Pies, are anything but humble in the hands of these innovative bakers. Whether it's a Seattle shop that imagines pies on sticks or in jars, a San Francisco baker who likes his pies on the spicy side, or pies both deliciously peculiar and uniquely down-home coming from New York City, the pie has arrived.
Of bakeries and brunches from the Pacific Northwest to New York City, we've found the best reasons to roll out of bed in the morning. Think outside the toaster and try a warm slice of brioche sweetened with almond paste and homemade almond syrup, a hand-forged donut, a towering stack of peanut-butter filled chocolate waffles, or a coffee cake made just for you (with a single-drip artisan coffee brew to match).
We're returning the favor and celebrating cakes in every form, flavor and size. Take a slice of inspired, traditional French cakes from New York City, over-the-top masterpieces from a San Francisco mainstay, Seattle's best delicate and exotic coffee cakes or out-of-the-box cupcakes. Cakes never deserved their pedestal more.
Trigger your fondest food memories with flavors you never remembered in our favorite picks for re-visited retro and nostalgic desserts. Indulge in caramel corn in San Francisco, a Meyer Lemon Shaker Pie, the creamiest of cheesecakes to have all to yourself, or a slice of birthday cake unlike any your mother ever made (on any day of the year).
Craving cookies that are too cool for your childhood cookie jar? Nibble on a crumbly, oat-flecked peanut butter sandwich cookie in New York, a psychedelic sugar cookie from Brooklyn, a serious chocolate chip cookie with cocoa nibs in San Francisco, or a wacky snickerdoodle "cookie pizza" from Chicago.
We found the top spots from Seattle to New York to keep the kid in you hopped up on sweets (with the rest of the neighborhood). Boxed supermarket desserts take on a grown-up twist with flavors like black sesame or passion fruit, as do the freshest of fruit pops, in two boutique shops in New York. For a more innocent indulgence, try sprinkle-scattered hummingbird cupcakes in Seattle or caramel apples dipped in cookie crumbs in Chicago.
Forget bacon and chocolate: we found the spots for sweet-and-savory desserts that are new to the menu. Between sweetened tofu, donuts that raid the savory spice cabinet, roasted red pepper gelato, and a cupcake that's fit for dinner, you'll never look at dessert the same way again.
Need a nibble of something sweet? Take a bite of sticky, stacked baklava and creative candies from Queens and Brooklyn, or a tiny taste of decadence with twisted French classics in Chicago or upscale Farmer's Market fare in San Francisco. These treats may be tiny, but are huge on flavor.
If a love for chocolate can be described as a religion, we have found the ultimate places of worship that claim devotion to little else. Atop the shrine to this beloved ingredient sits a collection of playful chocolate confections, a chocolate-doused brownie sundae, a molten chocolate tart unlike any you've ever seen, and a chocolate cake that's known as the best in the world.
Whether to swipe the sticky sugar from your hands or to catch a drip on your lip, these ooey gooey desserts require a napkin or two to conquer. Dive into the stickiest of sticky buns, a coconut cake soaked with syrup, a fried apple pie dipped in spiced caramel and a sundae that's dripping with two different sauces. Take our advice and save your fingers: grab a spoon.
Your grandmother might learn a new trick or two from these Southern-inspired sweet spots. Between New York and Miami with a stop in the deep South, we were charmed by a ladylike Lady Baltimore cake, a staunchly Southern restaurant that re-invents regional classic desserts, the cutest pies with surprising fillings, and heavenly layer cakes.
Travel to distant lands from the comfort of a pastry box (no suitcases or passport required). Old culinary traditions are made new again at a few of our favorite bakeries, where sweets cross cultural lines and are made personal. Traditions from France and Japan collide at a New York city bakery, a family bakery in Miami by way of Chile and Venezuela bring us South American treats, and two Boston shops bring us to Turkey, Morocco and beyond from adventurous American bakers.
A fruit is made almost sinful again with some of the most decadent, exotic and chic desserts around. Pick an in-season fruit galette or chic tart, a dessert with a tropical fruit you're unlikely to have seen before, and fresh fruit popsicles with a cool twist.
Glazed, sprinkled, filled or even plain, there's nothing so delectable as a freshly fried doughnut. So when you add some unique twists on this all American treat, they are quite simply, irresistible.
We head to the City of Angels to discover what makes this west coast city so decadently sweet. Sit down to a breakfast that's about way more than waffles, indulge in pastries that take the cake, and stop in for a sweet snack that's on a stick.
We discover unique versions of the most sought after sweets. Chocolates that have no chocolate, brownies and cookies baked in together in perfect harmony, ice cream that's literally farm to cone and mini pancakes like you've never seen before. It's what you crave, only better.
It's that perfect little dessert that you can hold in your hands. Travel to Los Angeles for the ultimate ice cream sandwich, to Portland, Ore., for sandwich cookies gone wild and taste unique New York concoctions spread between waffles and even doughnuts.
We discover classics desserts that have been pushed into uncharted territory. Pies and cakes turned into cookies, ice cream made from goat's milk, salt water taffy that stretches the rules and pies that are renowned -- and served raw.
Cupcakes, brownies, toaster pastries, ice creams and chocolates -- there's nothing like that sweet treat to snack on when school gets out. These afterschool favorites are breaking all of the traditional rules and winning.
Nothing beats waking up in the morning to the scent of hot buttery sweet pastries. And these breakfast pastries from Oregon, California, New York and Connecticut are unlike anything you've had before. Once that morning coffee kicks in, you'll need to dig in.
La dolce vita, with a twist. We take a tour through New York and visit bakeries that have unique takes on classic Italian sweets. We discover dipped artisanal cannoli, uniquely flavored creamy tiramisu, gelato gone wild and uniquely Italian doughnuts.
There are those who order a savory brunch and there are those that go for gusto with something decadent and sweet. We're catering to the sweet tooth by visiting hotspots that take a sweet brunch very seriously and turn it into something utterly unique.
We visit pastry chefs who take time-honored traditions from their past and turn them into something new and unique. From a cafe with all the sweet traditions of the South, to a "sweetery" serving up childhood favorites, plus traditional treats made with untraditional ingredients.
It doesn't matter what the weather is like outside, there's always room for a frozen sweet treat. We take a brain-freezing journey and discover ice cream made with liquid nitrogen, shaved ices drenched in sugary sweet concoctions, unique drinkable concoctions and cones with a surprise inside.
These are the places that everyone flocks to for desserts they can't get anywhere else. Homemade pies that fly off the shelves, ice creams that people stand in line for late at night and unique spiced cakes that tickle the taste buds. These are neighborhood gems that sparkle.
Sweet, sticky, ooey gooey. It's everything you want in a sweet, delectable dessert. We take a tour from the east coast to the west coast, tasting our way through unique caramel bread puddings, ooey gooey sticky buns, mini bites of caramelized goodness and old fashioned candy like you?ve never seen before.
We step off the island and head deep into the heart of Brooklyn to find the best sweets this New York City borough has to offer. Inspired by her Mexican heritage, Chef Fany Gerson pushes flavor combinations with hibiscus, passion fruit and even horchata in her doughnuts at Dough. Ample Hills Creamery whips up small batch artisanal ice cream in flavors like caramel, honey and breakfast cereal. Ovenly is combining salty and sweet with a touch of spice to craft cookies and cakes. At Robicelli's, familiar desserts like cheese platters, and root beer floats are packaged into cute cupcakes.
We bring out the kid in you with places that are sure to satisfy the sweet tooth for all ages. At Papabubble, whimsical candies that look too beautiful to eat, like grapefruit soda candies, and lollipops. Wooly's Ice frozen shaved ice in outrageous flavors like green tea and sea salt dulce de leche. It's a trip back in time when you step into Little Cupcake Bakeshop for their blue velvet cupcakes and s'mores bars. Take your cake to go at Stick & Pop where flavors such as peanut butter and jelly are served in bite-size spheres on a stick.
We found the most unique sweets to suit your morning cup o' Joe. Abraco's morning pastries are packed with bold flavors like black sesame cardamom spiced cake and saffron sugar babka. Crespella adds a taste of Italy to your coffee with their crepes flavored and topped with tiramisu and cannoli. Bang Bang Pie in Chicago bakes decadent pies, from blueberry to a frozen sage lemon summer pie. Angel Food Bakery in Minneapolis serves donut bread pudding and tres leche cupcakes.
Spend a weekend exploring all that Chicago has to offer. Salted Caramel challenges the idea of what makes for a sweet treat. Lovely Bakeshop is serving a little bit of Southern comfort with homey breakfast pastries. Southport Grocery and Cafe experiments with the best ingredients to create inventive brunch treats. And a small but focused menu at Waffles makes for exciting flavor combinations.
Mojo Monkey pays tribute to iconic American sweets through their dynamic doughhuts. Brooklyn Farmacy is a soda shop that pours out a funky collection of housemade nostalgic fountain treats. Chicago Diner creates classic diner desserts that taste so divine and decadent you can't even tell they're vegan! Teaspoon Bakeshop takes pride in creating their modern American sweets.
Dominique Ansel in New York takes traditional French pastries and bakes them for the 21st century. Angel Food Bakery in Chicago satisfies the cravings for retro American sweet treats. French and Vietnamese flavors and traditions come together at Elizabeth Street Cafe in Austin. Salty Tart creates pastries with a midwestern flair in Minneapolis.
From an ice cream shop to a pop-up bake sale, we found the best hangouts in Austin, Texas, to satisfy the sweet tooth. At Lick Ice Creams the flavors of Texas will hit you with each lick. Jump in line at pop-up F&D Bake Sale to try pastries that reinvent American traditions. Cake & Spoon serves personal-sized Southern sweets. Delish Bakery serves sugary decadence in downtown Austin.
In Denver, it's all about wild sweet creations that always leave the customers coming back for more. The Shoppe is a funky full service cereal bar and bakery. Victory, Love & Cookies crafts works of art in the form of cookies. Sweet Action constantly pushes the flavor boundaries of ice cream. And at Sugar Bakeshop you'll find handcrafted sweets made with care.
These sweet shops showcase peanut butter in all its versatility and glory. Treats Truck Stop is a kid-friendly neighborhood bakery in Brooklyn. Two Smart Cookies whips up cookies that taste just like home, including the popular peanut butter hideaway. Capital City Bakery is a vegan food truck that spreads joy and peanut butter love all over Austin, Texas. In East Nashville, Pied Piper Creamery has created over a hundred flavors, and those flavored with peanut butter take the cake in terms of creativity.
Zucker Bakery is a picture-perfect bakery sharing family traditions with their customers through their cookies. Flour and Tea lures you in with their Taiwanese baked goods with American influences. Stop by Las Paletas for refreshing frozen treats that bursts with flavor! Bien Cuit executes French pastry beautifully, cutting no corners to create the finest sweets in Brooklyn.
From morning pastries to inventive brunch items, we cover the most delicious morning sweets. At Darling Coffee you can get your morning brew paired with delicious handcrafted morning sweets. Clementine Bakery creates vegan pastries that pack major flavor into each bite. Short Cake turns traditional American sweets upside down. Sky Blue Cafe is a hip Nashville brunch spot that will satisfy everyone's craving for pancakes and French toast.
We meet some of America's most imaginative food crafters churning out sweet treats. Nashville's Olive & Sinclair makes artisanal chocolates and brittles with a Southern twist. Suck it Sweets & Treats creates cool popsicles and frozen desserts on a stick. It's all about having choices at Coolhaus where customers get to create their own ice cream sandwich combinations. At Culture, fresh and frozen yogurt desserts step into the spotlight.
Bang Candy Company in Nashville gives the mellow marshmallow a glamorous makeover. Semi Sweet Bakery reinvents familiar homebaked goods into delicious decadence. Wooden Spoon stirs up American classics. Donna Bell's Bake Shop channels the South in their menu, including pie bars and decadent layered cakes.
We take a bite out of some of the sweetest mash-ups in the Big Apple. Dominique Ansel shares his famous Cronut, as well as a new combination of two desserts that defies the laws of physics. At Butter and Scotch, old-fashioned pies and quenching cocktails collide with delicious results, and Oddfellows proves that some of the most unique flavors can make ice cream even better.
There's no better way to start your day than with one of New York's most unique breakfast treats. At the Legendary Doughnut Plant, Mark Isreal makes his signature square doughnuts and we're blown away by his sophisticated alternative to the doughnut hole: the doughnut seed. At Lafayette, one bite of their luscious creations transports you out of the hustle and bustle of the city and into a classic French bistro. Then it's off to Wafels & Dinges where they're taking wafels to a whole new level of deliciousness.
San Francisco has a well-earned reputation as a foodie paradise, so restaurants here have to work twice as hard to stand out. We found three that do, beginning with Craftsman & Wolves where chef William Werner's attention to detail creates edible works of art like the flaky, croissant-inspired Chocolate Stack, the Caramel Cube Cake that is actually spray-painted with pure chocolate, and the creamy, frothy Sipping Caramel. At Ice Cream Bar owner Juliet Pries has crossed an old-timey soda fountain (complete with soda jerk) and flavor-forward creations, like the peppery Tiny Bubbles Float, the fruity Tropical Split, and the butterscotchy (and aptly-named) Too Good To Be True Milkshake. Finally we visit bean-to-bar chocolate makers Dandelion Chocolate, where customers can see their chocolate created from start to finish, then sample it in favorites like the Peanut Butter And Jelly Ganache Sandwich.
Portland is one city at the forefront of the food scene using local ingredients with a unique spin. Quin Candy is a perfect example making nostalgic sweets with a sophisticated twist using ingredients like marionberries, smoked sugar and creamed infused with ground popcorn. The creator of Stumptown Coffee is behind the city's latest gem the Roman Candle Baking Company. The delectable breakfast treats and artisanal pastries have the same attention to detail and quality that made the coffee such a success. Our final must-see sweet destination is Kyra's Bakeshop, which serves up indulgent cupcakes that also happen to be gluten-free.
In this episode we dig into childhood treats that are all grown up. In Portland, Oregon, an ice cream shop is adding cocktails to the mix-ins. In Healdsberg, California, the area's bountiful produce finds its way into hyper-seasonal cupcakes. And in New York, chocolate is eaten unroasted and raw, and is infused with some very sophisticated ingredients. Children may like them, but the adults will be hooked.
Everybody is going nuts for doughnuts and across the country doughnut shops are coming up with innovative new ways to re-invent this crowd favorite. In Portland, Oregon, there's a place that specializes in grown up versions that feature bold glazes and boozy fillings. In New York, old-school mini doughnuts made fresh to order are all the rage, the 15 different kinds of flavored sugars let you customize your own for a bite that has your name all over it. And in San Francisco, a charming little doughnut shop has developed a loyal following thanks to their light, supple doughnut and their seasonal silky cream fillings.
Seattle is known for the Space Needle, loud music, and high tech... But these days it's also got a reputation for sublime sweet treats. We visit three hot spots of Seattle's food scene beginning with Fran's Chocolates, which pioneered European-style handmade confections when it opened in 1982 and is now a beloved Seattle institution. Dahlia Bakery is one of legendary Seattle restaurateur Tom Douglas's creations and serves up some of the most incredible pie and doughnuts in the city. Finally we'll stop at Crumble & Flake, a tiny bakery that takes familiar pastries in daring new directions.
Southern desserts are in a category all to their own combining big bold flavors with deep tradition. A perfect example is Sublime Doughnuts, which calls itself a "Doughnut Wonderland". The doughnuts and fritters are made with a sweet potato dough and come in fun shapes with decadent flavor combinations. CamiCakes Creamery reinvents traditional southern desserts like red velvet cake and lemon meringue pie and turns them into ice cream cake sandwiches. Pie Shop keeps with tradition and preserves the craft of pie making with southern favorites like Georgia Bourbon Pecan and Pineapple Chess Pie.
Today we're getting a sweet taste of Europe right here in the U.S! First we head to Atlanta where the Little Tart Bakeshop rolls out decadently traditional French pastries to a hungry crowd. Then in New York City, the extremely popular Italian restaurant Maialino proves why you really must save room for dessert. And finally, we're off to Seattle where Nielsen's Pastries serves some of the most delightful and most unique Scandinavian treats, with recipes that have barely changed since its Danish owner settled here.
We are traveling the country in search of people giving classic sweets a modern and delicious makeover. In New York City, a charming little shop is putting a gourmet spin on the crispy rice treat, with flavors loved by children and adults alike. In Atlanta, Georgia, the simple ice pop has been transformed into a frosty combination of real ingredients and unique textures perfect for cooling off on a hot day. And in Seattle, Washington, there's a new take on the soda shop that serves amazing ice cream floats, made with the house's premium ice creams and their very own dessert beers.
We visit some of the world-class eateries that satisfy the sweet cravings of Washington, D.C.'s power brokers. First stop: GBD, which stands for "Golden Brown Delicious" - the perfect way to describe the unique doughnuts at this new hotspot. We'll visit Cupcakes Actually, which stocks its shelves with 10 varieties of this sweet treat daily, including its signature dipped cupcakes. And we'll sample the refreshing artisan gelato at Dolcezza, which combines local ingredients, old-world methods, and innovative flavors.
We head north of the border to Toronto, Canada where the childhood favorite of milk and cookies is taken to a whole new level. Moo Milk Bar offers a variety of classic and signature cookies like the Cowgirl that can be paired with their all-natural flavored milks including gingerbread, peanut butter and chocolate. Glory Hole Doughnuts specializes in artisanal yeast doughnuts made with all natural ingredients including the Lemon Ricotta Doughnut. Clafouti Patisserie is known for their exceptional croissants. We check out one of their inventive treats calleda crookie, which is a croissant with a cookie baked into it.
There's nothing better than the perfect cookie -- unless you take two of them and put some filling in between! At DC Patisserie they make delicate macaron with delicious American flavors. Milk Cult in Washington DC has a true fan following for their unique Ice cream sandwiches. And in New York City, an art gallery/spice lab creates little sandwich cookies that explode with flavor.
Austin can get sweltering hot but they have plenty of delicious options to keep you cool. At Cow Tipping Creamery, Corey Sorensen is making stackers, her layered version of a sundae that not only gives you plenty of ice cream but ensures that you can get your fill of her homemade toppings. At Dolce Neve you can savor their authentic Italian gelato flavors made with in-season Texas produce and at Sweet Ritual you can try a vegan ice cream that has all the creaminess and flavor you crave with none of the animal byproducts.
If you think the folks in Los Angeles eat only health food, think again. Especially when it comes to breakfast! We visit some L.A. Hotspots that are the sweetest places to start the day. From artisanal doughnuts fried fresh all day long, to the most decadent stuffed French toast, to the best buns in Koreatown -- these are breakfasts worth setting your alarm for.
Classic desserts get deliciously updated at three sweet shops across the country. Skull and Cakebones rocks vegan cupcakes in Austin, Texas, with flavors like basil berry, dirty chai and just beet it, you'll be singing a new tune about dairy free desserts. Valerie Confections in Los Angeles is resurrecting vintage cake recipes with mouthwatering results: Head here for a slice of coffee crunch cake or banana shortcake. And in Brooklyn, Hay Rosie uses unusual ingredients like champagne and hops to flavor super creamy scoops of ice cream.
Sometimes good things come in small packages, and we visit three locations that pack big-time flavors in small servings. First stop is Cake Monkey Bakery in Los Angeles, where their mini layer cakes allow you to have your favorite cake -- and eat the whole thing! And the fluffy, coconut-coated Mogul takes a cute childhood favorite and makes it even better than you remember. Next stop is Tiny Pies in Austin, Texas, where a mother-daughter duo are making some of the best pies you've ever tasted, like the brownie-pecan combo Texas Two Step and the juicy Peach and Blueberry, and sizing them to fit in the palm of your hand. Finally, it's a twist on some classic French pastries at Canele by Celine, where delectable canele -- crispy on the outside, custard-like inside -- come not just in a rainbow of flavors, but bite-sized as well so you can try them all!
Some of the best European Sweets can be found right in the heart of New York City. At Bread's Bakery they have a sweet, pillowy marzipan challah that's simply to die for and theirs a chocolate lover's dream. At Lezettli Turkish Ice Cream, they're serving up a delicious and chewy version that will challenge everything you know about this frozen treat. And at A.B. Biagi, they're elevating the ice cream sandwich to new heights using authentic gelato and artisanal breads. One bite and you'll never go back to the store bought brand.
We take a trip to the Windy City to check out the coolest doughnuts around. One hotspot specializes in huge, super fluffy doughnuts that are so good, they sell out fast. Then there's a full service restaurant that has doughnut and coffee service every morning and has invented a unique and delicious hybrid called the "doughscuit." And you won't want to miss the locale where mini doughnuts are fried fresh all day and can be topped however you want -- or even crumbled into a milkshake!
Colorado has it all: Mountains, lakes and sweets. Head to High Point Creamery in Denver for unusual ice cream flavors like lemon ice pop with raspberry swirl and earl grey tea with shortbread, or have a slice of ice cream cake drizzled with hot fudge. In Boulder, Pizzeria Locale finishes off their dinner menu with three desserts done simply and perfectly. You can order the seasonal biscotti, butterscotch budino, or saltimbocca -- baked pizza dough filled with gooey, melted chocolate-hazelnut spread. And also in Denver, Glaze: They serve German layered cakes called baumkuchen that will amaze and delight your eyes and taste buds.
Opposites attract, which must be why sweet and savory flavors are such an irresistible combination. We visit three very different sweet and savory hot spots: Aiko Pops in Denver, where ice pops come in radical flavors like Raspberry and Sweet Corn, Mango and Green Chile and Grapefruit Rosemary. At New York's 24-hour Empire Biscuits, perfect flaky Southern biscuits are slathered with out-of-the-box spreads like roasted duck fat-thyme butter and apricot-Cape gooseberry jam and grilled corn butter with blueberry jam. Finally we visit Cacao Sweets and Treats outside Chicago for the artfully-salted decadence of the Luxe Brownie and the Chocolate Caramel Spice Cake and the genre-bending Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls with cream cheese icing.
We travel across the nation to find the most original ice cream creations. At Morgentern's Finest Ice Cream in New York, inventive flavors and unusual toppings take center stage. If you're feeling nostalgic, Publican Quality Meats in Chicago is bringing back a childhood favorite with their amazing pub pops, one push of this frozen pop and you'll be hooked. And in Colorado, Fior di Latte makes a delicious horchata affogato and a colorful cake using their creamy, silky gelatos.
We're in Asheville, North Carolina, for some amazing sweet treats. At the speakeasy called Nightbell, you could have dinner and drinks, or you could just skip straight to dessert. They're taking traditional Southern dishes, adding a little culinary magic, and turning them into bite sized morsels that will surprise and satisfy. Then at the local hang out called The Hop, they've come up with the most unique yet delicious ice cream flavors you could imagine. Finally, just outside Asheville, there's Ruth and Ranshaw, where they puts all the flavors of your favorite southern treats into a jar and make an amazing pecan pie that's anything but traditional.
Boston is a city with a lot of history ... and a lot of great sweets! First we visit Union Square Donuts. Their fluffy, puffy, glorious yeast donuts come in wicked awesome flavors like peanut butter marshmallow cream and brown butter hazelnut crunch. And don't forget their classic cake donuts! Next we're off to Flour Bakery, a Boston staple offering a bevy of brioche options, like twice baked brioche, sugar bun brioche and cinnamon cream brioche. They knock it out of the park with their pies and tarts, too! Our last stop is Area Four, a Cambridge coffee shop with some of the best-baked goods around. Their whole wheat cookie based J-bar, chocolate espresso B cookie and brown sugar studded craquelin all score high marks with MIT and Harvard students and professors in the area.
When it comes to sweets, chocolate is king. And it inspires chefs to reach new heights with amazingly chocolatey dishes. At Petsi Pies in Somerville, Massachusetts, the indulgences begin with pie crusts made from ground chocolate cookies. It only gets better from there: the Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Pie has slices of fresh banana layered with sweetened peanut butter and luscious chocolate cream. And the incomparable Mississippi Mud Pie has a bourbon chocolate filling that's topped with a mountain of chocolate ganache-covered brownie chunks, which is then topped with even more deep, dark chocolate ganache. Bean-to-bar chocolatiers French Broad Chocolates in Ashville, North Carolina create the addictive Chocolate Mocha Stout cake with dark chocolate, coffee and local stout beer... Then ups the ante with the thick and creamy Maple & Smoked Sea Salt Liquid Truffle - the drink hot chocolate wishes it could be. And Roni-Sue's Chocolate's on New York City's Lower East Side started a movement with its Pig Candy: crispy slices of fried bacon dipped in chocolate.
We venture out of New York city to the incredibly diverse borough of Queens and find one of a kind baked treats. Rudy's Bakery and Cafe has been putting their own spin on classics like the German Chocolate Cake since 1934. La Nueva bakery brings a taste of Latin America to the neighborhood with its signature Uruguayan sandwich cookies and at Norma's they're coming up with delicious creations like the Frankencrispie: part brownie, part cookie and part cereal bar, this sweet combo will zap some life back into your tastebuds. Now this is definitely worth a swipe on your metro card.
Hawaii is more than just pristine beaches: it's also home to some incredible sweet treats. Lee Anne Wong serves sweet brunch specialties at Koko Head Cafe, while Via Gelato blends Hawaiian flavors with Italian techniques to make innovative frozen sweets. And renowned Vietnamese restaurant The Pig and the Lady serves out-of-the-box creations at their dessert bar.
Anyway you fry it, America loves donuts, and these three shops are a cut above the rest. There are vegan delights at Donut Friend in Los Angeles, with everything from berries and mint to donut sandwiches; at Underwest Donuts in New York, they prove you can have your Halva Tahini donut and eat it too; In Honolulu, Champion Malasadas serve up Portuguese-style donuts fried to order and covered in sugar.
These frozen treats go far beyond vanilla, chocolate and strawberry scoots. In Honolulu, Shimazu Store pushes the boundaries of shave ice, a uniquely Hawaiian treat. In New York, Ice and Vice uses unconventional ingredients to create edgy desserts for adult palates. In Burbank, Calif., Quenelle is changing the rules of the frozen-treat game, with creations including ice cream sandwiches with fresh, hot, funnel cakes.
We've got the fried, the frozen, and the fabulous! It's a tour of the sweetest spots in Los Angeles. At Republique, French pastries are expertly crafted, and totally addictive. The Pistachio Raspberry Kouign Amann is like California summer wrapped in a buttery and oh so flaky dough. And you'll love unwrapping the Cherry Pistachio Braid layer by sugary layer until you reach the sweet creamy filling inside. At Churro Borough, Mexican flavors add something extra special to their unique frozen treats. Their version of an ice cream sandwich pairs artisanal ice cream with two warm, flaky deep fried pastry disks. Then we check out the unique cloud cakes at Bo Nuage. Each cake has layers of crunchy meringue and creamy whipped topping and is coated in cake crumbs, nuts or chocolate curls. They are light as air!
Every so often a restaurant shakes up the world of sweets. In this episode we visit three of NYC's game changers, putting a new spin on old favorites. At Dominique Ansel Kitchen time is the secret ingredient: desserts are made to order instead of ahead of time. So the classic French pastry mille-feuille is freshly piped with thick, luscious pastry cream, and the Yuzu Lemon Tart is filled to the brim with freshly-blended citrusy yuzu-lemon curd. At Good Batch, a passion for cookies has evolved into groundbreaking ice cream sandwiches, like the deconstructed candy bar called the Macaroon Ice Cream Sandwich: creamy vanilla ice cream sandwiched between coconut almond macaroons and layered with chocolate caramel and almonds. And the frozen desserts at Snow Days make childhood dreams come true: feathery shavings of flavored frozen creams in inventive flavor combinations, such as the Yeti Food: blueberry and chocolate sandwich-cookie flavored shaved cream topped with ripe bananas, crushed waffle cones and blueberry puree.
If you are looking for some Low Country Love in the form of a sweet treat, look no further than Charleston, South Carolina. At Callie's Hot Little Biscuit, they are baking up, over the top, warm doughy rounds like the Cinnamon Biscuit, that is slathered with cinnamon butter and topped with three different kinds of sugar and the Blueberry Biscuit that's served with a big dollop of buttercream and sugared blueberries. At Brown's Court Bakery, they push the boundaries of baked goods with items like their Peanut Butter and Sriracha Croissant and their Caramelita Bar which is part blondie, part brownie and part cookie. And good things come in small packages at Sweet Lulu's Bakery on Wheels, where you can order Coconut Cake in a Jar or even, Wonder Chick, a small, sweet and salty chocolate cake topped with peanut butter buttercream.
We travel the country finding the sweetest way to start your day! At Holy Donut in Portland, Maine, the dough for their Maine Blueberry Donuts and Sweet Potato Ginger Glazed Donuts includes mashed potatoes, which creates an incredible texture. At Kolache in Brooklyn, they take on the Texan kolache pastry with a Berry Sweet Cheese version filled with three kinds of berries, and Orange Rolls featuring the taste of juicy oranges. Finally, there's a decadent breakfast of Carrot Cake Pancakes and Fried Chicken and Waffle Sandwiches at the Dixie Supply Bakery and Cafe in Charleston, S.C.
These sweet treats will help tide you over during a long afternoon! Tandem Coffee and Bakery in Portland, Maine will brighten your day with their Coconut Almond Cream Pie and their Strawberry-Almond Cornmeal Cake, featuring a zesty dusting of freeze-dried strawberry powder. EVO Craft Bakery in Charleston, S.C. will perk you up with its selection of eye-opening combinations like the PB&C with peanut butter, dark chocolate and chipotle, and the O'Snap with white chocolate with spicy ground ginger snaps. And in New York City, Chalait is breaking new ground by adding green tea to desserts with their Matcha Coconut Custard Croissant and Matcha White Chocolate Bark.
We're heading to picture-perfect Maine for some soul-satisfying treats. Starting at Scratch Baking Co. in South Portland, we dive into the perfect breakfast pastry, the Toaster Jam Scone. For an afternoon snack, try the Concord Grape and Peanut Butter Snack Cake, or their real showstopper -- the Movie Night Cake, with cocoa chiffon cake, popcorn buttercream and pretzel peanut brittle. At Wicked Whoopies in Freeport, they're taking the official state treat and turning it a massive five-pound whoopie pie. And if you have a hankering for something cool, look no further than Catbird Creamery, where they whip up some out-of-this-world ice cream, like Tamari Caramel with soy sauce!
These are the best unique sweets in the San Francisco Bay area. Head over the Bay Bridge to Oakland, and you'll find out why people are raving about the pies at Pietisserie. You'll fall in love with the the ruby red Beet Pie or the eye-popping Chantilly Chocolate Cream Layered Pie. Then, find out why people line up at the crack of dawn just to get their fix of Cruffins at Mr. Holmes Bakehouse. It's a mash-up of a croissant and a muffin, and it's stuffed with decadent creamy fillings. Finally, Donut Savant, where they're frying up fresh mini doughnuts all day long. Try the Chocolate Frosted with Hole which is a two-for-one favorite: thick chocolate glaze on a vanilla yeast doughnut, complete with a vanilla-glazed doughnut hole placed back in the middle.
Some of the most amazing treats are the ones that take a classic dessert and give it a modern twist. At Shakedown ice cream parlor in San Francisco, all the flavors of a German chocolate cake are enjoyed in a whole new (drinkable) way. And a classic ice cream flavor gets an upgrade in Banana Cookies and Cream, In Portland, Ore., Palace Cakes purees an entire orange with carrots for its unique four-layer carrot cake. And Elsie's Parlor in Brooklyn uses an old family recipe as the springboard for its innovative doughnuts, like the brown-butter-dipped Cannella al Burro and the Black and White Doughnut, which takes its inspiration from the classic New York cookie.
We're traveling to Portland, Ore., to discover some of the city's most scrumptious and satisfying treats. We start at Bushel and Peck Bakeshop, where the sweet and tart Marionberry Mint Muffin is a perfect way to start your day and the Double Chocolate Squash Scone with Espresso Maple Glaze is a great afternoon pick-me-up. Plus, if you're in the mood for a seriously sinful treat, try the Pretzel Almond Caramel Bar. Next, follow us to The Cakery for some of the prettiest -- and tallest -- cakes we've seen. The Pink Cake looks sweet and angelic, but one bite of this cake reveals a deliciously naughty chocolate center. And explore your love of lemon one layer at a time with the Lovely Lemon Cake. And at Palmetto Cafe, the Coconut Bundt Cake takes carrot cake to the tropics for a fantastically flavorful luau, featuring special guests coconut, pineapple and, the star of the show, purple heirloom carrots.
We're in New York City, discovering the places that are serving up the most unique sweet treats from around the world. In Red Hook, Brooklyn, check out La Newyorkina. At this Mexican sweet shop, they specialize in paletas, which are ice pops made with fresh fruit. Try the the milk-based Fresa Fields Forever, which has whole chunks of ripe, sugary strawberries and pieces of buttery cookies. Or slurp the Chamoyada: a sweet, tart, spicy, yet surprisingly addictive answer to the snow cone. On the Lower East Side we sample Thai street sweets at Juicy Spot Cafe. Here, they make ice cream to order on a special cold plate, curl it into thin rolls, and finish it with a variety of unique toppings. With flavors like green tea, and toppings like grass jelly and dragon fruit, these are sundae's with exotic flavors and textures that will keep your taste buds intrigued and happy . At Mocu-Mocu in Hell's Kitchen, they make a Japanese street sweet called Obanyaki. These are stuffed pancakes that are made to order in a special cast-iron mold. The Apple Compote and Custard Cream Obanyaki tastes like a warm slice of apple pie a la mode: a sweet, tart, and creamy filling surrounded by a warmly-spiced, hand-held pancake that's crispy on the outside.
We're going on an ocean-hopping journey from Hawaii to the mainland for some magnificent morning munchies. We start with sweet unique ways to add fruits and veggies to your morning meal with a tropical Breakfast Bruschetta, Blue Corn Zucchini Bread, and a Strawberry Mint Hand Pie that will have you practically jumping out of bed. Next, a dizzying array of donuts from Glazed, Chocolate Malasadas, Apple Fritters and a Donut Cake! If you're wanting something a little lighter, cozy up to some Cinnamon Sugar Pie Crisps or a multigrain Muesli Toast with nuts, berries, honey and green-tea custard. Rise and Shine...It's Unique Sweets!!!
We sample nine cutting-edge creations, including the Coconut Cremeaux at The Pig and The Lady in Honolulu: an edible fantasy landscape with creamy chocolate mountains, "rocky" earth of candied sesame, and a forest of blackberries and nasturtium leaves. In New York City the creator of the world-famous Cronut is upping his game with a restaurant where desserts are made to order, like the Whole Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. And Charleston's Sweet Lulu's Bakery on Wheels puts a new spin on classic Southern comfort with its updated cakes made in travel-friendly glass jars, including the Raspberry Ice Box Cake.
These special spots are putting sweet spins on American classics. The Doughnut Project in New York City offers savory-meets-sweet doughnuts, including a doughnut crossed with an everything bagel, and a chocolate cream doughnut flavored with bone marrow. In Miami, Sweetness Bake Shop gives childhood favorites tropical Latin twists, like a cinnamon-spice doughnut filled with dulce de leche and topped in chocolate frosting and a crispy churro. At The Dirty Cookie in Tustin, Calif., milk and cookies combine in edible cookie shot glasses!
Cool down with the hottest frozen treats from these California hot spots.
We're in the sweet spot of the Sunshine State, Miami! The folks at The Salty Donut pride themselves on their buttery 24-hour brioche doughnut dough and have fun with topping combinations like key lime pie and peach bourbon. L.A. Sweetz packs bold Latin flavors in their cupcakes, including tangy margarita and a decadent coconut cake dipped in dark rum and topped with dulce de leche buttercream. And ring the alarm for the pies at Fireman Derek's Bakeshop, which are piled high with layers of chocolate ganache, mousse and an array of sweet and salty toppings.
It's time for the ultimate sugar high. In Miami, Brain Freeze Nitrogen Ice Cream Lab is concocting delicious creations, and offering a mad scientist challenge to eat 30 scoops of ice cream in 30 minutes. At Spot Dessert Bar in New York City, imaginations run wild with their Asian-inspired plated desserts, including a riff on the classic chocolate lava cake featuring an explosion of creamy green tea. And in Southern California, Afters Ice Cream delivers two desserts in one with their donut ice cream sandwiches!
We're searching high and low for New York City's most shocking sweets! In Astoria, Queens, an underground doughnut spot called Donut Diva is frying up outrageous cake doughnut creations that will make your jaw drop. At Eggloo in Manhattan's Chinatown, ice cream is generously piled in soft, puffy cones and customers get as many colorful toppings as they want. And Do, Cookie Dough Confections in Murray Hill is breaking all the rules by dishing out ready-to-eat raw cookie dough in a cup.
We're heading to the Lone Star State to find the tastiest treats in Texas. Hypnotic Donuts in Dallas offers both sweet and savory deep-fried deliciousness in the form of huge fritters and old-fashioned doughnuts. For a chocolate fix, Kate Weiser Chocolate in Dallas crafts decadent bonbons, crazy candy bars and even toffee with bacon. And for fantastical sundaes with unusual flavors, Melt Ice Creams in Fort Worth doesn't disappoint with choices like goat cheese, honey black pepper and roasted strawberries.
Check out three unique places that satisfy any sweet tooth from sunrise to sundown. At the Wandering Goose in Seattle, they push the sweet boundaries with Southern goodies like chocolate chip cookies with toffee and crispy chicken skin. In Fort Worth, Texas, a neighborhood shop called Stir Crazy Baked Goods offers up the most delicious cookies, pies, scones and even quiches. At Bibble and Sip in New York City, you'll find sugary sweet treats with French and Asian influences, like croissant muffins and green tea fudge.
We're stopping in at three unique sweet spots that deliver layers upon layers of incredible flavors and textures. Union Fare Bakery in New York City is flipping the switch on the classic croissant and baking up flavors like red velvet and birthday cake. When it comes to pies in unusual shapes and flavors, Slab Sandwiches and Pie in Seattle is at the top of their game. If you love layers, Cake Bar in Dallas displays 14 colorful layer cakes daily, and every slice brings a sweet smile.
We're heading to Seattle to find their most delectable and delicious sweets. At Rodeo Donut, small-batch brioche doughnuts wake your taste buds up with the perfect mix of spicy and sweet. At Amandine Bakeshop, you get a taste of France by way of the Pacific Northwest, with rose-flavored croissants and sophisticated ice cream sandwiches. And Hello Robin wows with clever cookies that incorporate other sweet treats like s'mores and cinnamon rolls.
Life's too short for boring desserts, so we're sinking our teeth into some of the country's most imaginative sweets. Moojo is helping keep Austin weird and oh so delicious with customized ice cream sandwiches made with warm cookies. Hail Mary in Brooklyn is the answer to your sweet tooth's prayers thanks to American classics with colorful, modern makeovers. At Super Chunk Sweets and Treats in Scottsdale, Arizona, mouthwatering desserts are brilliantly packaged in small bites that are big on flavor.
We're heading to the Arizona desert to find some of the coolest desserts. At Fluff It Marshmallows in Gilbert, they're all about - you guessed it - the magnificent marshmallow and all its cloud-like flavor possibilities. Sweet Republic Artisan Ice Cream in Phoenix sells sundaes that will simply shock you, so loosen your belt for handcrafted ice creams, homemade toppings and a huge cookie at the bottom! Finally, Paletas Betty in Chandler offers dozens of Mexican ice pops to choose from every day, including a mix of sweet and spice and everything ice.
In Austin, we find a unique spin on sweet treats at every turn. Sugar Mama's Bakeshop serves up sweet surprises like old-fashioned chocolate malted milkshake cupcakes and shortbread unicorns with edible glitter. Churro Co. is turning churros, the beloved Mexican street treat, into delightful and decadent desserts with toppings like buttery popcorn sugar and vanilla ice cream. And at Gelateria Gemelli, they're using savory flavors like olive oil and herbaceous liqueurs to create gelatos that would delight even the most traditional Italian nonna.
We're on the hunt for the best sweet treats New York City has to offer. Sweets by Chloe is a cute vegan bakeshop that's creating giant cookies and fudge cakes that are rich and moist, creamy and chocolatey. Daly Pie in Brooklyn Heights has a mouthwatering lineup, but one pie loaded with peanut butter, chocolate hazelnut and potato chips that has everyone talking. And Brigadeiro Bakery brings international flair to Soho with their chocolate truffle-like confections.
