I’m back with another Local’s Guide! It’s no secret that I adore living in the beautiful city of Raleigh. I love to eat and dessert has always been my absolute favorite food category since I was a kid, so I want to share my favorite Raleigh dessert spots with you all. I’ve lived here my entire life and I have loved getting to know where to find the best dessert spots Raleigh has to offer.
If you’re ever in Raleigh and have a hankering for some type of tasty dessert, don’t miss the best spots in Raleigh! (And if you run into me, make sure to say hello and get a yummy dessert with me!)
Best Dessert Spots in Raleigh
The Cupcake Shoppe Bakery
Committed to using fresh, high end, local ingredients and proudly serve locally roasted Joe Van Gogh coffee and espresso. The shop boasts a beautiful, light filled cafe where you can enjoy a croissant warm from the oven with your espresso, or you can take your treats to our patio and enjoy the outdoors with your dessert both day and night. They believe in small batch baking and providing top quality sweets and pastries with no shortcuts and their open kitchen concept allows visitors to watch their staff at work.
Favorite item on menu: Cookie Monster Cupcake
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Amorino Gelato
Created by two childhood friends, Cristiano Sereni and Paolo Benassi, Amorino was founded in 2002. Amorino has led the way for more than 15 years in making Gelato without flavor enhancers and without artificial coloring. Amorino has promoted Organic agriculture since 2002 and proudly integrates organic ingredients to satisfy all those who respect and care about environmentally friendly methods. So if you are in Raleigh on a hot day, you know where to stop at.
Favorite item on menu: Raspberry Gelato
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
BerréClaire
BerreClaire is an home based specialty pastry and dessert shop committed to serving North Carolina with the freshest baked goods. Amber Woodard founded the brand in hopesCaptai of channeling her love for baking and creating innovative desserts. Right from her home kitchen, she leverages her Texas roots and experience as a dessert enthusiast to bring you something new. They make their collection with a keen eye for detail. Their collection includes cakes, cupcakes, cookies, pastries, chocolate dipped treats, and much more! They treat their freshly baked delicacies with love.
Favorite item on menu: Stuffed Waffle Cones
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Captain Cookie
Captain Cookie and the Milkman serves fresh, made-from-scratch cookies, dairy from local creameries, and made-to-order ice cream sandwiches! Kirk made his first cookie at age four and has been obsessed ever since. His recipe for chocolate chip cookies is the result of over three decades of tinkering and testing. While on the quest for perfection, he also developed a handful of knockout recipes for the cookies featured on our menu. To say these cookies are made-from-scratch is an understatement. Years of cookie-making and the finest ingredients have gone into making your cookie the best you’ve ever had.
Favorite item on menu: Funfetti Cookie with Vanilla Ice Cream
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Cinnaholic
Where are all my cinnamon roll lovers? Cinnaholic is proud to serve “create your own” cinnamon rolls and other sweet treats like made from scratch brownies, cookies and edible cookie dough. All of their products are fresh baked and 100% vegan, dairy & lactose-free, egg-free and cholesterol-free. Can you smell the cinnamon rolls yet?
Favorite item on menu: Razzle Dazzle Roll
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Lucettegrace
The team behind Lucettegrace is led by pastry chef/owner Daniel Benjamin. Born and raised in Valparaiso, Indiana. Pursuing his craft like a quest, Benjamin went to work for some of the country’s best pastry chefs in NYC, Florida, San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, and Washington D.C. Lucettegrace is the next chapter for a pastry chef who has spent the last 15 years in some of the finest kitchens across America. Creating a style of pastry built on tradition, but uniquely realized for Raleigh today.
Favorite item on menu: Fruit of my Labor
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Slice Pie Company
A family owned business, founded by a father and daughter’s shared passion for baking pies. Each pie that they make originates from a family tradition, neatly sealed with their dangerously delicious State Fair Blue Ribbon crust– often compared to a flaky biscuit. Each bite tells a story into their family history and truly makes you feel like you’re eating a pie straight from your grandmother’s kitchen.
Favorite item on menu: Blueberry Pie
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Videri Chocolate Factory
Videri Chocolate Factory was started by a group of friendly folks who wanted to create wonderful chocolate, from bean to bar, everyday. They’re a cozy downtown chocolate factory that scrupulously sources every ingredient to ensure a high quality, responsible chocolate. They are hoping to change the face of fine, hand-crafted, artisan chocolate by being a welcoming chocolate factory that makes people feel happy and at home.
Favorite item on menu: Videri Dirt Cup
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Escazu Chocolates
The concept of Escazú Chocolates was born from the minds of two culinary professionals, and a trip to Escazú, Costa Rica. After years of working in savory kitchens, they taught themselves the ins and outs of small batch bean to bar chocolate making. Escazú benefits from its founders’ backgrounds in restaurants; nuanced flavors shine, and our goal is always to put love, attention, passion and commitment into a product that brings a smile to our customer’s faces. After 14 years, their priorities remain the same as we continue to explore, deepen and share their craft.
Favorite item on menu: Tropical “Moon Pie”
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
Yellow Dog Bread Co.
Coffee shop and bakery in one specializing in handmade artisan breads and southern influenced pastries. With each new season bring fresh perspective and delicious new pastries to try at Yellow Dog Bread Company. The smell of fresh bread and pastries hits you as soon as you walk in the door and leaves you satisfied.
Favorite item on menu: Strawberry Shortcakes
Photo credit: Follow them on Instagram here!
There are so many amazing dessert spots in the area but these are some of my favorites in Raleigh that I love to visit. As always, thank y’all for stopping by and reading. I will see y’all back here next time.
