What’s your dream dessert, sweet reader? Summer’s a great time to linger over something decadently delicious, and our chefs are here for it, baking the classics to perfection, crafting unique taste treats you’ll find nowhere else.
Here’s a guide to some of our favorite desserts around, from classics to wildly creative concoctions. Most of these places, of course, might overlap, have lots more choices and menus that adapt to what’s fresh, what’s available, and whatever the chef is inspired by that day; check out online menus or—better yet—call to find out about still more possibilities. But this guide should give you a sense of direction when you’re hankering for that special flavor or want to try something new and wonderful.
pies
Hoffman House in Kingston serves a slammin’ homemade apple cobbler.
hoffmanhousetavern.com,
845-338-2626
Meredith's Bread in Kingston offers several flavors of gluten-free tarts.
meredithsbread.com,
845-331-4318
Saunderskill Farms in Accord serves fresh fruit pies—try the Vegan Peachberry or the Blueberry Crumb. saunderskill.com, 845-626-2676
Tetta’s Market in Olivebridge offers a whole other pie-dea: a personal-size Nutella Pizza, studded with fresh berries that are topped with melted marshmallows and dusted with powdered sugar.
tettasmarket.com, 845-657-2338
The Parish Restaurant in New Paltz serves Key Lime pie among its Cajun-influenced fare. theparishrestaurant.com, 845-255-4205
Wallkill View Farm Market in New Paltz encourages you to bring home a Bumbleberry made with apples, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and rhubarb. wallkillviewfarmmarket.com, 845-255-8050
Meredith's Bread
The Parish Restaurant
pastries
Aba's Falafel in Rhinebeck offers decadent homemade Baklava. abasfalafel.com, 845-876-2324
A Slice of Italy in Kingston serves delicious Cannoli. asliceofitaly7115.com, 845-336-7115
La Deliziosa Italian Pastry Shoppe has biscotti, cookies, cannoli, sfogliatelle, Italian ices, and custom specialty cakes. ladeliziosany.com, 845-471-3636
Morning Sunshine in Ellenville is a market, and cafe; stop in for their yummy pastries. morningsunshine.market, 845-272-1012
Runa Bistro in New Paltz makes seasonal Galette. runanewpaltz.com, 845-419-5007
La Deliziosa
Aba's Falafel
cakes and cookies
Mahoney's Irish Pub
Main Course Catering
Angela's in Lake Katrine serves a delicious cheesecake and chocolate mousse cake. angelaspizzarestaurant.com, 845-382-2211
Bacchus Restaurant, Brewery & Billiards in New Paltz makes an outstanding Lava Cake. bacchusnewpaltz.com, 845-255-8636
Bistro to Go in Kingston offers a wide range of fresh-baked choices including their Opera Cake, chocolate almond sponge cake soaked in coffee syrup with French buttercream filling and whipped ganache frosting. bluemountainbistro.com, 845-340-9800
Brio's Pizzeria & Restaurant in Phoenicia has a large selection of appropriately named Heavenly Cakes. Try the Boston Cream 2 Layer, Strawberry Tres Leches or Vanilla Bean Cheesecake. brios.net, 845-688-5370
Catamount Restaurant at Emerson Resort in Mount Tremper offers classic Chocolate Fudge Brownies and Vic’s Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake with strawberries and whipped cream. emersonresort.com/catamount, 845-688-2828
Chef Zach Berger's Cultural Paradise LLC, various locations and possibly your home: Chef Zach can bake you a cinnamon cream cake with chocolate, Tree Juice Maple Syrup, and pine dust. takeachef.com/en-us/chef/zachary-berger, 914-924-2946
Hickory BBQ & Smokehouse in Kingston changes their homemade dessert menu daily; we love the Hummingbird Cake. hickoryrestaurant.com, 845-338-2424
High Falls Café in Marbletown serves up fresh, locally made desserts; typical examples include pistachio cheesecake and Irish Whiskey cake. highfallscafe.com, 845-687-2699
Bistro to Go
Chef Zach Berger
Brio's Pizzeria & Restaurant
Mohonk Mountain House
Jessie's Harvest House in Tannersville makes Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake. jessiesharvesthouse.com, 518-589-5445
Mahoney's Irish Pub and Steakhouse in Poughkeepsie serves classic chocolate lava cake. mahoneysirishpub.com, 845-471-7026
Main Course Catering & Marketplace in New Paltz offers cheesecake varieties like Vanilla Chai, Peanut Butter, and Carrot Cream. maincoursecatering.com, 845-255-2600
Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz makes Crunch Cake with Vanilla Sponge, Toffee, Pecans, Chocolate Ganache, Salted Caramel, and Orange Peel. They’ve also got an old-school soda fountain. mohonk.com/dining, 855-883-3798
Olsen & Company in Saugerties offers pound cakes and loaves, classic chocolate chip cookies, and vegan biscotti. olsenandcompany.com, 845-247-7189
Rosie General on the Kingston waterfront makes a Hudson Valley Almond Honey Loaf and a lavender cookie sandwich. rosiegeneral.com
Sportsman’s Alamo Cantina in Phoenicia, under the same management as Brio’s, offers equal access to the Heavenly Cakes array—there are at least nine flavors on any given day, and the manager highly recommends the carrot. alamocantina.com, 845-688-5259
Terrapin Restaurant in Rhinebeck serves fresh-baked shortcake topped with locally sourced peaches, strawberries, and honey-sweetened whipped cream. terrapinrestaurant.com, 845-876-3330
Brickmen Kitchen + Bar
Rosie General
ice cream & pops
Asia in Stone Ridge sells fried ice cream for a sweet finish to your Asian fusion meal. asiastoneridge.com, 845-687-9800
Brickmen Kitchen + Bar in uptown Kingston serves Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich Sliders. brickmenkingston.com, 845-882-7425
Colony Woodstock tops their black-and-blueberry crisp with vanilla ice cream. colonywoodstock.com, 845-679-7625
First Capital Poke Bar in Kingston offers Hawaiian Rainbow Shaved Ice in your choice of flavor. firstcapitalpokebar.com, 845-514-2801
Jar'd Wine Pub in New Paltz serves delicious Boozy Ice Pops that change each week. jardwinepub.com, 845-255-8466
Kelder’s Farm in Kerhonkson is the only place to get your Gnomie Shake, a creamy vanilla concoction named for giant mascot Gnome Chomsky. keldersfarm.com, 845-626-7137
Mill & Main in Kerhonkson makes Tropical Sundaes: vanilla ice cream or seasonal sorbet with toasted coconut, caramelized pineapple, passion fruit syrup, and Luxardo cherries. eatmillandmain.com, 845-626-1458
Nancy's of Woodstock Artisanal Creamery makes homemade ice cream using only fresh, natural ingredients. Try a sundae, a float, or a custom cake. nancysartisanal.com, 845-684-5329
Stella's Station & Stella's Scoops in Saugerties lets you choose from among 24 flavors of Jane's Homemade and Hershey's Ice Cream made into milkshakes, floats, and cyclones. stellasstation.com, 845-246-5998
The River Pavillion at Hutton Brickyards offer open-air dining with desserts like Spumoni Gelato Bomba. huttonbrickyards.com, 845-514-4853
Nancy's Artisinal Creamery
Jar'd Wine Pub
Kelder's Farm
Stella's Scoops
pudding and custard
Garvan’s in New Paltz serves delicious Guinness creme brulée. garvans.com, 845-255-7888
Peekamoose Restaurant & Taproom in Big Indian makes their fresh chocolate pudding with Fruition Chocolate and their Buttermilk Panna Cotta with wildflower honey and blueberries. peekamooserestaurant.com, 845-254-6500
Sportsman ’s Alamo Cantina in Phoenicia makes delicious Flan. alamocantina.com, 845-688-5259
The Phoenician Steakhouse in Phoenicia (natch) serves creme brulée, traditional French custard topped with caramelized sugar. thephoeniciansteakhouse.com, 845-688-9800
Seconds Restaurant in Athens has housemade rice pudding, along with servings of fresh berries topped with English cream. secondsrestaurant.com, 838-945-0702
The Pandorica in Beacon makes Apalapucia Bread Pudding—buttery bread and fruit baked in a creamy egg custard. thepandoricarestaurant.com, 845-831-6287
Yum Yum Noodle Bar in Kingston offers Lychee Rose Panna Cotta. yumyumnoodlebar.com, 845-338-1400
Peekamoose Restaurant & Taproom
Ole Savannah Southern Table
donuts
Cider Donuts are a local farm staple.Whether plain, cinnamon or powdered—make a plan to try them all and see what farm you think has the best!
Cafe Marguerite in Margaretville makes donuts in unique flavors, huge chocolate cookies, and lemon madeleines. cafemarguerite.com, 718-484-2121
Ole Savannah Southern Table & Bar on the Kingston waterfront offers Nutella & Salted Caramel Stuffed Beignets. olesavannah.com, 845-331-4283
Most of these places have more choices and menus that adapt to what’s fresh, what’s available, and whatever the chef is inspired by that day; check out online menus or—better yet—call ahead.
Yum Yum Noodle Bar
Cafe Marguerite
bonus : dessert for breakfast
Cafe Mio
Cafe Mio in Gardiner makes seasonal and special French toast varieties weekly. Past flavors have included citrus croissant French toast, blueberry-coconut croissant French toast, and orange cranberry bread pudding French toast. miogardiner.com, 845-255-4949
bonus , part two: zero guilt desserts
Bittersweet at Hemlock Neversink
Bittersweet, the restaurant on the Hemlock Neversink resort campus, makes nontraditional desserts that will actually help you get healthier, crafted from ingredients like sweet potatoes and silky tofu. hemlockneversink.com, 845-985-1183