Sure doctors and nutritionists and pretty much the whole Internet say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but we beg to differ: It’s definitely dessert. Here, 16 desserts from around the world that every sugar lover has got to try (or at least dream about).
We Traveled the World to Bring You the 16 Best Desserts Ever
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Published Nov 4, 2015
Go To Argentina For Alfajores
Dulce de leche (think caramel but better) is smeared between two shortbread cookies and covered in chocolate to make this satisfying Argentine sweet that’s sold pretty much everywhere but done best by Havanna in Mar del Plata.
Go To Poland For Babka
Head to Warsaw’s A. Blikle for a slice or three of babka, the traditional Polish yeast cake that resembles brioche and is filled with ribbons of rich chocolate.
Go The The Dominican Republic For Bizcocho Criolla
Fun to say, even more delicious to eat, bizcocho criolla is like a vanilla poundcake with coconut cream filling. Taste the national cake of the DR at the Pasteleria del Jardin in Santo Domingo.
Go To New Orleans For Beignets
Basically pillows of heaven, this fried dough will leave you covered in powdered sugar but insanely happy. Head to OG purveyor Café Du Monde if you don’t mind waiting in line; but in a pinch, Morning Call will do just fine.
Go To Japan For Mochi Ice Cream
Mochi ice cream (pounded sticky rice with an ice cream filling) is available lots of places stateside, but head to Tokyo’s MochiCream for the most authentic.
Go To Italy For Gorgonzola Gelato
Gelato in Italy: duh. Gelateria dei Neri’s gorgonzola gelato in Florence: Yes, please and thank you.
Go To Portugal For Pastel De Nata
Lisbon’s Antiga Confeitaria de Belem is the perfect place to try this famous Portuguese treat, a creamy egg-based custard tart with lemon, vanilla and cinnamon.
Go To China For Tangyuan
It looks super weird (am I eating tiny Pac-Mans?), but tangyuan is actually delightful. Try the glutinous rice balls filled with peanut butter or black sesame paste at Beijing’s Bellagio Café.
Go To Switzerland For Champagne Truffles
It’s Switzerland, so obviously chocolate’s involved. Blondel’s Champagne truffles are the stuff of dreams.
Go To Israel For Knafeh
Jerusalem’s Jafar Sweets is a haven for all things sugary, but knafeh (sweet phyllo dough stuffed with goat cheese and covered in syrup) stands just a bit above the rest.
Go To Belgium For Pralines
Belgian pralines are a little different than the ones you’re used to: Wittamers are chocolate shells with a soft filling of hazelnut, almonds, sugar and syrup.
Go To The Philippines For Bibingka
Bibingka are sweet rice cakes covered in butter, sugar and coconut. Basically, heaven in a dessert--readily available at Quezon City’s Ferino’s Bibingka.
Go To France For Kouign Amann
Long before Dominique Ansel became a household name, the sugary-buttery kouign-amann pastry earned a loyal following among French dessert lovers. Try one at Paris’s Maison Georges Larnicol.
Go To Austria For Sachertorte
One of the most famous Viennese culinary treats, sachertorte is a dense chocolate cake covered in dark chocolate icing and apricot jam. Get a slice at Café Sacher in Vienna.
Go To New Zealand For Pavlova
Sure, we’ve made our own, but pavlova was actually invented in New Zealand (or Australia, depending on who you ask). Bite into this light meringue cake at Christchurch’s Dux Dine.
Go To England For Sticky Toffee Pudding
Post fish and chips, head to Rules in London for a hearty serving of sticky toffee pudding, really moist pound cake doused in mind-numbingly sugary toffee sauce.