The round up: sate your sweet tooth at Brisbane's best dessert spots
The round up: sate your sweet tooth at Brisbane's best dessert spots
The round up: sate your sweet tooth at Brisbane's best dessert spots
The round up: sate your sweet tooth at Brisbane's best dessert spots
The round up: sate your sweet tooth at Brisbane's best dessert spots
The round up: sate your sweet tooth at Brisbane's best dessert spots
The round up: sate your sweet tooth at Brisbane's best dessert spots

The round up: sate your sweet tooth at Brisbane’s best dessert spots

Let’s be honest with ourselves – it doesn’t matter what you’ve had for dinner, there’s always room for dessert. Brisbane is absolutely flush with spots to get your sugar fix, whether it be in a decadent cake, a few weighty scoops of ice-cream or a dozen doughnuts. So you can satisfy your sweet tooth, we’ve put together a list some seriously decadent dessert spots in Brisbane.

Mr Treat, Fortitude Valley: Mr Treat – the sibling venture from the Oh My, Waffle crew – opened in Fortitude Valley in mid-August 2021, hawking loaded cookies and soft-serve ice-cream. The pint-sized locale packs a serious wallop in the dessert stakes, with a range of chunky cookies (flavours include Caramilk, s’mores, chocolate peanut butter, red velvet, Oreo, choc-chip, salted caramel, white chocolate and Biscoff) available in packs or warmed up and topped with ice-cream. Cookie Monster would definitely approve of this newbie.

Doughnut World, Daisy Hill: Another relative newcomer to Brisbane’s dessert offering, Doughnut World in Daisy Hill has quickly amassed a legion of loyal fans and for good reason. Their doughnut line-up is not something to be scoffed at with everything from classics like original glaze, jam-filled and cinnamon gracing the baked goods cabinet to more creative concoctions like Oreo Biscoff Cheesecake, Nutella Peanut Butter, Key Lime Pie Cheesecake, Lemon Meringue and even Caramilk-filled doughnuts making an appearance.

La Macelleria Gelateria, multiple locations: Real talk – you can’t call yourself a gelato lover if you’ve never sampled the heavenly goodness at Teneriffe’s La Macelleria Gelateria. This artisanal gelato is made without preservatives, colourants and additives, with only the best local ingredients going into the mix. When you sample the likes of raspberry cheesecake, pistachio or crema bologna flavours, do so knowing you are tasting the best around. Oh, and La Macelleria has other locations in West End, Bowen Hills and Coorparoo. You’re welcome.

Cowch, multiple locations: Cowch is more or less a dessert institution in Brisbane, and we would struggle to find a more sophisticated locale for a late-night sugar fix. The creations here are mesmerising, with a varied range of treats perfect for devouring. Tuck in to fudge nut sundaes, humongous hot chocolates, cookie pancake stacks, dessert pies, churros and naked pops – and that’s not even including the section of the menu dedicated entirely to Nutella. You’ll find Cowch at its new location at Westfield Garden City as well as in South Bank and Chermside.

Eat Street Northshore, Hamilton: Harbouring some of the best sweet treats in town, Eat Street Northshore is the weekend dessert destination. Eat Street’s dedicated sweet treat retreat KombiAlley is home to a range of dessert-oriented vendors including The Doughnut Bar and Double Good, while over in the LaneWay you can fine Dutch De Lites and Dessert Depot, plus MarketSquare is home to Arriba Churroria and The Byron Gelato. We think it’s best you get some extra to take away.

Jocelyn’s Provisions, multiple locations: Few names carry more weight in the Brisbane cake scene than Jocelyn’s Provisions. Known for its buttery baked treats, decadent cakes, bouchon chocolates, chewy chocolate and caramel brownies, passionfruit tarts and espresso balls, any sweet craving can be satisfied with what’s behind the counter. Jocelyn’s Provisions is operating off James Street, but you can also find the goodies at Albion Provisions, in The City and Camp Hill.

Ciao Gelato, Nundah: A favourite amongst locals, Nundah’s Ciao Gelato takes a unique approach to the art of gelato. New flavours are added every week, with the cabinet stocked with a huge range of tantalising flavours and dairy-free sorbets, as well as almond milk gelati and vegan (yes, vegan!) cakes and pops.

Lick! Ice Cream, multiple locations: One of the best things about going to the Ekka every year is snacking on the iconic strawberry ice-cream. Lick! Ice Cream is the outfit responsible for this classic treat, which has been operating out of its own store in Graceville since 2015. The flavours at Lick! Ice Cream are constantly rotating in addition to ice-cream sandwiches, banana splits, and doughnut and waffle hybrids called ‘Doffles’. If that doesn’t sound like a dessert-lovers dream, then you might be reading the wrong kind of article. You can also find Lick! Ice Cream in Paddington and Morningside.

I Heart Brownies, multiple locations: Brownies make great gifts, but sometimes not just any old brownie will do. I Heart Brownies in Bowen Hills and The City is renowned for the quality of its product, which comes in a charming heart shape that will make the recipient positively melt. I Heart Brownies stocks flavours including original chocolate, dairy-free chocolate, double chocolate, cherry coconut, jaffa, mint, salted caramel, Nutella, peanut butter, Turkish Delight and much more.

nodo, multiple locations: Home of the famous gluten free, baked-not-fried donut, nodo donuts removes the naughtiness in indulgence with its range of baked treats made from artisan techniques and gluten-free ingredients. These donuts (spelled as such to communicate the ‘no dough’ aspect) come in a range of flavours, including raspberry white chocolate, strawberry hazelnut, blueberry lemon cheesecake, pumpkin maple, fairy bread and much more. You’ll find these delicious morsels in Newstead, The City, Camp Hill, Hawthorne and South Bank.

Rofl Wafl, Carseldine: Carseldine Central’s resident waffle and pancake parlour, Rofl Wafl, will sate your sweet tooth with its decadent menu of all-day breakfast bites, gourmet waffles, pancakes, crepes and decadent thickshakes. Cut your teeth on the signature (and extremely crowd-pleasing) Rofl Wafl (a waffle sandwich filled with two scoops of vanilla-bean ice-cream, Nutella, cookie dough, sprinkles, crushed Clinkers, popping candy, melted milk chocolate, sour straps, marshmallows and whipped cream) or stick a fork into a maple syrup drenched stack of pancakes. Those looking to wash down their meal with a flavourful drink can sip on a Merlo coffee or a selection of ‘Freak Shakes’ – loaded milkshakes.

Passiontree Velvet, multiple locations: An English teahouse, Parisian patisserie and Belgian chocolatier, Brisbane’s signature dessert cafe Passiontree Velvet celebrates the best sweet treats Europe has to offer. Enjoy a decadent high tea featuring an array of ribbon sandwiches, freshly baked scones, French macarons, cakes and a tempting array of chocolates. Passionate about tea and providing the finest quality full-leaf and craft blends by Harney & Sons, Passiontree Velvet is the perfect world of edible luxury to retreat to on a shopping trip. You can find Passiontree Velvet in Carindale Westfield and Indooroopilly Shopping Centre.

Gelato Messina, South Brisbane and Fortitude Valley: When it comes to big names of the gelato game, Messina is one of the biggest. This nation-spanning chain made a significant splash in the ice-cream scene when it arrived in South Brisbane in 2016, following up with another location in Fortitude Valley in 2019. If you’re not sure what the fuss is all about, let us educate you. Firstly, every Messina location has 40 flavours – 35 traditional and five rotating special flavours. Gelato Messina also owns its own dairy farm, which supplies incredible jersey milk to its various outlets. Finally, the crew makes its own chocolate using high-quality single-origin Ecuadorian cacao, guaranteeing an authentic richness you can’t deny.

Milani House of Gelato, Hamilton: If you’re seeking Brisbane’s most highly awarded gelato, look no further than Milani. This Hamilton icon has notched numerous accolades, including Australia Grand Dairy Awards Grand Champion Dairy Product 2017. The secret to Milani’s success? All of the gelato here is lovingly hand made using techniques learned at the University of Bologna under a Master gelato chef. The flavour range is extensive (and includes vegan sorbet and gluten-free options), and boasts some unique options, such as Kinder Surprise, Cherrypino, Crunchie and Baileys.

Sonder Dessert, Sunnybank: A Japanese-inspired dessert and patisserie nestled in the burbs of Sunnybank, Sonder Dessert is beloved by its legion of sweet-tooth fanatics. It’s here where you can gobble up delights like Purin Cheesecake (a creme caramel Japanese pudding meets New York baked cheesecake hybrid), Ichigo Kakigori (red fruit granita topped with matcha cream, freeze-dried strawberries, and fresh strawberries) and Matcha Warabi Mochi (a traditional Japanese confection made with bracken starch and coated with matcha powder and served with matcha syrup for dipping). Sonder also serves up a huge range of coffee, Japanese tea, iced drinks, frappes, floats and ice-cream. We suggest popping on your stretch pants.

Happy Pops, South Bank: Let’s face it – sometimes eating gelato gets a little messy. Cones are great, but are prone to drippage. Cups are neater, but now you’re dealing with a two-handed operation. Happy Pops in South Bank solves this conundrum by serving premium gelato on a stick. Happy Pops gelato is handcrafted using all natural and preservative-free ingredients, offering a create-your-own option and pre-made flavours including Hokey Pokey with Australian honeycomb, homemade caramel sauce and Belgian chocolate and the salted caramel with caramel sauce, chocolate and Murray River pink salt. Excessive melt is caught by finger guards, saving you a trip to the hand soap, and can be consumed on the go. Brilliant!

Ice Dream, South Bank: Ice Dream is a colourful pop-up ice-cream dispensary with a twist. Here a host of fresh fruit, cereals, biscuits and imported confections are smoothly blended into a range of unique, tongue-tantalising flavours using a specialised ice-cream mixer, which seamlessly blends ice-cream and ingredients into a silky soft-serve spiral. Fruit fiends can dip a spoon into soft-serve ice-cream imbued with fresh chunks of mango, strawberry, blueberry, dragonfruit and lychee, or, if you’re looking for a nostalgia hit, Ice Dream also boasts ice-cream mixed with cereal – think Froot Loops, Coco Pops, Crispix and Corn Flakes. As for drinks, Ice Dream also concocts milkshakes imbued with Hershey’s chocolate, caramel or strawberry, plus sparkly gold or rose-gold Stardust Lemonades.

The Bakers Duck, Toowoomba: A collaborative venture between two hospitality families in Toowoomba, The Bakers Duck’s reputation as a must-visit sweets slinger precedes itself for good reason. Goodies that have to be eaten to believed include the strawberry cheesecake danish, custard tart, almond croissant, and the vanilla plie – a half-folded danish with vanilla custard baked into layers of semi-sourdough croissant pastry. These treats are well worth the drive.

Keep your eyes open and prepare your tastebuds, as the Lisboa Caffe crew will soon be slinging several ecstasy-inducing flavours of a Portuguese custard tart from its bricks-and-mortar cafe and bakery in South Brisbane. 

The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Brisbane dining guide with more than 2400 places to eat, drink, shop and play.

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