BEST SPOTS FOR CHOCOLATE LOVERS IN ATX
There are dessert lovers, and then there are chocolate lovers. Chocolate is the most important category of sweets, yet chocolate lovers are disadvantaged when it comes to knowing where to get the best. Luckily, I’ve taken one for the team by eating my way through every google or map search relating to keywords like “chocolate Austin” “sweets near me”, “brownies in ice-cream ATX”, and a million more. Here are Austin’s best spots for chocolate:
First things first, order a small one! The sheer amount of chocolate they’re able to pack into one treat will have you stuffed for hours. My go-to here is the “Brownie and Cookie D’oh”, it’s one of their signature stackers. It’s loaded up with triple fudge brownie chunks, brown sugar chocolate chip cookie dough, cocoa cookie crumbs, and hot fudge and then mixed into your choice of chocolate or vanilla ice cream. If you love ice cream with toppings, Cow Tipping Creamery over delivers with the best around. They have a great little seating area outside, and if you bring your dog they’ll give your pup a free scoop of vanilla! I’ve never tipped a cow, but make sure you add a tip when you pay because the employees are awesome here, too.
This is the home of the best cupcake I have ever had the pleasure of eating. The “Back to School” cupcake is what the famous Hostess Cupcake wants to be. Topped with chocolate ganache and filled with marshmallow cream, this chocolate cupcake is like the grown-up version of your go-to lunchbox dessert. The ganache could truly stand-alone it was that good. The cupcake menu does change every day, so make sure to check that they have a chocolate one out before you go! The “James” is another great option for chocolate purists…or people that love sprinkles. When you walk inside, you feel like you’re at your grandma’s house waiting for her to spoil you with all the goodies your parents don’t want you to have. Also, Sugar Mama’s won an episode of The Food Network show “Cupcake Wars.” Weird Al Yankovic described their winning cupcakes as “scrumdiddlyumptious”, and I have to agree with him.
Out of this world- the only way to describe this truck. Not only do they offer multiple chocolate options, but they are vegan, too. I couldn’t even tell that the in-house blend was from almond and coconut milk! You get to choose your base for every shake as chocolate or vanilla, and then they add the goodies. Order the “Oreo Borealis” it is like a Girl Scouts thin mint or one of those little Olive Garden chocolates but in crunchy shake form. It has mint, fudge, Oreos, and…stars! The truck is awesome because it’s in a vegan truck yard that has lots of seating under string lights, plenty of parking, friendly employees and customers, and is pretty cheap, too. With 6 signature shakes and BYO option, Milky Way is a dessert stop everyone can enjoy.
If you want a unique dessert, head to JP’s Pancake Company in West Campus. The owner, JP, started this truck earlier in the year and saw insane success because of his customer service. I remember the first time I went, he asked my name and about my studies, hobbies, hometown, etc. UT students spread the word of this place like wildfire. The unique pancake cups coupled with JP himself are a winning combo. I always order the milk chocolate chip pancakes then add strawberries, bananas, and chocolate syrup. It is warm and sticky and satisfies any chocolate craving you’re having. Take a picture of your pancakes, and tag @jpspancakecompany on your Instagram story. He will re-post you on the truck’s account. This is a special place. Not only is this one of the coolest concepts ever…dessert pancakes…but JP cares about his customers and the customers care about him, too.
This truck is in the perfect spot to grab a treat leaving Zilker or Barton Springs. The menu offers a selection of cookies named after the 7 deadly sins: pride, gluttony, wrath, sloth, greed, lust, and envy. Order the “Greed”…it’s a s’more cookie! Made with graham crackers and chocolate chips, and then topped with a toasted marshmallow you won’t regret it. The marshmallow is perfectly creamy and sticky, and it adds to the warm chocolate chip cookie in ways you can’t even conceive. These are made fresh every day, and when you walk up to the truck you’re senses are overwhelmed by the smell of cookies being baked. Eating cookies like this make sinning so much fun.
The Baked Bear is my definitive favorite dessert spot in all of Austin. It is a build your own ice cream sandwich shop. First, you choose your top and bottom, meaning you pick what kind of cookies or brownie you want. They have every kind of fresh cookie you can think of, so this part is hard. Then, you choose your ice cream flavor. Finally, you pick any toppings or sauces you want on/ in your sandwich before they press the sandwich together. My order is a chocolate chip cookie and brownie as the bases, dark chocolate ice cream, and hot fudge on top. There is a great outside area for you to hang out outside under the light of the old City of Austin Power Plant. I recommend the Baked bear to anyone who comes in town, and I can fully vouch for this being the best ice cream sandwich of your life.