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A plate holds a circular personal sized cake with liquid butterscotch and a scoop of vanilla gelato. A hand holding a spoon starts to cut into it.
Warm butterscotch cake at Doughbird.
Courtney E. Smith

Where to Find the Best Desserts in Dallas

Cakes, flaming desserts, and deconstructed classics await

by Courtney E. Smith Updated
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Warm butterscotch cake at Doughbird.
| Courtney E. Smith
by Courtney E. Smith Updated

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.

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Doughbird

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Dig into this warm butterscotch cake with vanilla bean gelato for a dense and decadent dessert. A substantial circle of cake gets topped with warm, liquid butterscotch and then a scoop of cold gelato that melts down the sides.

5560 West Lovers Lane, Dallas, Texas 75209
(945) 229-2500
(945) 229-2500
A plate holds a circular personal sized cake with liquid butterscotch and a scoop of vanilla gelato. A hand holding a spoon starts to cut into it. Courtney E. Smith

Goodwins

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When it comes time for dessert at Goodwin’s, go for the D.K. Lemon Cake. It eats like a cheesecake with that citrus-y lemon flavor but is still sweet — it’s almost a surprise to learn this is a lemon sponge with curd. It sits atop a pile of blueberry compote, which follows that theory of sweet and tart together, and is topped with dollops of buttercream frosting.

2905 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75206
(214) 272-9677
(214) 272-9677
A lemon cake sits on top of blueberry compote with dollops of icing on top. Courtney E. Smith

Also featured in:

Mister Charles

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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 the Banana Semifreddo Baked Alaska on the menu of classic fare. One of the owners, Chas Martin, wanted banana pudding, in honor of his sister who he says makes a mean one, while the culinary team wanted Baked Alaska. Et voila, a double dessert — and this one is big enough to share.

    Search for reservations
  • Capital One Dining
    Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One cardholders. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app.
3219 Knox St Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75205
(972) 920-9471
(972) 920-9471
A baked Alaska is set on fire in a bowl. Kathy Tran

Georgie

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Chef RJ Yoakum loves a dish that mimics and elevates something else, and his Candy Bar dessert is exactly that. Imagine a Snickers bar, with it’s core ingredients of chocolate, caramel, and peanut, but instead the best version of those ingredients one could use, paired with house-made croissant ice cream. It’s a fun time and it satisfies a chocolate craving.

4514 Travis Street, TX 75205
(469) 466-8263
(469) 466-8263

Also featured in:

Barcelona Wine Bar

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Truly one of the most impressive olive oil cakes you’ll find in Dallas is at this wine bar. It’s moist, savory and not too sweet, with an outer crust that’s just on the verge of crisp and an interior that’s soft and warm. Pair it with a port for maximum flavor and sophistication.

5016 Miller Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
(469) 862-8500
(469) 862-8500
An olive oil cake sits on a white plate with a glass of port behind. A fork starts cutting into it. Courtney E. Smith

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Botolino Gelato Artigianale

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The pistachio cake here, 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.

2116 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
(469) 776-9077
(469) 776-9077

Also featured in:

Via Triozzi

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When dessert time comes around, order the Cannolo Sbagliato, which is a sort of deconstructed cannoli. It’s made using pizzelle (Italian wafer-cookies) with cannoli cream between, candied orange peel, cacao nibs, and crushed pistachio.

    Search for reservations
  • Capital One Dining
    Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One cardholders. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app.
1806 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
(469) 897-5679
(469) 897-5679
A hand scoops a piece of a deconstructed cannoli onto a wafer. Kathy Tran

Also featured in:

Moxie's

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Warm up your whole heart with one fork full of this sticky toffee pudding. It’s a pile of spices and nices. It is served warm and sprinkled with candied pecans, then topped with a generous pour of buttery caramel sauce, bourbon creme anglaise, and finished with vanilla bean ice cream. It’s big enough for two to four to share.

100 Crescent Ct, Dallas, TX 75201
(469) 687-0050
(469) 687-0050
A large slice of spice cake is covered with liquid toffee and a scoop of ice cream. Courtney E. Smith

Town Hearth

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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.

1617 Market Center Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 761-1617
(214) 761-1617

Also featured in:

Emporium Pies

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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.

2708 Main St #110, Dallas, TX 75226
(972) 982-2757
(972) 982-2757

Also featured in:

Crown Block

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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.

    Search for reservations
  • Capital One Dining
    Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One cardholders. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app.
300 Reunion Blvd E, Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 321-3149
(214) 321-3149
A multiple layered cake with white and chocolate has gold leaf on top of it. Kathy Tran

Also featured in:

Courtney E. Smith Courtney E. Smith is the editor of Eater Dallas. She's a journalist who was born and raised in Texas, although she spent time living in NYC and LA as well.

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Doughbird

5560 West Lovers Lane, Dallas, Texas 75209

Dig into this warm butterscotch cake with vanilla bean gelato for a dense and decadent dessert. A substantial circle of cake gets topped with warm, liquid butterscotch and then a scoop of cold gelato that melts down the sides.

5560 West Lovers Lane, Dallas, Texas 75209
(945) 229-2500
(945) 229-2500
A plate holds a circular personal sized cake with liquid butterscotch and a scoop of vanilla gelato. A hand holding a spoon starts to cut into it. Courtney E. Smith

Goodwins

2905 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75206

When it comes time for dessert at Goodwin’s, go for the D.K. Lemon Cake. It eats like a cheesecake with that citrus-y lemon flavor but is still sweet — it’s almost a surprise to learn this is a lemon sponge with curd. It sits atop a pile of blueberry compote, which follows that theory of sweet and tart together, and is topped with dollops of buttercream frosting.

2905 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75206
(214) 272-9677
(214) 272-9677
A lemon cake sits on top of blueberry compote with dollops of icing on top. Courtney E. Smith

Mister Charles

3219 Knox St Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75205

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 the Banana Semifreddo Baked Alaska on the menu of classic fare. One of the owners, Chas Martin, wanted banana pudding, in honor of his sister who he says makes a mean one, while the culinary team wanted Baked Alaska. Et voila, a double dessert — and this one is big enough to share.

3219 Knox St Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75205
(972) 920-9471
(972) 920-9471
A baked Alaska is set on fire in a bowl. Kathy Tran

Georgie

4514 Travis Street, TX 75205

Chef RJ Yoakum loves a dish that mimics and elevates something else, and his Candy Bar dessert is exactly that. Imagine a Snickers bar, with it’s core ingredients of chocolate, caramel, and peanut, but instead the best version of those ingredients one could use, paired with house-made croissant ice cream. It’s a fun time and it satisfies a chocolate craving.

4514 Travis Street, TX 75205
(469) 466-8263
(469) 466-8263

Barcelona Wine Bar

5016 Miller Ave, Dallas, TX 75206

Truly one of the most impressive olive oil cakes you’ll find in Dallas is at this wine bar. It’s moist, savory and not too sweet, with an outer crust that’s just on the verge of crisp and an interior that’s soft and warm. Pair it with a port for maximum flavor and sophistication.

5016 Miller Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
(469) 862-8500
(469) 862-8500
An olive oil cake sits on a white plate with a glass of port behind. A fork starts cutting into it. Courtney E. Smith

Botolino Gelato Artigianale

2116 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206

The pistachio cake here, 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.

2116 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
(469) 776-9077
(469) 776-9077

Via Triozzi

1806 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206

When dessert time comes around, order the Cannolo Sbagliato, which is a sort of deconstructed cannoli. It’s made using pizzelle (Italian wafer-cookies) with cannoli cream between, candied orange peel, cacao nibs, and crushed pistachio.

1806 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
(469) 897-5679
(469) 897-5679
A hand scoops a piece of a deconstructed cannoli onto a wafer. Kathy Tran

Moxie's

100 Crescent Ct, Dallas, TX 75201

Warm up your whole heart with one fork full of this sticky toffee pudding. It’s a pile of spices and nices. It is served warm and sprinkled with candied pecans, then topped with a generous pour of buttery caramel sauce, bourbon creme anglaise, and finished with vanilla bean ice cream. It’s big enough for two to four to share.

100 Crescent Ct, Dallas, TX 75201
(469) 687-0050
(469) 687-0050
A large slice of spice cake is covered with liquid toffee and a scoop of ice cream. Courtney E. Smith

Town Hearth

1617 Market Center Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207

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.

1617 Market Center Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 761-1617
(214) 761-1617

Emporium Pies

2708 Main St #110, Dallas, TX 75226

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.

2708 Main St #110, Dallas, TX 75226
(972) 982-2757
(972) 982-2757

Crown Block

300 Reunion Blvd E, Dallas, TX 75207

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.

300 Reunion Blvd E, Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 321-3149
(214) 321-3149
A multiple layered cake with white and chocolate has gold leaf on top of it. Kathy Tran

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