Favorite Dessert Spots Around Florida

From Key West to Jacksonville, these are the dessert spots Floridians can’t get enough of
Chocolate cake on a yellow background
Go ahead, satisfy that sweet tooth. Unsplash

Florida might be best known for its grouper, oysters and other delicacies from its waters, but don’t forget about the Key Lime pie and other after-dinner treats that make every meal complete. We scoured online reviews and food critics’ recommendations to give you these favorite dessert spots around Florida.

Better Than Sex – A Dessert Restaurant (Orlando)

The Naughty by Nature cake at Better Than Sex is vegan. Promotion Photo by Facebook

1905 N Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32804 betterthansexdesserts.com

With a name like “Better Than Sex,” maybe this is a spot you shouldn’t google while still at the office. The names of their treats aren’t much more SFW, but we hear “Cookie Nookie Pie” and “The Morning After” and “Missionary Crisp” are among the naughty-but-nice offerings.

Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe (Key West)

Facebook photo
Key Lime pies are the speciality of the house at Kermit’s. Promotion Photo by Facebook

200 Elizabeth Street Key West, Florida 33040 keylimeshop.com

Kermit’s will make you rethink Florida’s iconic dessert. Here, fans covet the chocolate-covered Key Lime pie on a stick. Kermit’s has two locations in Key West (and a showroom in DeLand) but the original remains open on Elizabeth Street.

Azucar Ice Cream Company (Miami)

Azucar
Ice cream takes on another dimension of flavor at Azucar. Promotion Photo by Facebook

1503 SW 8th St Miami, FL 33135 azucaricecream.com

“Azucar” is Spanish for sugar, and no place in Miami stands as tall as a monument to the frozen variety than Azucar Ice Cream Company. First-timers should begin with Abuela Maria, a traditional recipe that combines vanilla ice cream, guava and cream cheese and is served with maria cookies.

The Harry Waugh Dessert Room at Bern’s Steak House (Tampa)

Bern's steak house
Creme Brûlée here features Nutella, Madagascar vanilla beans, chocolate curls, and fresh strawberries. Promotion Photo by Facebook

1208 S Howard Ave Tampa, FL 33606 bernssteakhouse.com

Visitors to Tampa know Bern’s as “that famous steakhouse” but locals regard it equally as famous (maybe more so) for its epic dessert room, which sits on the second floor above the restaurant. Inside are 48 individual booths with a six-channel stereo system allowing guests to pick their music. The banana cheese pie and macadamia nut sundae are legendary here or try a bite of all the favorites with a sampler plate.

Yoder’s Restaurant (Sarasota)

Yoders
The peanut butter cream pie at Yoder’s is a specialty. Promotion Photo by Facebook

3434 Bahia Vista St Sarasota, FL 34239 yodersrestaurant.com

This Amish paradise opened its doors in 1975 and has been awing its customers ever since with hearty country dishes and made-from-scratch pies created each morning. If you had to name a favorite, it’s probably the banana cream pie, but Yoder’s fruit pies (ranging from apple to peach to cherry to just about any fruit you can pick from a tree) are equally tempting. And if you’re a fan of apple butter, don’t think about leaving without a pint of Yoder’s own homemade variety.

Mitch's
Plan a trip to Naples if you want to pick up this dreamy cookie. Promotion Photo by Facebook

7785 Davis Blvd Naples, FL 34104 mitchscookies.com

Mitch’s boasts that it has a secret mixing technique that gives its cookies a “cake-like” texture. The bakery’s signature chocolate chip cookie remains Mitch’s pride. If you’re not planning a trip to Naples anytime soon, no worries: Mitch’s has online ordering and ships everywhere in the country.

Love Boat Homemade Ice Cream (Fort Myers)

Love Boat Ice Cream
Homemade ice cream is worth the drive at Love Boat Ice Cream. Promotion Photo by Facebook

16229 San Carlos Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33908 loveboaticecream.com

Love Boat features 50 flavors of ice cream – one for each year they’ve been open. (1967 for those doing the math). Even with three stores in southwest Florida, don’t be shocked if you have to stand in line for scoops of “gator tracks,” “grasshopper” and peaches and cream.

Zeno’s Boardwalk Sweet Shop (Daytona Beach)

Homemade fudge is a must-try treat at Zeno’s. Publicity photo

1103 Main St Daytona Beach, FL 32118 worldsmostfamoustaffy.com

Maybe Zeno’s website URL gives away their specialty, but that’s okay. Taffy is old-school and Daytona’s boardwalk is as old-school as it gets. Here your “dessert” comes priced by the pound and is available in about any flavor you can imagine. (Willy Wonka has nothing on Zeno.) If taffy isn’t your thing, then just wander over to the brittle, fudge and chocolate offerings. Looking for something truly original? Try Zeno’s “seafoam” – an impossible-to-describe candy that starts out crunchy before melting in your mouth.

Karma Cream (Gainesville)

Promotion Photo by Facebook

607 W University Ave. Gainesville, FL 32601 karmacream.com

Karma takes its name seriously; this bakery is one with the universe for offering both dairy and vegan treats. All its offerings are certified organic, and dishes are served in reusable glassware or compostable to-go materials. Earl Grey ice cream is a favorite here. Try it with a cardamom rose cookie for the complete experience.

Sweet Theory Baking Company (Jacksonville)

Many of the goodies at Sweet Treats are gluten-free or vegan. Publicity photo

1243 King St Jacksonville, FL 32204 Facebook page

Vegan and gluten-free desserts are revered treats at Sweet Theory, which inhabits a small but funkily decorated spot in Jacksonville’s Riverside district. Longtime fans recommend the Yoga Pants doughnut. We’re not sure what the ingredients are, so maybe “yoga pants” is more of a clothing recommendation if you plan on eating more than one.

Lofty Pursuits (Tallahassee)

Lofty Pursuits
If the sign doesn’t get your attention at Lofty Pursuits, their treats will. Promotion Photo by Facebook

1355 Market St A11 Tallahassee, FL 32312 loftypursuits.com

Lofty Pursuits is more of an old-fashioned soda fountain than a traditional dessert shop or bakery. While the restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, the sit-down soda fountain rotates through 200 flavors of ice cream. Longtime customers get flavor updates via Facebook or even automated text messages. The shop’s selection of homemade hard candy has legions of fans as well.

Chrisoula’s Cheesecake Shoppe and Cafe (Pensacola)

Chrisoula's
Who’s hankering for a mint chocolate chip cheesecake? Promotion Photo by Facebook

236 W Garden St #2A Pensacola, FL 32502 chrisoulascheesecakeshoppe.com

This multi-award-winning cheesecake purveyor offers its pies in flavors nearly ranging the full alphabet (amaretto to white chocolate raspberry). If you’re looking for something more unusual, try Chrisoula’s no-sugar-added, gluten-free or layered cheesecakes. Still can’t choose? Try a selection of mini cheesecakes.

Pink Pelican Ice Cream Bar (Panama Beach)

Pink Pelican
With more than 50 flavors, Pink Pelican Ice Cream is waiting for you. Promotion Photo by Facebook

543 N Richard Jackson Boulevard Panama City Beach, FL 32407 Facebook page

The colors and flavors of the frozen treats at Pink Pelican will blow your mind. But piece it back together for a scoop of Sponge Bob, a cake-flavor concoction with sugar cookie dough. Longtime fans will confess that a single scoop of ice cream here is likely going to fill your tummy plenty.

Still Have a Sweet Tooth?

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