clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
A woman’s hand holds a large spoon that scoops into half of a Baked Alaska, which is banana pudding inside.
The baked Alaska banana pudding at Mister Charles is a hybrid, decadent treat.
Kathy Tran

11 Indulgent Desserts to Eat in Dallas

Cakes and macaroons and designer desserts await

View as Map
The baked Alaska banana pudding at Mister Charles is a hybrid, decadent treat.
| Kathy Tran

Those with as sweet tooth know that what makes a good, satisfying dessert depends on a lot of things. What kind of flavor profile one likes is at the top of the list, but what you’ve eaten before you get there makes a big impact too.

This list of desserts is a curated look into some of the best desserts that are perennially on offer in Dallas. Some are in stand-alone shops that are dessert forward while others are meal-enders at some of the city’s best restaurants. Let this guide help you decide when to save room at the end of the meal, or if just dropping in to order dessert and coffee or a cocktail is the move.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Le Rouge at Le Rêve Gelato & Patisserie

Copy Link

There are seemingly endless bite-sized dessert delights at this North Dallas patisserie, but it’s signature “Le Rouge,” a red velvet sponge with dark chocolate mousse and cheese cremiuex. It’s soft, smooth, and has that beautiful and trendy laminated dessert look.

Macaroons at Haute Sweets Lake Highlands

Copy Link

The bar-the-door tops place to get macaroons in DFW is Haute Sweets, at its Lake Highlands or Hillcrest Village locations. The texture is perfect, with the cream of the crop are salted caramel, PJ and J, and coffee — these are macaroon choices for adults. And this sweet treat is gluten-free.

Lemmon Avenue cheesecake at Val's Cheesecakes

Copy Link

Cheesecake lovers can taste to their hearts are full at Val’s on Greenville. Our picks for the must-try flavors are the banana pudding cheesecake and the Lemmon Ave with it’s lemon poppyseed cake crust. Order as a cake, a slice, or an individual-sized jar that is returnable. Owner Valery Jean-Bart frequently collaborates with other local bakers, ice cream makers, and dessert artists for limited-time offerings.

Baked Alaska Banana Pudding at Mister Charles

Copy Link

What kind of mind combines baked Alaska and banana pudding? One that knows what’s delicious. There’s nothing quite as fun as having dessert set on fire in a fancy restaurant, and the team at Mister Charles are well aware of that, so they wanted this dessert on the menu of classic fare. One of the owners, Chas Martin, wanted banana pudding also, in honor of his sister who he says makes a mean one. Et voila, a double dessert — and this one is big enough to be sharable.

Pistachio Cake at Botolino Gelato Artigianale

Copy Link

This gelato cake, which must be ordered in advance and is only available as a whole cake, combines pistachio and rose, which the folks at Botolino says is done in honor of a traditional Middle Eastern flavor combination. Paired with a caramel glaze on the outside, it consistently blows minds.

The Elvis at Town Hearth

Copy Link

Nick Badovinus’s Design District restaurant is all whimsy and luxury, and this dessert captures the vibe completely. The Elvis is a peanut butter, banana, and chocolate dessert topped with toasted meringue and stuffed with the lightest, most delightful layers of pastry. Pairs well with the photography of Elvis’s personal artifacts that are on display in the private dining room.

Strawberry Shortcake Shake at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer

Copy Link

This New York City burger chain is known for it’s over the top menu, which most certainly extends to the CrazyShakes. The move is to go for the strawberry shortcake, which stacks a strawberry shortcake ice cream bar (the kind the ice cream guy sold from his truck) in a strawberry ice cream shake with crumbled vanilla cake, strawberry drizzle, and a pink and white twisty pop. Oh and the rim is lined with vanilla frosting. This kind of love for strawberry is more of an obsession and it’s totally fine to indulge in it.

Drunken Nut Pie at Emporium Pies

Copy Link

It’s tough to find a better pecan pie than Emporium’s Drunken Nut. The secret ingredient isn’t love, it’s bourbon. Bourbon and a load of butter, because it’s made without any corn syrup — a rarity in pecan pie land.

The Edgar at Cane Rosso

Copy Link

It takes some planning to save room for a dessert pizza at Cane Rosso but here’s how to go about it: instead of downing a whole pie yourself, share it halfsies with someone and add on a shared salad too. Then, tell them to bring out the Edgar. It’s loaded with vanilla mascarpone, Nutella, toasted marshmallows, and powdered sugar. It’s still going to be hard to finish it all so pack up anything that’s left and eat it again at midnight.

Key Lime Tart at Crown Block

Copy Link

Seriously, it’s a move to go to Crown Block and land a table looking at the skyline and then just order the entire dessert menu and nothing else — except may be a cocktail or glass of wine. But if one must choose, this is probably the best key lime anything in town. It is served as an individual pastry, a key lime tart more than a pie, with toasted meringue on top. The kitchen staff tested various limes to get just the right tart but sweet flavor and wow did they nail it.

Pecan Praline Cheesecake at Restaurant Beatrice

Copy Link

While pecan pralines are a classic Louisiana dessert that combines the praline techinque of the French and the African cooks took the ever-abundant pecans in the region and made the recipe what we know today. It’s the perfect fit for the menu at this Cajun and Creole restaurant. Adding pecan pralines to to cheesecake plays with sugary-sweet and savory cheesecake.

Loading comments...

Le Rouge at Le Rêve Gelato & Patisserie

There are seemingly endless bite-sized dessert delights at this North Dallas patisserie, but it’s signature “Le Rouge,” a red velvet sponge with dark chocolate mousse and cheese cremiuex. It’s soft, smooth, and has that beautiful and trendy laminated dessert look.

Macaroons at Haute Sweets Lake Highlands

The bar-the-door tops place to get macaroons in DFW is Haute Sweets, at its Lake Highlands or Hillcrest Village locations. The texture is perfect, with the cream of the crop are salted caramel, PJ and J, and coffee — these are macaroon choices for adults. And this sweet treat is gluten-free.

Lemmon Avenue cheesecake at Val's Cheesecakes

Cheesecake lovers can taste to their hearts are full at Val’s on Greenville. Our picks for the must-try flavors are the banana pudding cheesecake and the Lemmon Ave with it’s lemon poppyseed cake crust. Order as a cake, a slice, or an individual-sized jar that is returnable. Owner Valery Jean-Bart frequently collaborates with other local bakers, ice cream makers, and dessert artists for limited-time offerings.

Baked Alaska Banana Pudding at Mister Charles

What kind of mind combines baked Alaska and banana pudding? One that knows what’s delicious. There’s nothing quite as fun as having dessert set on fire in a fancy restaurant, and the team at Mister Charles are well aware of that, so they wanted this dessert on the menu of classic fare. One of the owners, Chas Martin, wanted banana pudding also, in honor of his sister who he says makes a mean one. Et voila, a double dessert — and this one is big enough to be sharable.

Pistachio Cake at Botolino Gelato Artigianale

This gelato cake, which must be ordered in advance and is only available as a whole cake, combines pistachio and rose, which the folks at Botolino says is done in honor of a traditional Middle Eastern flavor combination. Paired with a caramel glaze on the outside, it consistently blows minds.

The Elvis at Town Hearth

Nick Badovinus’s Design District restaurant is all whimsy and luxury, and this dessert captures the vibe completely. The Elvis is a peanut butter, banana, and chocolate dessert topped with toasted meringue and stuffed with the lightest, most delightful layers of pastry. Pairs well with the photography of Elvis’s personal artifacts that are on display in the private dining room.

Strawberry Shortcake Shake at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer

This New York City burger chain is known for it’s over the top menu, which most certainly extends to the CrazyShakes. The move is to go for the strawberry shortcake, which stacks a strawberry shortcake ice cream bar (the kind the ice cream guy sold from his truck) in a strawberry ice cream shake with crumbled vanilla cake, strawberry drizzle, and a pink and white twisty pop. Oh and the rim is lined with vanilla frosting. This kind of love for strawberry is more of an obsession and it’s totally fine to indulge in it.

Drunken Nut Pie at Emporium Pies

It’s tough to find a better pecan pie than Emporium’s Drunken Nut. The secret ingredient isn’t love, it’s bourbon. Bourbon and a load of butter, because it’s made without any corn syrup — a rarity in pecan pie land.

The Edgar at Cane Rosso

It takes some planning to save room for a dessert pizza at Cane Rosso but here’s how to go about it: instead of downing a whole pie yourself, share it halfsies with someone and add on a shared salad too. Then, tell them to bring out the Edgar. It’s loaded with vanilla mascarpone, Nutella, toasted marshmallows, and powdered sugar. It’s still going to be hard to finish it all so pack up anything that’s left and eat it again at midnight.

Key Lime Tart at Crown Block

Seriously, it’s a move to go to Crown Block and land a table looking at the skyline and then just order the entire dessert menu and nothing else — except may be a cocktail or glass of wine. But if one must choose, this is probably the best key lime anything in town. It is served as an individual pastry, a key lime tart more than a pie, with toasted meringue on top. The kitchen staff tested various limes to get just the right tart but sweet flavor and wow did they nail it.

Pecan Praline Cheesecake at Restaurant Beatrice

While pecan pralines are a classic Louisiana dessert that combines the praline techinque of the French and the African cooks took the ever-abundant pecans in the region and made the recipe what we know today. It’s the perfect fit for the menu at this Cajun and Creole restaurant. Adding pecan pralines to to cheesecake plays with sugary-sweet and savory cheesecake.

Related Maps