Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar, Broadbeach: Cowch is like a real-life version of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, but with cocktails. Located at Pacific Fair, Cowch brings together sugar and booze in spectacular fashion. From cornflake-topped sweet pizzas and DIY ice-cream pops to its dedicated list of Nutella-laden desserts, this is the go-to for all things sweet. Get your lips on the sherbet-rimmed candy margarita while you’re at it.

Oh My Waffle, Burleigh Heads: The aroma of freshly baked hot waffles now overpowers the sea air in Burleigh Heads thanks to this dedicated waffle bar, which is the first of its kind on the coast. The menu of golden waffles caters for the chocolate lovers to caramel cravers and the berry-and-custard-types, all served alongside a series of crazy milkshakes and hot chocolates. Vegan? There are a bunch of  plant-based waffles, too!

Bubbo Dessert Bar, Surfers Paradise: If you’ve never tried Hong Kong-style egg waffles, here is your chance. Bubbo serves pimped-up versions of the traditional street-food staple in various combinations of ice-cream, fruit, Oreos, Tim Tams, Fruit Loops (yes), Nutella sauce and more. If the original waffle isn’t enough for you, then you can opt for the flavoured waffles, where each individual bubble is filled with a sweet surprise.

Sacred Taste, Miami: A guilt-free dessert bar? You betcha. Sacred Taste is located in plant-based marketplace The LC in Miami – it ticks all of the dietary boxes by showcasing a creative and eye-catching menu that is totally gluten-free, refined-sugar free, keto-friendly and vegan, with plenty of nut-free options too. The ice-cream sambos are a real delight.

Mark Daniel’s Patisserie, Robina: Nestled within The Kitchens at Robina Town Centre, this kiosk-style sweets hub is full of colourful handmade treats from its signature macarons to buttery croissants, petit gateaux, cruffins, doughnuts, brownie sandwiches and more. The patisserie also just dropped a new vegan soft-serve too, for all of the plant-based sweeties out there.

The Pastry Emporium, Mermaid Waters: This sugar-filled space really lives up to its name. You’ll find it jam-packed with everything from custard-filled doughnuts, colourful macarons and cookies, to hand-rolled croissants, fruit danishes and endless rows of petite cakes. You’ll also find The Pastry Emporium’s range of decorated whole cakes in the cabinet, which you can nab on the daily or pre-order for a special occasion (or purely for the love of cake).

Gelato Messina, Coolangatta: These gelato masters churn out more than 40 utterly delicious flavours from its seaside locale in the heart of Coolangatta. It’s certainly not your standard gelato shop – think elaborate flavours like cream-cheese with (actual) carrot cake, pannacotta with fig jam and amaretti biscuits, and apple-pie gelato with housemade apple pie crumbled on top.

Max Brenner, various locations: If the Land of Chocolate did actually exist, we reckon it would resemble the interior of Max Brenner. Here you can eat, drink, lick or slurp chocolate at any time of day. We’re partial to the Spectacular Choc-Fudge Brownie Sundae – it comes all the trimmings, including waffle balls and a pot of melted chocolate.

Image credit: Bubbo Dessert Bar