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A person digs into a slice of flan with a fork at a table at Flora, which is decorated with cups of espresso, cocktails, and candles.
Got a sweet tooth? This list is for you.
Kirsten Gilliam

16 Sweet Houston Treats to Try Right Now

Prepare yourself for some of the best flan, cookies, ice cream, and other desserts in the city

by Brittany Britto Garley and Katie Holtman Updated
View as Map
Got a sweet tooth? This list is for you.
| Kirsten Gilliam
by Brittany Britto Garley and Katie Holtman Updated

For some, dessert is the most exciting part of any dining experience, and lucky for Houstonians, there are many talented pastry chefs and dessert connoisseurs experimenting to satisfy sweet cravings across the city.

From homemade ice cream to moist cakes, here are 16 of some of the best desserts in the city.

Don’t see your favorite dessert on the list? Shout it in the comments.

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If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Squable

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If French toast, bread pudding, and creme brulee had a baby, Squable’s “dessert bread” would be its love child. Served warm, the delightful fluff pain de mie has a crunchy surface that is topped with a perfect pillow of ice cream. Underneath, lies a chilled buttermilk and sherry cream that you will think about after your meal is over.

632 W 19th St, Houston, TX 77008
(832) 834-7362
(832) 834-7362

Also featured in:

Pudgy’s Fine Cookies

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For a satisfying sweet treat, look no further than this pop-up, turned Heights bake shop, which dishes out “thick AF” cookies with a gooey center. Fan favorites include the pastry creme-filled Bananaza Brule cookie that brulleed on top, the Wild Campfire s’mores cookie, and the Thickerdoodle. But don’t knock the more familiar flavors like the PB Sensation that comes packed with peanut butter.

1010 N Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77008
(713) 538-1503
(713) 538-1503
A set of 12 cookies from Pudgy’s Fine Cookies.
Pudgy’s Cookies are meant to be shared.
Brittany Britto Garley

Underground Creamery

Copy Link

What started as an experiment has morphed into a hard-to-get ice cream experience that’s well worth the wait, patience, and $14 per pint. Ditching the traditional scoop shop model, Josh Deleon drops new flavors weekly, including a cobbler series that mixes fruity jams with delicious crusts, and deeper and rich flavors, like its Turtle Power — Deleon’s take on the chocolate candy Turtle. Be warned though: to secure the sweet, be sure to check out the Hotplate platform and make sure you’re available for scheduled pick-up hours, which are held at a side window at Underground’s Heights location.

1010 N Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77008
Josh Deleon packs ice cream pints with crushed graham crackers at Underground Creamery on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022.
Dig into a pint or two of Underground Creamery’s ice cream.
Annie Mulligan

Also featured in:

Coltivare

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Stick your spoon into Coltivare’s chocolate rum cake and you’ll find a pillowy dream that’s beyond your imagination. Find a thick middle layer of pistachio buttercream enveloped by layers of chocolate cake crumble and topped with a rich ganache and crushed pistachios for a pleasant blend of sweet and salty.

3320 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007
(832) 203-7890
(832) 203-7890
Coltivare’s chocolate rum cake, with a layer of pistachio cream sandwiched between two layers of chocolate cake crumble and topped with chocolate ganache and crushed pistachios.
Coltivare’s chocolate rum cake is a great way to end a meal.
Mikah Danae

Also featured in:

Killen’s

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Chef Ronnie Killeen’s peach bread pudding is the definition of comfort. Made with layers of croissants, this dish comes out piping hot, topped with tender bruleed peaches and a delightful creamy tres leches sauce.

101 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 637-4664
(713) 637-4664

Also featured in:

Theodore Rex

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Justin Yu’s cozy eatery brings a relaxed fine dining experience to Downtown’s Northside. The restaurant’s warm buttercake, covered in a seasonal fruit jam with a cold cream beneath, is simply a religious experience. Like a warm hug or finding a front-row parking space, it just feels right.

1302 Nance St unit a, Houston, TX 77002
(832) 830-8592
(832) 830-8592

Also featured in:

Flora

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Nestled in Buffalo Bayou Park, this glass treehouse has a solid lineup of Mexican desserts, including its tres leches, but the traditional vanilla bean flan steals the show. With a perfect, firm pudding-like texture and a burnt caramel sauce, we can guarantee it’s some of the best flan you’ll ever have.

3422 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 360-6477
(713) 360-6477
A hand holding a fork that’s slicing into a piece of flan.
Flora’s flan is a must-try.
Kirsten Gilliam

Also featured in:

Craft Creamery

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At Craft Creamery, chef Steve Marques ensures that every bite of ice cream is a true dining experience that uses some of the best ingredients. Tap into Houston culture with a scoop of Craft’s brisket ice cream, made with real brisket; the black pepper and pecorino cheese-packed cacio e pepe; the pho flavor, which is made with a spice-laden broth; and whatever else piques your interest. Even the seemingly less adventurous flavors, like the vanilla or the Space City Orange, are also stunningly rich and satisfying.

1338 Westheimer Rd Suite B, Houston, TX 77006
(281) 740-4970
(281) 740-4970
Sixteen scoops of Craft Creamery ice cream in small cardboard cups.
You won’t want to stop at just one scoop at Craft Creamery.
Stephanie Lam

Also featured in:

Rosie Cannonball

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Be sure to save room for dessert when planning your meal at Rosie’s. It’s easy to get swept away into carbohydrate heaven with their focaccia di recco, delicious pizzas, and pasta. However, the Tarta de Queso, or basque-style cheesecake, is the platonic ideal of all cheesecakes. Served warm with slightly bitter orange marmalade, the subtlety sweet and lusciously creamy dessert will be one to remember.

1620 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(832) 380-2471
(832) 380-2471

Also featured in:

Brennan's of Houston

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Dessert and a show, Brennan’s tableside flambé of bananas with Caribbean rum and cinnamon served over vanilla bean ice cream is nothing short of a crowd-pleaser. Try it with their N’awlins Chicory Pecan Martini with house-made pecan cream liqueur, and chicory coffee liquor. 

3300 Smith St, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 522-9711
(713) 522-9711
A scoop of ice cream atop sauteed bananas with drizzles of caramel sauce.
Brennan’s banana foster is a fiery yet sweet way to end a meal.
Brennan’s of Houston

Also featured in:

Wild

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The Montrose location of this coffee shop, cocktail bar, and hemp-based cannabis dispensary dives into fine dining, tapping chef German Mosquera, formerly of the now-closed Verdine and what has now been rebranded as bellagreen. With that comes his expertise in vegan cuisine, which means some of the most delicious infusible desserts and scoops of vegan ice cream in Houston. Try the pepperleaf-oat and coconut milk ice cream with mascarpone that incorporates Mosquera's Latin roots, or opt for the edible bonbons laced with cannabis for a buzzworthy experience.

1609 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(832) 582-7641
(832) 582-7641

Also featured in:

Street to Kitchen

Copy Link

EaDo’s unapologetically authentic Thai restaurant is serving up one of the cuisine’s most recognizable desserts. Their mango with sticky rice hits all the marks of an excellent dessert: sweet, creamy, and oh-so-dreamy.

6501 Harrisburg Blvd, Houston, TX 77011
(281) 501-3435
(281) 501-3435

Tiny Boxwoods

Copy Link

Tiny’s cult-status cookies are a Houston staple but don’t overlook the doughnuts. Coming out hot, their donut holes are rolled in cinnamon sugar and a vanilla bean glaze with a side of hot chocolate ganache for dipping. Perfect for sharing, but who wants to do that?

3614 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77027
(713) 622-4224
(713) 622-4224

Also featured in:

Pacha Nikkei

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Self-billed as Houston’s first Nikkei restaurant, this restaurant is known for its savory and delicate ceviches and pan con chicharron, but its desserts that blend Peruvian and Japanese flavors, too, deserve a note. The Almendras, an almond cake topped with guanabana mousse and fresh berry compote is the perfect companion for a late-night coffee, but the lucuma cheesecake is a don’t-miss item. Made with Peru’s native and ancient lucuma fruit, graham crackers, and dark chocolate shavings, it’s a balance of sweet and slightly fruity.

10001 Westheimer Rd Suite 5, Houston, TX 77042

Also featured in:

Nobie's

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One of Bayou City’s coziest restaurants also dishes out one of its brightest desserts. Nobie’s olive oil cake is perfectly moist and covered in a lemon glaze. Crowned with a dollop of fresh whip cream, a slice will make you weak in the knees. If pie is more your style, don’t miss out on their daily pie offerings.

2048 Colquitt St, Houston, TX 77098
(346) 319-5919
(346) 319-5919

Also featured in:

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Navy Blue

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Bludorn’s executive pastry chef Marie Riddle makes a splash at the new Navy Blue seafood restaurant, with a dreamy carrot cake and a warm, gooey centered chocolate coulant served with passion fruit ice cream. The Apples and Eggs can be described in no other way but intriguing. A scoop of green apple sorbet made with creme fraiche is topped with a bump of Siberian caviar, which will keep you pondering the combination until the very last bite.

2445 Times Blvd, Houston, TX 77005
A scoop of green tarte gelato topped with a small mound of caviar, served with a vanilla crumble.
Navy Blue’s Apples and Eggs is a dessert that’s truly meant to be savored.
Brittany Britto Garley

Also featured in:

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Squable

632 W 19th St, Houston, TX 77008

If French toast, bread pudding, and creme brulee had a baby, Squable’s “dessert bread” would be its love child. Served warm, the delightful fluff pain de mie has a crunchy surface that is topped with a perfect pillow of ice cream. Underneath, lies a chilled buttermilk and sherry cream that you will think about after your meal is over.

632 W 19th St, Houston, TX 77008
(832) 834-7362
(832) 834-7362

Pudgy’s Fine Cookies

1010 N Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77008

For a satisfying sweet treat, look no further than this pop-up, turned Heights bake shop, which dishes out “thick AF” cookies with a gooey center. Fan favorites include the pastry creme-filled Bananaza Brule cookie that brulleed on top, the Wild Campfire s’mores cookie, and the Thickerdoodle. But don’t knock the more familiar flavors like the PB Sensation that comes packed with peanut butter.

1010 N Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77008
(713) 538-1503
(713) 538-1503
A set of 12 cookies from Pudgy’s Fine Cookies.
Pudgy’s Cookies are meant to be shared.
Brittany Britto Garley

Underground Creamery

1010 N Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77008

What started as an experiment has morphed into a hard-to-get ice cream experience that’s well worth the wait, patience, and $14 per pint. Ditching the traditional scoop shop model, Josh Deleon drops new flavors weekly, including a cobbler series that mixes fruity jams with delicious crusts, and deeper and rich flavors, like its Turtle Power — Deleon’s take on the chocolate candy Turtle. Be warned though: to secure the sweet, be sure to check out the Hotplate platform and make sure you’re available for scheduled pick-up hours, which are held at a side window at Underground’s Heights location.

1010 N Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77008
Josh Deleon packs ice cream pints with crushed graham crackers at Underground Creamery on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022.
Dig into a pint or two of Underground Creamery’s ice cream.
Annie Mulligan

Coltivare

3320 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007

Stick your spoon into Coltivare’s chocolate rum cake and you’ll find a pillowy dream that’s beyond your imagination. Find a thick middle layer of pistachio buttercream enveloped by layers of chocolate cake crumble and topped with a rich ganache and crushed pistachios for a pleasant blend of sweet and salty.

3320 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007
(832) 203-7890
(832) 203-7890
Coltivare’s chocolate rum cake, with a layer of pistachio cream sandwiched between two layers of chocolate cake crumble and topped with chocolate ganache and crushed pistachios.
Coltivare’s chocolate rum cake is a great way to end a meal.
Mikah Danae

Killen’s

101 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007

Chef Ronnie Killeen’s peach bread pudding is the definition of comfort. Made with layers of croissants, this dish comes out piping hot, topped with tender bruleed peaches and a delightful creamy tres leches sauce.

101 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 637-4664
(713) 637-4664

Theodore Rex

1302 Nance St unit a, Houston, TX 77002

Justin Yu’s cozy eatery brings a relaxed fine dining experience to Downtown’s Northside. The restaurant’s warm buttercake, covered in a seasonal fruit jam with a cold cream beneath, is simply a religious experience. Like a warm hug or finding a front-row parking space, it just feels right.

1302 Nance St unit a, Houston, TX 77002
(832) 830-8592
(832) 830-8592

Flora

3422 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TX 77019

Nestled in Buffalo Bayou Park, this glass treehouse has a solid lineup of Mexican desserts, including its tres leches, but the traditional vanilla bean flan steals the show. With a perfect, firm pudding-like texture and a burnt caramel sauce, we can guarantee it’s some of the best flan you’ll ever have.

3422 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 360-6477
(713) 360-6477
A hand holding a fork that’s slicing into a piece of flan.
Flora’s flan is a must-try.
Kirsten Gilliam

Craft Creamery

1338 Westheimer Rd Suite B, Houston, TX 77006

At Craft Creamery, chef Steve Marques ensures that every bite of ice cream is a true dining experience that uses some of the best ingredients. Tap into Houston culture with a scoop of Craft’s brisket ice cream, made with real brisket; the black pepper and pecorino cheese-packed cacio e pepe; the pho flavor, which is made with a spice-laden broth; and whatever else piques your interest. Even the seemingly less adventurous flavors, like the vanilla or the Space City Orange, are also stunningly rich and satisfying.

1338 Westheimer Rd Suite B, Houston, TX 77006
(281) 740-4970
(281) 740-4970
Sixteen scoops of Craft Creamery ice cream in small cardboard cups.
You won’t want to stop at just one scoop at Craft Creamery.
Stephanie Lam

Rosie Cannonball

1620 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006

Be sure to save room for dessert when planning your meal at Rosie’s. It’s easy to get swept away into carbohydrate heaven with their focaccia di recco, delicious pizzas, and pasta. However, the Tarta de Queso, or basque-style cheesecake, is the platonic ideal of all cheesecakes. Served warm with slightly bitter orange marmalade, the subtlety sweet and lusciously creamy dessert will be one to remember.

1620 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(832) 380-2471
(832) 380-2471

Brennan's of Houston

3300 Smith St, Houston, TX 77006

Dessert and a show, Brennan’s tableside flambé of bananas with Caribbean rum and cinnamon served over vanilla bean ice cream is nothing short of a crowd-pleaser. Try it with their N’awlins Chicory Pecan Martini with house-made pecan cream liqueur, and chicory coffee liquor. 

3300 Smith St, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 522-9711
(713) 522-9711
A scoop of ice cream atop sauteed bananas with drizzles of caramel sauce.
Brennan’s banana foster is a fiery yet sweet way to end a meal.
Brennan’s of Houston

Wild

1609 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006

The Montrose location of this coffee shop, cocktail bar, and hemp-based cannabis dispensary dives into fine dining, tapping chef German Mosquera, formerly of the now-closed Verdine and what has now been rebranded as bellagreen. With that comes his expertise in vegan cuisine, which means some of the most delicious infusible desserts and scoops of vegan ice cream in Houston. Try the pepperleaf-oat and coconut milk ice cream with mascarpone that incorporates Mosquera's Latin roots, or opt for the edible bonbons laced with cannabis for a buzzworthy experience.

1609 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(832) 582-7641
(832) 582-7641

Street to Kitchen

6501 Harrisburg Blvd, Houston, TX 77011

EaDo’s unapologetically authentic Thai restaurant is serving up one of the cuisine’s most recognizable desserts. Their mango with sticky rice hits all the marks of an excellent dessert: sweet, creamy, and oh-so-dreamy.

6501 Harrisburg Blvd, Houston, TX 77011
(281) 501-3435
(281) 501-3435

Tiny Boxwoods

3614 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77027

Tiny’s cult-status cookies are a Houston staple but don’t overlook the doughnuts. Coming out hot, their donut holes are rolled in cinnamon sugar and a vanilla bean glaze with a side of hot chocolate ganache for dipping. Perfect for sharing, but who wants to do that?

3614 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77027
(713) 622-4224
(713) 622-4224

Pacha Nikkei

10001 Westheimer Rd Suite 5, Houston, TX 77042

Self-billed as Houston’s first Nikkei restaurant, this restaurant is known for its savory and delicate ceviches and pan con chicharron, but its desserts that blend Peruvian and Japanese flavors, too, deserve a note. The Almendras, an almond cake topped with guanabana mousse and fresh berry compote is the perfect companion for a late-night coffee, but the lucuma cheesecake is a don’t-miss item. Made with Peru’s native and ancient lucuma fruit, graham crackers, and dark chocolate shavings, it’s a balance of sweet and slightly fruity.

10001 Westheimer Rd Suite 5, Houston, TX 77042

Nobie's

2048 Colquitt St, Houston, TX 77098

One of Bayou City’s coziest restaurants also dishes out one of its brightest desserts. Nobie’s olive oil cake is perfectly moist and covered in a lemon glaze. Crowned with a dollop of fresh whip cream, a slice will make you weak in the knees. If pie is more your style, don’t miss out on their daily pie offerings.

2048 Colquitt St, Houston, TX 77098
(346) 319-5919
(346) 319-5919

Related Maps

Navy Blue

2445 Times Blvd, Houston, TX 77005

Bludorn’s executive pastry chef Marie Riddle makes a splash at the new Navy Blue seafood restaurant, with a dreamy carrot cake and a warm, gooey centered chocolate coulant served with passion fruit ice cream. The Apples and Eggs can be described in no other way but intriguing. A scoop of green apple sorbet made with creme fraiche is topped with a bump of Siberian caviar, which will keep you pondering the combination until the very last bite.

2445 Times Blvd, Houston, TX 77005
A scoop of green tarte gelato topped with a small mound of caviar, served with a vanilla crumble.
Navy Blue’s Apples and Eggs is a dessert that’s truly meant to be savored.
Brittany Britto Garley

Related Maps