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The Salt Lake Valley hides a serious sweet streak, from old-school donut counters to artisan gelato and soft serve that looks like art. Here are ten dessert spots, spread from the Avenues to Sandy, that locals come back to again and again.
A cozy hand-dipped chocolate shop in the historic Avenues that locals treat like a neighborhood living room. The family makes truffles and caramels in house, and the warm, lived-in room makes it a destination as much as a sweet stop. People come for the chocolate and stay for the hot drinks.
One of Utah's original gelato shops, parked in the 9th and 9th dessert district with chandeliers, oddball decor, and a case full of rotating flavors. Locals rate it for the texture and the deep bench of options, from coconut sticky rice to cold brew. They pour espresso and serve waffles too, so it works for a longer sit.
A retro-chic cookie shop that bakes with roasted squash, fresh fruit, and squeezed citrus instead of shortcuts, with no preservatives or shortenings. The cookies come out thick, soft, and a little fancy, and the flavors rotate by the month with quirky names. It has a real cult following in town.
Italian-owned gelato made fresh with locally sourced milk and real fruit, by a founder who trained at gelato schools in southern Italy. Plenty of people call it the best gelato in the valley, and the smooth, not-too-sweet texture is why. They also do pastries, custom cakes, coffee, and hot chocolate.
A no-frills SLC donut institution near 700 East that has been the local favorite since 1986. The raised donuts are light and the line moves early, but the good stuff sells out, so this is a morning move. There is a drive-thru if you are short on time.
What started as an ice cream truck is now a soft serve spot known for wild rotating flavors and cones that look like plated desserts stacked on a cone. Each month the team drops new composed cones with homemade toppings, so the menu is always changing. It is the most photogenic dessert in the valley by a mile.
Salt Lake's go-to vegan ice cream shop, scooping a rotating lineup of from-scratch flavors from a walk-up window downtown. Even people who are not vegan rave about how creamy and rich it is, which is the whole point. Same owners as the vegan spot Bolt Cutter nearby.
A made-fresh-daily ice cream shop with a deep flavor lineup that gives south-valley folks a reason not to drive downtown. Big scoops, a friendly counter, and easy parking make it a simple win. The recipe goes back to 1945 and they churn it on site every day.
A from-scratch bakery beloved for macarons in unexpected flavors and gorgeous European-style pastries, run by a James Beard-recognized pastry chef. It blends Cuban soul with French technique, so the case is full of things you stare at before deciding. It is the move for special-occasion sweets.
Authentic Belgian Liege waffles with that crackly caramelized sugar crust, made from dough and imported pearl sugar, served warm with toppings. It started as a humble waffle cart on Main Street back in 2004 and grew into a local favorite. A sweet treat that doubles as a quick meal.
A great dessert stop in the Salt Lake Valley usually comes down to two things: it makes its sweets in house, and it does one thing really well. The best gelato shops here churn small batches with real fruit and local milk. The best cookie and donut spots bake fresh that day and sell out when they run out. If a place leans on frozen mixes and shelf-stable shortcuts, you can taste it, so look for the spots that talk about scratch ingredients and rotating seasonal flavors.
The other thing to know is that good dessert is spread all over the valley, not just downtown. The Avenues has hand-dipped chocolate, 9th and 9th is a little dessert district on its own, Holladay and Sandy hold their own with gelato and fresh ice cream, and Sugar House mixes it up too. Pick by neighborhood and by craving, check the hours since many of these close Sundays or sell out early, and you will eat well anywhere in the county.
Keep exploring Salt Lake Valley: The Best Mexican Food in the Salt Lake Valley · Where to Find the Best Tacos in the Salt Lake Valley · The Best Sushi Spots in the Salt Lake Valley. Need a local pro? Browse Valley Approved businesses. Planning the weekend? See the Events Hub.
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