Sweet treats weren’t a common item in my household growing up. Fruits and vegetables are healthier for growing minds and bodies, and my parents were no fools. I was a top tier cookie monster who’d find a way to get my hands into any sweet treat-laden jar.
Being an adult comes with the great task of eating responsibly. And despite all the burgers, pizza, and cookies I post about, I eat a very nutrient-dense diet when I’m not frugal foodying.
My sweet tooth, however, still persists, and there’s nothing I love more than a little treat. And I happened to have some epic ones in 2023…
Here are my top 5 sweet treats of 2023.
5. Chocolate Chip Cookie from L’Appartement 4F
The perfect chocolate chip cookie does exist, and you can get it at L’Appartement 4F in Brooklyn Heights. This posh cafe serves up French pastries with an American twist, and they are famous for their extravagant croissants and $50 croissant cereal. (Which I refuse to pay for.)
The chocolate chip cookies, however, are life changing.
It boasts a thick crispiness that leads to ooey gooeyness at just the right moment. The soft, brown butter flavor lifts up the ample number of chocolate chips beautifully. And the light dusting of sea salt jumps in well before sweetness takes over everything. It’s texturally the most perfect cookie I’ve had the privilege of sinking my teeth into, earning it my #5 spot on my top 5 sweet treats from 2023 countdown.
(For more of my favorite cookies of 2023 click HERE!)
4. Pumpkin Coffee Cake Cake from Milk Bar
Milk Bar is a chain dessert spot that’s known for it’s 3-layer cakes, unique cookies, and various pies. I’m always skeptical of chains– quality tends to decrease with quantity. But their seasonal pumpkin coffee cake cake proved me wrong.
It had 3 tiers of vanilla cake with layers of cinnamon streusel and pumpkin. The pumpkin flavor was subtle, but still noticeable, and the layer of cinnamon streusel gave each bite a warm sweetness. The vanilla cake was nicely moist, and gave the other flavors the chance to shine. It’s one of those items that doesn’t look too impressive, nor does it sound like anything unusually spectacular. However, the flavors just worked perfectly, and it deserves a huge *chef’s kiss*.
3. Everything from Librae Bakery
Librae Bakery has swept the New York bakery scene by storm. The owner, Dona Murad, is a Bahraini entrepreneur who blends Middle Eastern flavors with Danish baking techniques. The result is something special.
I’ve been quite a few times, which is saying something considering the pastries ain’t cheap! Some of my favorite have been the pistachio rose croissant, ginger white chocolate bun, za’atar morning bun, and espresso croissant. Each has intentional, pronounced flavors that you won’t find at other bakeries, and the quality is top tier.
Get a full review HERE!
2. Gelato from Rapanui (Argentina)
Argentina is famous for it’s delectable grass-fed beef, but it wasn’t until visiting in January 2023 that I learned their dairy products are also pretty darn amazing. Mix top quality milk with heavy Italian influence, and you’ve got some of the best gelato you’ll find outside of Italy!
Rapanui is a popular chocolate shop found throughout Argentina, but they also dish up epic gelato. My friend Kate and I went to one in Bariloche and tried the dolce de leche con dolce de leche and dark chocolate, and I was dumbfounded. The texture was impossibly creamy, and the flavors were bold without tasting fake and too sweet. From alfajores to medialunas, I had a lot of great sweet treats in Argentina. But this gelato is one I’m still salivating over.
(For more Bariloche eats click HERE!)
1. Cinnamon Rolls from Cranky Granny’s Sweet Rolls (Austin)
All year I had a nagging itch for a cinnamon roll. I tried to scratch it a few times, but nothing did the trick until I trekked over to Cranky Granny’s Sweet Rolls just outside of Austin, Texas.
These are the cinnamon rolls of my dreams. They are larger than my fist and served warm with an ultra gooey inside and caramelized, crispy outside. Each bite is full of cinnamon, dough, and thick, delicious icing, causing you to spiral into a pit of despair over how you will never find such a perfect cinnamon roll again.
In hindsight, I’m not sure if these cinnamon rolls were just that delicious or if I had just come off of a year of sub-bar cinnnamon roll experiences. Either way, Cranky Granny’s Sweets Rolls gets my #1 sweet treat of 2023 award.
