We all know someone with an insatiable sweet tooth. I know I do! Give me dessert for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and before and after each meal, and I’ll be your best friend! In a growing city like Las Vegas, we’re not short on places to find dessert, but knowing which ones to go to is the hard part. We have everything from specialty donut shops, ice cream, cakes, cupcakes, pastries, cookies, candy shops and everything in between for you dessert lovers.
I’ve compiled some of my favorite dessert lovers locations that you must visit on your next trip to Vegas if you want to dine like a local foodie. If you want to try these in a group, try our Las Vegas Foodie Tour.
Las Vegas Kettle Corn
As its name would suggest, this tiny boutique shop the size of a shipping crate container specializes in kettle corn. Traditionally, kettle corn differentiates itself from regular popcorn because it is popped in a cast-iron kettle and seasoned with salt and sugar as opposed to salt and butter. Las Vegas Kettle Corn perfected this popping technique and offers a variety of flavors everyone can enjoy. There are about 30 flavors including everything from caramel, cheddar, lime, grape, chocolate, and some a little more unique like dill pickle, bacon cheeseburger, and blue raspberry. If you can’t choose just one flavor you can always mix and match. I like chocolate, cinnamon, and caramel together when I’m looking to satisfy my sweet tooth cravings!
This shop also specializes in fresh-squeezed lemonade which is so refreshing and a great way to cool down on a hot summer day in Vegas. (Temperatures can get up to 117 degrees!) They have 12 different flavors of lemonade ranging from strawberry, watermelon, raspberry, peach and my all-time favorite…coconut! I know, it sounds weird but you just have to trust me! A master of his trade, these lemonades are shaken not stirred, and with their recipe, you won’t have any of that grittiness from any settled sugar below. The combination of lemonade and kettle corn is sure to keep your taste buds happy.
Ethel M Chocolates
For all of those chocolate dessert lovers out there, Las Vegas has its very own chocolate factory created right here in the southeast part of the valley in Henderson. Ethel M. Chocolates was founded in 1980 by Forrest Mars Sr., naming his chocolates after his mother, Ethel Mars. (If you think the name sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve had some of her chocolates before like the Mars bar, M&M’s, Snickers, and Twix just to name a few!) The factory is open to the public where you can sign up for a tour of the factory, a chocolate tasting class, purchase fresh-made chocolates or souvenirs from the gift shop, and walk through their impressive cactus garden which is one of the largest cactus gardens in the world, boasting over 300 species of cacti and succulents. If you’re visiting Las Vegas and can’t make it to the factory, visit one of their other local locations for a free sample! There is one downtown at the California Hotel & Casino and two at the airport, so no excuses!
Luv-It Frozen Custard
Luv-It Frozen Custard might just be one of the best hidden gems of Las Vegas! Dessert lovers can find it right in the center of the city, in a quiet neighborhood just off the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas Blvd. Founded in 1973, this place is extra special to me because I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. Every time I drive into the parking lot, it brings me back to my youth. The place looks exactly the same except that the building has recently been painted blue. Specializing in sundaes, shakes, malts, and cones, Luv-It has been ranked “Best Custard in Nevada” several times throughout the years. Make sure to make this one of your stops on your next trip to Las Vegas. There’s no inside seating so you’ll have to enjoy your frozen treat in your car or bring a hard-packed pint back to your hotel room to enjoy for later!
Sweets Raku
If you’re looking for gourmet, this is the place for you! This fine dessert-ing experience uses French and Japanese techniques and flavors to create stunning desserts, almost too pretty to eat. Located in our very popular yet unassuming Chinatown district, and only seating about 25 people at a time, if you can get lucky enough to find a seat (they don’t take reservations so you’ll have to wait this one out!), you’ll be able to enjoy your evening at an intimate spot that only the local insiders know about. A prime seat here would be at the bar where you can watch the pastry chefs delicately craft an elegant dessert right in front of your eyes! You can choose to do a tasting menu or order a la carte. Make sure to pair your dessert with one of their sweet dessert wines!
Is Sweet Coffee and Dessert
Have you ever had honey toast before? If you know what this irresistible Asian delight is, then you’ll be thankful to know about this place. If you haven’t had a chance to experience this heavenly dessert made of a buttered brioche baked to perfection for a crispy crust and a soft fluffy inside, topped with ice cream and drizzled with honey, then you need to come here right away! At Is Sweet Coffee and Dessert, you can create your own honey toast by choosing from a variety of the flavors, sauces, and toppings that they offer, or go sinful with one of their lava honey toasts. (I recommend this for experienced honey toast eaters only!) This dessert takes time to make so pick one of their specialty coffees, like their Red Velvet latte, or a specialty non-coffee, like their Taro latte, to sip on while you wait. You can also get a variety of other Asian pastries, cakes or beverages that are displayed at the counter.
I get so excited talking about dessert that I could go on for days! Unfortunately, my time here today is over, but next time you’re in Vegas and feel like venturing into the local sweet scene, I recommend putting these five fun places on your bucket list for dessert lovers and try a taste of Downtown Las Vegas.
If you like what you’ve read, please subscribe to my blog and my YouTube channel to be the first to know about my newest recommendations. You can also join me and my team of foodie friends on a Taste Buzz food tour. We have walking food tours on the Las Vegas Strip and in the downtown area to take you off the beaten path to discover the smaller side and local favorite places that many passersby often overlook. For more information or to schedule your food tour today, visit our website or call me at 702-909-0337.
Thanks for joining me. See you in Vegas!
