Anaheim’s Sweet Side: Gourmet Dessert Experiences

Sugar is one of life’s most affordable and accessible little luxuries. For just a couple of bucks, anyone can stop into a shop and come away with a few bites of chocolate, nougat, peanut, caramel, honey, fruit or any number of other sweet experiences. But what about when you want something above and beyond a bar of chocolate or a pint of ice cream? Are there ways to take a humble dessert and elevate it to a level of true decadence? 

Absolutely there is - if you know where to look. All across Anaheim, we searched (sugar) high and low for the best, most delectable gourmet dessert experiences, from baked goods to fruity treats to chocoholic dreams. Here’s what we discovered: 

House of Chimney Cakes

Originally a Hungarian pastry called kürtőskalács, a chimney cake is essentially an ice-cream cone made of cake that’s then covered on the outside in sugar, sprinkles or treats and packed with whipped cream, frosting, Nutella, ice cream or other fun fillings. At the Anaheim location you can choose from their chimney cake menu with options like Cookie Butter Dream or Oreo Overload, build your own or opt for a gourmet milkshake. 

Parfait Paris

Parfait Paris brings you a little taste of Rue de Bac to So Cal with their wide array of macarons, croissants, pan de chocolate and more. Check them out in the Packing District for coffee and a sweet treat, even late (open until 11pm on weekends) or in one of their seven other area locations. 

Popbar

Designer, gourmet popsicles and ice cream sandwiches? Yes, Popbar goes well beyond the creamsicle or bomb pop to come up with something new, creative and very fun. It starts with gelato on a stick or between two cookies and proceeds to be topped with candy shells, glazes and toppings like flaked coconut or crushed peanuts. It’s easy to take home, as well - just order for home delivery and it can meet you at the doorstep after your trip to Anaheim. 

TAWDI

Dubai Chocolate is taking over the confectionary world, and TAWDI was one of the first to bring it to the Anaheim area. In addition to the pistachio-kunafeh-chocolate treats, other Mediterranean-inspired tastes like chocolate date delights and pistachio dough are all made fresh daily. 

Anaheim White House

Legendary for decades thanks to their sizzling steaks and Italian delicacies, the Anaheim White House also has a stellar dessert menu. Their puffy Souffle El Nino gets sauced tableside with chocolate ganache, crème anglaise, and Chantilly cream while Jackie O’s Dessert Tower tops four tiers of tasty treats with a tower made of spun sugar. 

Poppy & Seed

If you only stick to the savory side of the menu at this Michelin-recommended spot, you’ll miss out on another great fine-dining dessert menu. Options include brown butter waffles topped with housemade gelato or sorbet; deconstructed cheesecake with fresh farmers-market strawberries and fig leaf ice cream topped with torched meringue and honeycomb. 

Katella Bakery, Deli & Restaurant

When a bakery counts the products they bake fresh daily by the hundreds, you know you’re in the right place. Katella’s been serving up sweets (plus great Jewish deli fare) for fifty years with fruit tarts, cakes, pies, cake pops, danishes, challah loaves and New York-style cheesecakes for a post-pastrami dessert or some sweetness to take home. 

Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe

If you’ve seen a photo of a cute little bear or cat-like pastry on social media, there’s a good chance it came from Okayama Kobo, famed for their kawaii “emoji buns” stuffed with rich custard. Their Japanese-style baked goods are crafted from 100% Hokkaido-sourced flour to create tasty treats like matcha mochi buns, strawberry buns topped with cookie dough and decadent cinnamon rolls. 

Cream Pan

Famous for their strawberry croissants, this French-style boulangerie comes with some interesting Japanese influences on their menu - this is almost certainly one of the only bakeries where you can also pick up sushi and bao at the same time. Check them out for sweets like sticky buns, donuts, muffins, scones, brioche, and pan au raisin or chocolate. If you need treats for a crowd, you can also pick up one of their cakes, tarts, fruit rolls, bread pudding, or cheesecakes. 

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop 

We can’t exclude one of the most legendary names in dessert from this list: Ghiradelli. Their Disney California Adventure® Park outpost features their famous rich dark chocolate (of course) in all forms from squares to bars to baking chips, plus hot fudge sundaes, cocoa and milkshakes - and don’t forget to bring a gift box home with you. 

Choco Bakery and Cafe

As you can perhaps gather from the name, Choco Bakery loves themselves some chocolate -but that’s not all they have on offer. With three locations you have lots of ways to bring home unique European tastes like their nutella baklava, dulce de leche Napoleons, Mocca Roulette swiss rolls or banana cream tarts - plus some interesting Turkish coffee and tea choices as well.  

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