention combines a pumpkin pie baked in a pumpkin spice cake, a pecan pie baked in a chocolate cake, and an apple pie baked into a spice cake – a sweet play on turducken (chicken stuffed in duck stuffed in turkey). The entire thing is then covered with cream cheese icing and finished with pecan pieces and a caramel drizzle.
At Mountain Donuts things are done a little differently. There isn't a menu as such, instead there’s a vast array of ingredients for customers to select from in order to build their perfect donut. Start with coating options like cinnamon sugar, caramel, or fruit icing and glazes. Then it's time to choose a topping, from sprinkles and cookies to marshmallows and chocolate chips. Finally, top it all off with a drizzle of syrup, chocolate or fudge sauce, and even a cherry on the top.
Is a single cinnamon roll ever really enough to satisfy cravings for the doughy, glazed, and spiced delights? Sticky Fingers Bakery in West Dover says no, pointing customers in the direction of its cinnamon roll cake. This over-the-top treat sees 13 cinnamon rolls combined and very generously iced. According to the bakery, the indulgent bake can serve up to 10 people. If that’s still not enough, you’ll also spot a larger, three-tier cinnamon roll cake on the menu.
Customers at all five locations of Capitol Waffle Shop praise its vast array of waffles, both sweet and savory. However, there's one creation that’s proven particularly divisive: the Mother Clucker. Straddling the line between a dessert and brunch item, a half-size waffle is topped with fried chicken tenders coated in a Cap’n Crunch cereal and herb breading. So far, so (relatively) ordinary. But there’s more – the dish is served with a double portion of dessert nachos (made with stroopwafels and maple praline ice cream), and the waffle is finished with a sprinkling of crispy bacon.
Created for the bakery's 10th birthday, the Life of the Party cupcake from Trophy Cupcakes has stuck around well after the big day. The over-the-top creation encompasses a macaron, lollipop, marshmallow, meringue kiss, wafer cookie, pretzel, cookies, donut holes, and chocolate drops, all presented on a YUMfetti cupcake topped with vanilla buttercream. It's extra to the extreme, and definitely earns its name.
Matching the retro vibe of this diner, the specialty milkshakes at Poky Dot are wonderfully over-the-top, and are certainly substantial enough to count as desserts. These wacky drinks come in an array of flavors with myriad topping options, from waffles and whipped cream to sprinkles, chocolate bars, marshmallows, and even donuts. The funky diner also serves sundaes so outrageous, they deserve an honorable mention on this list.
Freshly churned in house every few hours, the frozen custard at Zesty's Frozen Custard and Grill is rich, smooth, and a fun alternative to traditional ice cream. Although the flavors are pretty restrained (think vanilla and chocolate), the novelty sundaes and scrambles certainly aren't. Indulgent options include the Turtle Brownie Hot Fudge (frozen custard, hot fudge, caramel, and pecans on a brownie square) or the more zany-looking Play Doh Swirl (blue moon frozen custard with cookie dough and marshmallows).
You’ll need to journey up some 10,450 feet (3km) to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to try the waffles at Corbet’s Cabin, but we promise all that effort will be worth it once you tuck into dessert. You’ll find classic options such as the Trad (brown sugar butter for the win) but, for something a dash more indulgent, we say opt for the Belgian – a sweet waffle treat featuring cookie butter, lashings of caramel sauce, and plenty of powdered sugar – or ring the changes with the Gateway (toppings include peanut butter and smoked bacon).
Now discover where to find the best donut in every state and DC
Last updated by Emily Shardlow-Price.