Celebrate all the sweet things with our list of best desserts in Greater Des Moines, as voted by locals. From bustling bakeries and quaint pie shops to that decadent dessert you haven’t stopped thinking about since your last date night, we’ve got it all covered in a rich, chocolate drizzle with a cherry on top.
*All of our Des Best lists are crowdsourced and voted by locals.*
Dessert Shops
Good Day DSM
When you have a flawless 5-star review average on Google reviews, you know you’re onto something. In the case of Good Day DSM, that something is delightfully delicious macarons. Located in The District at Prairie Trail in Ankeny, Good Day specializes in French macarons, offering between 10 – 15 rotating flavors each week, including Nutella, Pistachio, Brownie Batter, and Matcha Green Tea. Wash ‘em down with a specialty drink like a latte, Vietnamese coffee, or even strawberry milk. Their macaron towers are the perfect centerpiece for any event, with options from 4-tiers all the way up to a 13-tier tower!
The Bake Shoppe
Nothing says "Des Moines" quite like the legendary Barbara's Champagne Cake. Often replicated, never duplicated, this slightly sweet cake can only be found at The Bake Shoppe in Windsor Heights – home of the "Original Champagne Cake." The pink confection (surprisingly) uses no champagne but does include rum and sherry. We can’t stop buzzing about it, along with their other cakes, cookies, and pies that please.
Black Cat Ice Cream
This cool kid ice cream shop in the Drake neighborhood serves bold flavor combinations turn the initial “no way” into “NO WAY!” after the first bite. These artisanal, small batch flavors rotate seasonally, if not weekly, but include things like Old Fashioned (orange, cherries, bitters), Killer Bee (spicy honey + burnt sugar), and Breakfast Trash (cereal milk base with Pop Tarts); along with classics like vanilla bean and strawberry for those who might not live quite as dangerously. Dubbed “The Best Ice Cream on Earth” by SortedFood, this is destination dessert.
Crème
No list of the best desserts would be complete without mentioning Crème – the bakery that put Des Moines on the map after an appearance on Food Network's Cupcake Wars. Now owned by acclaimed baker Sammy Mila, Crème has inexplicably leveled up and gotten even better. Sammy’s fun, quirky vibe shines throughout all her creations, from the cupcakes and flourless chocolate torte to the cookies and milk bread cinnamon rolls, available baked or take-and-bake. Experience the vibe firsthand with “Midnight Munchies” every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to Midnight, with cakes, cocktails, and ‘90s tunes. All ages are welcome to this pastry party.
Cha Cha’s Hiland Bakery
Local baker Liz Kirkman (the “Cha Cha” in the equation) took over the reins of Hiland Bakery alongside her husband in 2023 and has helped up the game of an already beloved institution that has been around since 1946. This Highland Park institution is home to arguably the best donuts in Des Moines (including the iconic champagne cake donut), but that’s just the tip of the piping bag. There are sugar cookies, pecan rolls, sticky rolls, Dutch letters, cheesecakes, pies, and even savory items like quiche and pepperoni rolls. No matter what you pick, rest assured it will be the sweetest part of your day.
La Mie Bakery
An old soul on the Des Moines bakery scene, La Mie has been hitting Des Moines’ sweet spot since 2003. Their small but mighty breakfast is the stuff of local legend, with quiche, omelets, and French toast all crowd-pleasing options, but for this exercise, you’re here for the pastry case. Almond croissants, bear claws, chocolate cinnamon scones, fruit tarts, cinnamon rolls, pecan rolls...we could go on, but now we’re hungry. It’s dessert for breakfast and we’re here for it.
Molly’s Cupcakes
One of the sweetest places in the East Village, Molly is the cupcake queen of Des Moines, offering treats for every occasion. Whether it’s for birthday parties, baby showers, or just that insatiable sweet tooth that only a cupcake can satisfy, Molly’s has well over a dozen different flavors at any given time to meet the challenge. The Crème brûlée is the crowd favorite here, with vanilla cake, Crème brûlée custard, and caramelized sugar, all topped with a blackberry. And don’t take the name too literally; they offer other treats as well, ranging from cookies to cakes.
Visit this Beaverdale stalwart any summer day when the sun's shining, and you can expect to wait a bit – luckily, there are cute bench swings to pass the time and bask in nostalgia. This institution of Americana serves up ice cream floats, ‘50s-style malts, sundaes, crunch cones, and plenty of smiles. Look for the iconic neon sign and listen for the squeals of happy customers.
Home Slice Pies
Head to Main Street in tiny Bondurant where you’ll find a little slice of foodie heaven in the form of Home Slice Handmade Pies. Opening in 2022, it’s already amassed a cult following thanks to Laura Lacina’s innovative and mouthwatering seasonal pies, which include rotating flavors like Dutch letter, strawberry champagne, and cherry crumble. Feeling indecisive? Try one of their famous “pie flights,” which allows you to try four mini pies. Slice, slice, baby!
Dessert House
The sign out front says Dessert House, but you may also have heard it called Ramik Dessert House. Either way, we call it a little slice of heaven. This family-owned Bosnian bakery offers homemade treats like baklava, walnut cake, custard slices, and a variety of other delicacies, all washed down by the best cup of Turkish coffee you’ve ever had. They also make custom cakes which are as beautiful as they are delicious.
Mahalo's
What began as a humble mall kiosk has now blossomed into an island-escape brick-and-mortar coffee and donut shop in West Des Moines. Mahalo's fries up made-to-order fresh mini donuts covered in your choice of sweet toppings such as apple tiki, blueberry beach, and coconut cove. Wash it all down with a steaming cup of fresh Hawaiian coffee grown in Maui, roasted on the Big Island, and shipped to Mahalo's within 48 hours of roasting. Its paradise found.
Over the Top
Nothing is more low key sad than when your favorite ice cream parlor closes shop for the winter. We’re of the mind that ice cream can (and should) be enjoyed year-round, so imagine our delight when our favorite ice cream place, Over the Top in Plesant Hill, decided to stay open all year. So now you can enjoy all 31 of their award winning, hard packed ice cream flavors rain or shine (or snow). Using ingredients sourced from Iowa dairies, and offering non-dairy and vegan options, this is a place worth screaming about.
Doré Bakery
This bespoke bakery from executive pastry chef Alix Brower doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar location (yet), but it’s the thrill of the hunt that makes it even more rewarding when you dig into these cakes and desserts which come ready made for their “Food & Wine” closeup. Order their custom-made cakes for your next event or head over to The Purveyor in the East Village to sample some of the wares.
Scornovacca’s South
This jewel of the Southside not only has a breakfast burrito that gets breathless acclaim but is home to a bocce ball club popular enough to warrant its own T-shirt. Now that we’ve got that charming randomness out the way, let’s address the desserts, which are in a league of their own. The cannoli gets the rightful raves, but their frosted sugar cookies and love drop almond (and lemon) are chef’s kiss.
Restaurants
Oak Park
Recently named one of the 45 best restaurants in the country, Oak Park earns raves across the board for chef Ian Robertson’s elevated takes on the classics. Save room for dessert, because those raves also apply to Ian’s wife Jess's delectable desserts, which range from vanilla bean creme brulee to fried bread pudding. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the dessert diva of the group, the $100 banana split. The over-the-top dessert, inspired by some of the opulent concoctions at Serendipity in New York, includes pistachio, banana saffron, and foie gras ice creams served with champagne mousse, gold leaf, Armagnac caviar, and shaved chocolate truffle. You even get a Joseph Jewlers spoon with the Oak Park logo to take you with. And don’t worry, there’s a $5 lemon cheesecake to help bring down the median price of your dessert bill too.
Simon's
What's better than free dessert? When the dessert follows an incredible meal from a James Beard-nominated owner who works the dining room like the world’s most effortlessly cool dinner host. Hospitality is the name of the game at Simon’s, where the food, atmosphere, and service all come together to make for a night you won’t soon forget. And before we forget, we were talking about that free dessert. It’s homemade red velvet cake (act surprised when it comes) and it’s the perfect sweet ending to a special night.
Iowa Taproom
This East Village mainstay is known for having 99 Iowa beers on tap and a menu full of Iowa specific delights (ham balls, anyone?). It’s also known for having one of the biggest and best desserts in town. The towering capital pie features peanut butter and cookies n' cream ice cream on a chocolate cookie crust topped with whipped cream, hot fudge, and almonds. Be sure to ask for *several* forks to share this mountainous monstrosity of yum. Pair this pie with a pint of Single Speed Brewing's “Tip the Cow” coffee stout for Iowa’s version of dessert and coffee.
Aposto
Founded by award-winning restaurateur Tony Lemmo, Aposto knocks it out of the park with always on-point modern Italian dishes served within a decidedly old school 1880 Victorian mansion. Follow up your charcuterie, polenta cakes, and osso bucco with a decadent dessert like a slice of olive oil bundt cake, tiramisu with ladyfingers, or house-made ice cream. If you’re lucky, the decadent Lou Ann's Italian wedding cake will be on the menu, named after Chef Tony’s mom. Trust your gut, mom would be proud.
Panka Peruvian Restaurant
Panka is known for their savory, authentic Peruvian delights like Lomo Saltado and Peruvian Paella, but let your eyes wander to the bottom of the menu to find their real secret weapon, the desserts. There’s chocolate cake, passion fruit cheesecake, and apple flan, but our muse is the Suspiro a La Limena, translated to Sigh of a Woman. This slow cooked dessert has a golden, creamy custard base finish with silky meringue perfumed with cinnamon. It’s like one of those movies where the less you know about it going it, the more you’ll be surprised in the very best way. Eat now, ask questions later.
Eatery A
Sift through the (many) raving reviews of Eatery A and you’ll likely encounter the exotic-sounding salted caramel budino. The simple yet elegant Italian dessert is served in a glass vessel parfait-style and features an indulgent custard topped with a luscious caramel sauce and sprinkled with cracked sea salt. Pair with their epic patio, wood-fired pizza, glass of vino, and your knock off Armani shades and you'll be saying "Eccellente!” in no time.
Bubba
Bubba is southern comfort food at its finest, and nothing warms the soul like a whole mess of desserts that we’re fixin’ to eat. The Bourbon Bananas Foster, served on a buttermilk waffle is the one we’re swooning over, although the whiskey pecan pie, chocolate peanut butter pie, and Hummingbird cake (pineapple-banana spiced cake with pecans, toasted coconut, and cream cheese frosting) are certainly no slouches either. You’ll leave full as a tick, and happy as a clam.
The Latin King
At one of the oldest, most respected Italian eateries in Greater Des Moines, and home to arguably the best Steak de Burgo in the Des Moines, Latin King’s dessert menu is chock full of the usual suspects. Carrot cake, tiramisu, and cannoli. But really, we’re all waiting for strawberry shortcake season. Every year around April, the legendary dish returns to the menu with more fanfare than the McRib. The limited-edition dish comes with two biscuits piled high with layers of berries and whip cream made from Anderson Erickson heavy cream. Just make sure to get there before July 4, when it goes into hibernation until the following spring. Mark your calendars accordingly.
Cosi Cucina
Cosi Cucina in Clive is known for having some of the best pasta in town but ask any veteran foodie the best dessert in Greater Des Moines and they’re likely to tell you it’s Cosi’s signature dessert. A creamy circular serving of house-made cheesecake, hold the crust, made with vanilla bean infused sugar, baked macadamia nuts on top, and caramel, chocolate, raspberry, creme anglaise sauces, and seasonal fruits on the side. Sounds deliciously cozy to us.
Tumea and Sons Restaurant
Tumea and Sons is one of those old school Des Moines Italian joints that doesn’t get its proper due, but we’re here to change that. Their pastas are great, but make sure to save room for dessert, particularly the “Wanda” cookies. A hyperlocal dessert, this Italian fried pastry shell is made from light, flaky pastry dough and drizzled with pink royal icing. Made famous by the southside's Celsi family, you can also find the simple dessert sold by the Ziplock bag at B&B Grocery and Graziano Brothers.
