Best Desserts in Connecticut: Happy National Dessert Day!
Photo Credit: Connecticut Food and Farm at NoRa Cupcake Company
You are going to hate us. But then, after careful consideration, you’re going to really love us. A lot. It’s National Dessert Day and well, we just *had* to gather a deliciously lengthy list of desserts from all over the state. CTBites readers and staff weighed in and we have just the thing to squelch your craving, ease that long day, or just enjoy for the sweet heck of it. We happen to notice, though, there are a lot of bananas and bourbon on this list in all different forms. Is that the magic combination for culinary comfort and delight?? Happy desserting, everyone!
By county…
Fairfield
Brasitas
Norwalk, Stamford
Tres Leches Cake-“Milk cake” and just that…three types of milk (whole, condensed, evaporated) make for a milky, soaked cake that is stacked and sweet. Topped with whipped cream, just in case you weren’t getting enough dairy with your dessert.
Cafe Dolce
345 Main Ave., Norwalk
Dobos Cake-A Hungarian 7- layer extravaganza: layers of sponge cake with chocolate buttercream and topped with caramel. Gorgeous and delicious. Times 7.
Carl Anthony’s Trattoria
477 Main St., Monroe
www.carlanthonys.com
Bananarama (no relation to the 80s band)-A warm banana-caramel cheesecake-that alone should be enough-but with bruleed banana, caramel and chocolate ganache to add that perfect, chocolatey touch.
DiMare Pastry Shop
12 Largo Drive South, Stamford
Double Temptation Cake-Delicious Devil’s Food cake, creamy chocolate mousse, and smoothy and rich cheesecake, all stacked together in a perfectly sinful (we had to say it) forkful.
Donut Crazy
various locations
Insanely outrageous donuts with flavors including Caramel Apple, S'mores, PB & J, and Blueberry Butternut. Pastry chef Susanne Berne goes above and beyond with this breakfast and desserts favorite.
Drop and Fry
464 Shippan Ave., Stamford
Various ice creams, wrapped in pound cake, FRIED, and then, if the wasn’t decadent enough, topped with anything from powdered sugar to cookie dough to Kit Kats.
El Segundo
3 North Water St., Norwalk
www.elsegundosono.com
Churro Sundae-Swirly vanilla and coffee ice cream, topped with house made candied pecans and, wait for it…sugary churros *filled* with Dulce de L eche shoved in there, too.
Fat Cat Pie Company
9-11 Wall St., Norwalk
www.fatcatpie.com
Butterscotch pudding-Creamy, dreamy, you-don’t-want-to-know-the-ingredients-list bowl of goodness. Just like Mama used to make, but waaaay better (ssshh, don’t tell her).
Ferris Acres Creamery
144 Sugar St., Newtown
Cow Trax-Vanilla ice cream with swirls of peanut butter and caramel, complete with mini chocolate chips.
Note: The window closes for the season on Oct. 30th but they will still be taking holiday orders. Go to website for order forms.
Gelatissimo
26 Forest St., New Canaan
www.gelatissimoartisangelato.com
Creamy Coconut-Silky, make-you-remember-your-trip-to-Italy gelato, coconut gelato with shredded coconut floating throughout.
HooDoo Brown BBQ
967 Ethan Allen Hwy., Ridgefield
Banana Bourbon Cream Pie-The crust is made with Nilla wafers (there’s a happy blast from the past), creamy custard banana bourbon filling with fresh bananas, with a big ol’ layer of house made whipped cream and crumbled Nillas on top.
Hub and Spoke
3001 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport
www.hubandspokect.com
Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie-A chocolate wafer crust (hence the black bottom) filled with pastry cream and fresh bananas, topped with whipped cream and, of course, chocolate sauce
La Zingara
8 PT Barnum Square, Bethel
Tiramisu-Espresso and brandy soaked ladyfingers, layered with a mascarpone mousse and crushed chocolate. You know the drill. But it’s always good to know where to find a good Tiramisu.
Le Penguin
Greenwich, Westport
Tart Tatin-Caramelized warm apple tart (but it’s upside down, that’s what makes it special. Those delicious cooked apples are on top) with vanilla sauce. Perfection during fall and winter. Or spring and summer.
Marly’s Bar & Bistro
101 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton
Macy's Mousse-A rich combination of dark and milk chocolates that is a true chocoholics creamy delight. And what’s not to like about that?
Match
98 Washington St., Norwalk
A stack of just baked, warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies accompanied by just the right amount of peanut butter gelato and whipped cream. And kids have all the fun? I think not.
Michele’s Pies
666 Main Ave., Norwalk
Apple Caramel Crump pie-Generous crumb topping, super sweet and tender apples piled high and a good drizzle of caramel on top. Lordy.
Mr. Frosty’s Ice Cream
6 First St., Norwalk
www.mrfrostyicecream.com
Apple Waffle Sundae (seasonal)-A warm Belgian waffle topped with locally made vanilla ice cream, caramelized apples, gooey hot caramel, cinnamon crumb, and fluffy whipped cream.
St. Moritz Bakery
383 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich
Sarah Bernhardt chocolates-Named for a French actress who starred in “Hamlet”, these are almond macaroons, topped with a silky chocolate filling and then enrobed in melted chocolate. Truffle-esque, but different. And better.
SoNo Baking Company
South Norwalk, Darien and Westport locations
Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake- This decadent dessert is available in multiple sizes ranging from 6" to full sheet cake to insure that every chocolate lovers dreams come true.
Sweet Lisa's
3 Field Rd. Cos Cob, CT
Sweet Lisa's Exquisite Cakes provides award-winning, high-end custom design pastry cakes, pastries, cookies and cupcakes for any occasion.
The Common Bond Market
40 Huntington St., Shelton
Hot Chocolate Cupcakes-Chocolate cupcake with vanilla buttercream, topped with chocolate ganache and mini marshmallows. And guess what? They are gluten-free and vegan.
The Schoolhouse at Cannondale
34 Cannon Rd., Wilton
www.schoolhouseatcannondale.com
Chocolate soufflé for two-Rule #1: Share with a friend who knows how to share. This fluffy dream of a dessert comes with dark chocolate sauce to drizzle in and sweet cream ice cream on the side for that hit of cool (flavors vary night to night).
Valencia Luncheria
164 Main St., Norwalk
Nutella and Cream Cheese Empanadas-Warm Nutella. Gooey sweet cream cheese. Crack open this crispy empanada and both come oozing out. There’s really no more that needs to be said.
Walrus & Carpenter
2895 Fairfield Ave., Black Rock, CT
Walrus Pie – Buckle up, baconophiles and sugarholics. The crust is a bacon-chocolate chip cookie, the middle is peanut butter ice cream and all over everything is bacon crumble, bacon candy, and chocolate. Eating is believing.
Washington Prime
Georgetown, South Norwalk
Bananas Foster Cake-Everything you love about Bananas Foster, and seriously what’s not to love?…in a cake. Topped with a light icing made of banana liquor and cream and finished with still more caramelized bananas.
The Whelk
575 Riverside Ave. Westport, CT
http://www.thewhelkwestport.com/
Olive Oil cake with figs- Marinated seasonal figs top an olive oil infused cake and fresh whipped cream. This not-to-sweet- dessert is a perfect ending to a delicious dinner.
Hartford
Abigail’s Grille & Wine Bar
4 Hartford Rd., Simsbury
Bread Pudding- A banana, peanut butter, and chocolate chip bread pudding, paired with a scoop of J Foster’s chocolate ice cream on the side. It’s got it all and could be considered by some to be a meal on its own.
Atillio’s
775 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury
Carrot Cake-House made classic carrot cake using a 150-year-old family recipe. Cream cheese frosting on top. The works!
Barcelona Wine Bar
Various locations
Dulce de Leche Crepes-The French and the Spanish mingle in a most delightful way. Light crepes, rolled up and containing a gooey filling of caramel-y Dulce de Leche and vanilla cream.Topped with a squiggle of chocolate sauce and ice cream. And to think the crepe had you thinking it was a light dessert…
Cake Gypsy
Canton and Avon locations
www.cakegypsy.com
Lemon Coconut Cupcake-A lemon cake complete with lemon filling, frosted with vanilla buttercream and topped with flaked coconut and a candied lemon slice. Lllllove Lllllemon.
Flatbread Company
In the Shoppes at Farmington Valley, Canton
Griffin Farmstead Apple Cider Donut Sundae – J. Foster’s ice cream, with two apple cider donuts that have been warmed in their wood-fired oven and topped with homemade maple syrup-sweetened whipped cream
Giuseppina’s Italian Bakery
946 Sullivan Ave., South Windsor
www.italianbakerysouthwindsor.com
Chocolate Mousse Cake-Chocolate on chocolate on chocolate. A chocolate cake with chocolate mousse between the layers. 4 layers of cake and 3 layers of mousse. 7 layers of divine.
J. Gilberts
185 Glastonbury Blvd., Glastonbury
Carrot Cake-Traditional carrot cake but with a pecan-praline filling, sweet cream cheese frosting and topped with toasted coconut and crème anglaise
The North House
1 Nod Rd., Avon
www.thenorthhouse.com
Blueberry Cake Pudding-A White Chocolate Blueberry Cake Pudding with blueberry puree, chocolate chunks and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Blueberries are good for you, you know?
Max a Mia
70 E. Main St., Avon
Coconut Layer Cake-A vanilla cake with coconut creme oozing between the layers, toasted coconut topping it generously, all the while, sitting in a lovely puddle of toffee sauce
Max’s Oyster Bar
964 Farmington Ave., West Hartford
www.maxrestaurantgroup.com
Chocolate Beignets-A Chocolate Truffle coated in Beignet batter and fried, then rolled in sugar for good measure. Sugar. Chocolate. Fried. Oh my.
Present Company
2 Tunxis Rd., Tariffville
Floating Island-No man is an island but a man could use a floating island every once in a while. A soft poached meringue floating in crème anglaise, serve with a Scottish shortbread and crème de cassis
Restaurant Bricco
78 Lasalle Rd., West Hartford
Nutella Pie-Nutella mousse sitting in an Oreo cookie crust, topped with hazelnut caramel whipped cream (as if eating it out of the jar wasn’t decadent enough)
Rooster Co.
1076 Main St., Newington
www.roostercompany.net
Potato Chip Brownie-A chocolate brownie with potato chips *in the batter* for crunch (no nuts!), topped with chocolate bark, a drizzle of salted caramel, and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Tangiers International Market
550 Farmington Ave., Hartford
Baklava-Crispy, flakey, walnut-y, honey-y, sweet. Go get thee a square!
Treva
980 Farmington Ave., West Hartford
Local Honey Budino-A Budino, so you know, is an Italian custard or pudding and this one is made with local honey. Served with a side of Fig gelato, sweetness ensues.
Wood-n-Tap Bar & Grill
various locations
Livy’s cheesecake-Made with whipped Mascarpone cheese, this velvety cake has an Oreo cookie crust. Topped with fresh strawberries and blackberries and comes with a trio of delicious sauces: caramel, chocolate and raspberry.
Litchfield
CBBG Dessert Bar
469 Main St., Watertown
www.cbbgdessertbar.com
Slutty Brownies (vegan brownie bars)-Chocolate chip bottom layer, gooey chocolate middle layer and rich brownie layer on top of that. Who said sluts are bad?
Passiflora Cafe, Tea Room & Herbal Shoppe
526 Main St., New Hartford
www.passiflorateas.blogspot.com
Matcha Green Cupcakes-Matcha green tea cupcake with accompanying frosting…and vegan at that!
The Sweet Spot
60 Railroad St., New Milford
Banana Chocolate Vegan cupcake-Banana cupcake with whips of chocolate frosting on top and crowned with a banana chip
New Haven
App’s
283 Captain Thomas Blvd., West Haven
Rice Pudding-House made comforting, creamy pudding topped with a dollop of whipped cream. And no raisins for the anti-raisin crowd!
Caseus Fromagerie & Bistro
93 Whitney Ave., New Haven
Chocolate Pot de Creme-A rich, chocolate pudding topped with vanilla bean whipped cream (Note:There have been instances of it topped with peanut butter whipped cream or a Swiss meringue, too. Be on the lookout)
Libby’s Italian Pastry Shop
139 Wooster St. New Haven
Cannoli-Crisp shells, creamy fillings…plain, chocolate filled, dusted with coconut, chocolate-dipped shells, just dusted with confectioner sugar. Take your pick.
Middlebury Consignments
1365 Whittlemore Rd., Middlebury
Limoncello Tea Cake-With a taste of Italy and zesty Limoncello liquor, this spongy tea cake is served with fresh berries and whipped cream.
Nora Cupcakes Co.
various locations
Just about any cupcake from Nora's creative team is worth craving. Some of our favorites are: Pumpkin Spice Latte, Boozy Breakfast, Mexican Wedding and Mounds.
Sugar Cupcakes and Bakery
422-424 Main St., East Haven
Anginette Cupcake-These festive cupcakes taste like an Italian anisette cookie! Anise cupcake with a confectioner’s sugar glaze, and sprinkled with those colorful nonpariels that we all know so well.
Shell & Bones
100 S Water St. New Haven, CT
Chocolate Souffle flash fried in a wonton wrapper- over seasonal berries, vanilla gelato, and chocolate cookie crumbs. A cookie man "stands guard" over the dessert in case you don't feel like sharing!
New London
Lis Bake Shop
15 Holmes St., Mystic
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies-A New England staple paired with the seasonal craze. Fluffy, spice-filled Whoopies with a creamy, sugary filling. All hail fall in Connecticut!
NV Coffee Bakery & Market
40 Boston Post Rd., Waterford
The Elvis Crepe-Peanut butter, fresh bananas and chocolate sauce and rolled within a warm crepe and drizzled with a rich chocolate sauce (just one of about a dozen crepes they make)
Sift Bake Shop
5 Water St., Mystic
Lemon Olive Oil Cake-This is like no olive oil cake you’ve ever seen. A moist lemon olive oil sponge cake with lemon curd, whipped lemon mousse and enrobed in a crisp white chocolate shell. Decorated to the nines and looking like a piece of art
Middlesex
Dagmar’s Desserts
75 Main St., Old Saybrook
Apple Strudel-Apples, raisins, and spices rolled together and rolled together some more. Dusted with confectioner sugar and sliced, it is perfect with a cup of joe.
Hen and Heifer
23 Water St., Guilford
Lemon Meringue Tart-You like meringue? Well, this tart is literally covered in it. Beautiful swoops of perfectly toasted meringue, completely covering (top and sides) a meringue tart. Let the swooning begin.
Tolland
Victoria Station
91 Main St., Putnam
Raspberry Mousse Cup-Sort of like Tiramisu but different; Ladyfingers soaked in raspberry liquor with a white chocolate mousse filling. They top this with fresh raspberries, blueberries and a strawberry.and it sits daintily in a white chocolate cup.
UConn Dairy Bar
3636 Horsebarn Hill Rd., Storrs
Husky Tracks- Vanilla ice cream with a fudge swirl and peanut butter cups scattered throughout. All the ice cream is made on premises at their creamery, which was established in the early 1900s. The cows can be seen at the UConn animal barns. They have yet to receive their diplomas.
Golden Lamb Buttery
499 Wolf Den Rd., Brooklyn
www.thegoldenlamb.com
Hummingbird Cake-A Southern favorite at this bucolic Northern farm. Pineapple, bananas, spices and a thick, rich cream cheese frosting (but no nuts in this recipe). Perfect with your morning coffee.
Windham
A Cupcake for Later
798 Main St., Willamantic
www.acupcakeforlater.com
Chocolate Salted Caramel-A dark chocolate cake full of creamy caramel filling and frosted with a caramel whipped cream cheese frosting. Topped with satiny chocolate ganache and the perfect sprinkle of sea salt.
Leaf & Flour Bakery
45 High St., Willamantic
Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting-Lots of layers, lots of autumn spices and lots of gooey frosting.
Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse
Mohegan Sun Casino
www.mjshconnecticut.com
Baked Alaska-Cool vanilla ice cream enrobed in a flakey brioche which is then swaddled in a light meringue, crisped lightly and topped with candied almonds and sitting in a puddle of sweet caramel sauce. It’s the turducken of desserts.
