Are you looking for the most extraordinary dessert places in Grand Rapids, Michigan? Listed below are some of the most popular places for cookies, cakes, chocolate, ice cream, and more.
Planning a trip to Grand Rapids is super exciting! If you’re anything like me, you’re here because you love to research and plan your trip ahead of time. As a Grand Rapids native, I am giving you a list of 23 extraordinary dessert places in Grand Rapids.
You are going to learn about the best bakeries, chocolate and candy shops, and order ahead stores. After learning about these places, you are going to be ready for your next dessert adventure!
This post is my list of 23 Extraordinary Dessert Places in Grand Rapids.
Cookies & Cakes
Getting us started, is the category of cookies and cakes. Cookies are perfect for any occasion, make an easy snack, or make great gifts. The list below offers a variety of cafes, shops, and stores where you can order whatever your heart desires!
1. A very cute French cafe, Le Bon Macaron, has the most delicious macarons. They have locations in Grand Rapids, Holland, and Ann Arbor. In Grand Rapids, the cafe is on Cherry Street in East Hills. Some of my favorite flavors include pistachio, rose, nutella, and lavender. To go along with the macarons, consider ordering a french press coffee, lavender latte, or Italian soda.
2. Insomnia Cookies is not unique to Grand Rapids, but their cookies are delicious nonetheless. If you’re craving a late night sweet treat, this place is perfect because they are open until midnight or 1:00 am. Their cookies can be served warm, and with a glass of milk! They do local delivery too! When my boyfriend was training for a month out of state, I was able to send him cookies by ordering through their website from the local Insomnia Cookies. My favorite cookie is the traditional chocolate chip.
3. Another national cookie chain, Crumbl offers cake-like cookies. These giant cookies are more like mini cakes with their over abundance of frosting and specialty flavors. You can purchase the cookies individually, in packs of 6, or 12. They offer a new set of flavors each week too, so you’ll never get bored. I love picking up a set of these cookies and bringing them to parties for large groups to share.
4. Pochis Sweet Designs offers Colombian desserts! Desserts may be ordered through the website, or check out the recently opened cafe in downtown Grand Rapids! Offering a robust menu of Colombian food, including dessert and coffee, you’ll be sure to try something unique here.
5. Nantucket Bakery brings European style breads and pastries to Grand Rapids. They have two locations, Lyon Street and Fuller Street. I love their large cookies, scones, danishes, pies, and cheesecake. Everything Nantucket bakes is delicious. If you’re looking for a holiday dessert, consider one of their specialty cakes or pies.
6. Located inside the Downtown Market, Gaby’s Gourmandise creates incredible french pastries. I love their madeleines and cream puffs. They also offer catering!
7. If you’re looking for a one of a kind cookie, consider ordering Monica’s Gourmet Cookies. These cookies are addicting and so delicious. It’s really hard to describe, but they are a dense yet slightly chewy cookie. I love the traditional chocolate chip and lemon flavors. You can find Monica’s Gourmet Cookies on 29th Street and some in stock in local supermarkets.
Chocolate & Candy
Next up for dessert places in Grand Rapids, are all things chocolate and candy! If you have a sweet tooth, definitely check out these places!
8. In East Hills you’ll find Mokaya. They have the most beautiful artisan chocolate! It’s hard to eat because each chocolate is like a unique work of art. Their chocolates make great gifts.
9. Sweetland Candies has been a Grand Rapids staple since 1919. They offer a variety of chocolates and candies. You can purchase items individually or by weight. My family has a tradition of gifting Sweetlands turtles every Sweetest Day, they are the best! I also love their chewy candies.
10. Located in East Grand Rapids, Sticky Fingers is a new candy store that really makes you feel like a kid. They have so many nostalgic candies, candy bars, unique flavors, and more. It’s a fun shop to check out in Eastown.
11. Rocket Fizz is a candy store chain, offering a variety of candies, chocolates, and pop (soda). Located near Celebration Cinema, this is a fun store to check out and maybe buy some candy for the movies!
12. If you’re interested in learning how to make chocolate, The Local Epicurean offers truffle making classes! This is a fun way to celebrate with friends and family. They have a small grocery store as well, where you can find some already made chocolates.
Ice Cream
13. Open since 1963, Jersey Junction is an East Grand Rapids landmark. You’ll find several ice cream flavors as well as a few vegan, sherbet, and sorbet options. They also have some candy and unique frozen desserts like ice cream sandwiches and chocolate covered bananas.
14. Frosty Boy has been a staple of Creston Heights for decades! They now have several locations, Grand Rapids, Cascade, and Rockford. I love their flurries and lemon twist cone. They offer several vegan options as well, usually a vegan base that can be mixed in with another flavor, or used in a flurry.
15. Another Downtown Market shop, Love’s Ice Cream has both ice cream and chocolate. I love their unique flavors like cashew caramel and lavender blueberry. If you can’t decide what flavor to get, they offer a flight of flavors. They have vegan gelato too!
16. Pinkie’s Ice Cream and Desserts is located on Wealthy Street and has the cutest pink interior. They have really rich, decadent flavors like carrot cake, dreamsicle, and honey lavender. I love coming to this ice cream shop in the spring and fall when it’s not quite warm enough to sit outside.
17. If you’re looking for homemade ice cream, check out Furniture City Creamery! They offer unique flavors too and do a lot of collaborations with other Grand Rapids small businesses. One year they had pazcki flavored ice cream, using fresh baked pazcki’s from Van’s Pastry.
18. Located in Walker Michigan, The Ice Cream Garage has been around since 1977. They have a variety of soft and hard serve ice cream flavors.
Desserts to Order
Have an upcoming birthday party or special event? Consider ordering from these local shops for a delicious and unforgettable sweet treat.
19. Cakabakery makes the most unique cakes! I have had so many friends order birthday cakes from Cakabakery and they are always incredible.
20. If you’re looking for a vegan dessert option, Rise Baking is for you. I love their vegan desserts! I had a lemon birthday cake a few years ago, and it was absolutely divine.
21. For a cookie option, Cookies by Design is a great store that offers custom cookies. Pre-order for holidays, birthdays, special events, and gifts.
22. The Good Cookie Sweet Shop makes hand crafted, small batch cookies that can be ordered in advance. Offering several flavors like chocolate chip, fall in a cookie ball, the tookie, and lemon. They do custom catering too.
23. Cheat Day Sweets is a great option for custom desserts for special events and weddings. They offer cupcakes, cakes, cookies, and more.
Hopefully this list of extraordinary desserts gives you some great suggestions of places to check out next time you’re craving something sweet!
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