Favorite desserts?

So many to pick from! A standout was when we were visiting family in Osnabruck, Germany and my Aunt took us to a bakery. The strudel was over the top, warm custard, crispy pastry and piles of whipped cream. I had a many layered cake filled with soft custards, whipped cream, crunchy layers in between, was amazing, also a knockout cannolis in Rome. Delicious yoghurt with honey in Greece, who knew that could be so delicious ? A tiny bakery visited when on a riverboat cruise that had everything that my Austrian Mom would make us as children, so Devine!

Wow, what a task - vowing to eat more pastries! Well, let’s help this traveler succeed! LOL!

I am a gelato connoisseur, but even I needed a break after several weeks. My daughter & I started comparing tiramisu which meant we ate a lot of it. It’s always been an “okay” dessert until we started having the excellent ones! Our favorite was in Ferrara, but if you’re going to Rome, stop into Mr. 100 Tiramisu and order the sampler plate, so you can have three different ones.

In France, I barely get past the authentic croissants & baguettes because they’re so good. For a pastry, I love the Kouign-Amann, especially in a flavor of fruit. The galette is also nice. I had a fantastic Tarte au Citron in Nice, too. The many types made of choux pastry are my least favorite.

In Switzerland, I’m concentrating on the chocolate, so no help there.

Since you like chocolate, when you're in France keep an eye out for desserts and coffee drinks described as "Liegeoise" because those will be a stylish tasty version of Belgian chocolate decorations.

If you are in Frankfurt, go for a Frankfurter Kranz.
Chocolate Sahne Torte is good, or maybe Bienen Stich. Quark Taschen are tasty. It depends on if you prefer pastries with cream, chocolate or nuts. Cheese cake will not be as sweet as those in the US and are often made with quark.
I do often find cakes here to be on the drier side, especially carrot cake or Sacher Torte. I leave those in the display cases.
Anything with blueberries, cherries or apples will be delicious.

Have a Spagetti Eis when you are in Germany.

Sounds like my type of trip!

I love millefeuille too. Lol. In France how about macarons? Be careful though. There so airy that I could probably eat a dozen of them. I’ll try to think of others. Keep good notes and report back.

My favorite dessert is crepe suzette and second favorite is cannoli.

I like anything that is fruit filled, especially apple.

I dont know if you'd consider it a dessert or not, but in Germany, I am a fan of onion pie. Amazing taste, but may have some aftershocks.

I am the one person in the world who, despite having a Sicilian spouse, does not like cannoli. However the local treat called "nuns b..bs" was a highlight of a cooking class on the RS tour. Interestingly, in a Florence cooking class, we were told that tiramisu was not a typical dessert in Italy - more of an "afternoon treat for kids".

I'm always on the hunt for desserts and pastries that involve apricots, hazelnuts, or poppyseeds.

I'm not a fan of cannoli, either. Even the freshly prepared ones in Sicily were just okay.

I love pastries and every single day when I travel, I make it a point to stop for a pastry and a cappuccino. It's nice to have a break, enjoy a lovely pastry and sit and people watch.

i love all kinds of pastries but I tend to go by looks a lot. If I walk into a place, I check out everything they have and see what makes me salivate. It could be an apple strudel or a beautiful piece of chocolate torte. Or sometimes I've run into works of art like the peach cream pastry I found at Tivoli Gardens in Denmark, or the beautiful basil and raspberry donut at SammyS Berliner Donuts in Berlin.

Seriously, I took photos of them as they were so beautiful - check these out. :) https://photos.app.goo.gl/7bgkZy44uG2dfUB77

In France, my favorite is a mini raspberry tart — the ones with just a little bit of pastry cream under the berries. OMG so good; the berries are the star, supported by the tart crust. I’m not big on creamy things (except dark chocolate mousse), but fruit-heavy pastries are excellent and unlike in U. S. aren’t overwhelmed with sugar. A financier called le tigre (has bits of dark chocolate). Don’t be afraid to ask what’s in a pastry because even if name is same the ingredients often differ.

In France, I love a Café Gourmand, which is an espresso served with 3 or 4 small dessert items, about two bites each.

In Italy, cannoli above all, but now and then a vin santo with cantucci is nice for a change.

Otherwise, I really like a great morning pastry be it a pain au chocolat in France, an almond gipfel in Switzerland, or a sfogliatella in Italy.

Stan, that’s an odd comment about the tiramisu since it was on the dinner menu at non-touristy cities. Since it literally is “pick me up”, we did enjoy it one afternoon, too, at Mr. 100 Tiramisu when we had walked our feet off in Rome. A dessert with alcohol & espresso would not be something I’d make for our grandkids.

Laurel, I love the Italian sfogliatella, too!

In Italy, I rarely care for the desserts available at sit-down restaurants, but I find gelati, southern pastries (e.g. sfogliatelle), and northern biscuits (e.g. amaretti) to be delightful!

What I’d like to do is try them all.
However, it is not so good for the calories involved. I don’t have a weight problem, but that’s still a lot of empty calories.
Being judicious on this means that maybe 3 x a week when traveling. So for three weeks that is nine deserts. Not even touching trying all available.
Then you throw in gelato? Should that be separate? Not in the caloric way.
How many times have I passed a pastry shop because I am not hungry. Lost desserts there. Or, have just eaten, more lost desserts.
It is a fantasyland and you have to tread carefully.

My favorite in Switzerland, specifically at Sprüngli is Patisserie himbeer (a sponge-like cake topped with fresh raspberries). It is delicious and a work of art. Sprüngli is in Zurich, as well as other locations in Switzerland. On a hot day, it is delicious with a limoncello spritz.

Travel4fun: We like the cardamom rolls from Bend. 😋

We loved the peach melba dessert at Les Palmiers in Villefranche sur Mer, France. The cannoli in Florence, Italy is the best cannoli I have ever had. The handheld Belgium waffles at a street stand were great also.

@Jean, yes, that's why I remembered and mentioned it. To be clear, it was the Italian instructors who said that. I'd be interested in what Roberto, Dario and/or Ricky would say about that.

I also learned that gelato is best as a breakfast food, not as dessert. 😋

@Jean, yes, that's why I remembered and mentioned it. To be clear, it was the Italian instructors who said that, and they said it was part of the class since it was so well known to Americans. I'd be interested in what Roberto, Dario and/or Ricky would say about that.

I also learned that gelato is best as a breakfast food, not as dessert. 😋

My choices: breakfast pastries of any kind in France, cannoli in Sicily, sticky toffee pudding in England, chocolate Guinness cake in Ireland, chocolate anything in Belgium and gelato anywhere.

In Italy: sfogliatelle pastries, foccacia slices from take away bakeries/forno shops.
In Scotland: Millionaire’s shortbread, fly cemeteries, Empire biscuits, sticky toffee pudding.
In France: everything………

Here's the info regarding how tiramisu became so popular so quickly here in the USA even though it is nowhere near as old as cannoli or other classic desserts:

https://www.eater.com/2016/10/24/13314196/tiramisu-history

Two words... Crema Catalana

Crema Catalana is a luscious, velvety custard creme, kissed by the Mediterranean sun, and delicately infused with aromatic notes of cinnamon and citrus. The dessert's surface shimmers with a glistening layer of caramelized sugar (achieved with a blowtorch), which, when cracked with the gentle tap of a spoon, reveals a rich, golden custard beneath. Crema Catalana is the national dessert of Catalonia and an important part of our regional identity.

Fun fact, the French Crème brûlée is actually just a poor imitation of the Crema Catalana, which predates it by a few hundred years, and comes from a medieval Catalan cookbook from the 1300s AD.

Here's a good article from devour tours about Crema Catalana
https://devourtours.com/blog/best-crema-catalana-barcelona/?cnt=US

I only eat pastries in France, but not many, i’m not a pastry girl. My favorites are:
1. Chocolate Eclairs (old school ones, not trendy newly invented flavors and stuff on top)
2. Lemon Meringue (or just Lemon Curd) tartes
3. Raspberry tartes
4. Strawberry tartes

Not a pastry, but for us panna cotta in Italy's restaurants is to die for, preferably with a topping of frutti di bosco.

Not hugely into pastries per se, but I do love a good German apple strudel. Not sickeningly sweet like in North America, and usually served with a custard sauce. In France I look for a nice tarte with lemon curd or fresh berries. The ones with strawberries are divine. Or macarons. Mmmmmm. Or crepes with a sweet filling. When we were in Switzerland I had the most amazing meringue -about the size of my fist- swimming in a pool of raspberry sauce. I rarely eat desserts in Italy, since I've usually already had my fair share of Gelato during the day.

Here are a couple more words about Crema Catalana, ha:

https://www.tastingtable.com/1150922/creme-brulee-vs-crema-catalana-whats-the-difference/?

Kaiserschmarnn (in Munich), a fried pancake dessert. According to our German friends, it is rarely on a menu but worth ordering if you happen to see it. Also, Portuguese custard tart. Bought one at Sunday food market in Greenwich (on the Thames) at A Taste of Portugal food stand (the memory beckons me to return).

OP, that is an excellent vow! I second Laurel's suggestion: Order a Cafe Gourmand in France and get 3 or 4 small desserts with an espresso. (Several times it was served on a slate tray - not sure if this is the norm, but so pretty.) Bonus, you get what they bring so you don't have to choose. We've copied this idea several times since returning to the US.

Café gourmand served on slate is common KC.

For 1st place, it's a tie for me between:
a really good restaurant/home made sticky toffee pudding
and
the profitaroles at Inci Pastanesi in Istanbul.

The first time I had the former was at the restaurant in a hotel across the street from the B&B where we stayed in Inverness. I've never had sticky toffee pudding as good as that anywhere since and I've done lots of primary research on the topic. Most seem to not be made locally and lack the substance the cake needs to support the caramel.

The first time I had the latter was at a restaurant in Chicago. Those profitaroles were good, but the ones at Inci Pastanesi were divine. I have tried profitaroles elsewhere, most recently at an Italian restaurant in Aberystwyth, Wales. Not even close. Dry and not nearly enough dark chocolate.

Unusual for me due to the simplicity, the #2 ranking goes to some fresh apple slices and honey in Nafplio, Greece. I don’t know what kind of apples or honey was used, but the combination was amazing.

Sorry these are not from any of the countries you're going to visit on this trip, but you might find yourself somewhere they are available.

I knew you all would come through for me! Such wonderful suggestions. I’ve been looking up a lot of these items that I haven’t heard of before, and drooling over them. There will be six of us traveling together, so I’m thinking we can order a variety of things and share. So many desserts, so little time…

Crepe Suzette and Apple Strudel.

If you are going to Paris, don't miss Berthillon, the city's most iconic ice cream and pastry shop. And be sure to order...well, anything.
https://berthillon.fr/

Well, I definitely have a sweet tooth! 🍰🍭🧁 My husband and I both love ice cream/gelato so we always have lots of that on our trips. Funny, about Macarons, they didn’t look like they would be something I would like, but tried one in Paris last year, and guess what? I liked it! My all time favorite dessert is bread pudding. If it’s on the menu, I have to have it!

Pistachio gelato, cannoli, babà, churros with thick hot chocolate

Let's see: I don't eat sweets. but my husband does. In Italy, he's learning to appreciate tiramisú, loves pistacchio gelato which he'll combine with chocolate or bacio, and is picky about cannoli. In France it varies; usually some ice cream/fruit/cake combo.

When we lived in Poland he loved makowiec, as well as the amazing ice cream and fruit dishes, and wonderful tortes. He prefers ice cream or a fruit tart to sticky toffee pudding.

Jane, FYI you can order makowiec (poppy seed cake) from polana.com in Chicago. Not cheap with shipping, but a special holiday treat.

You are saying Bend where you are from doesn't have a decent bakery? Wow--would not have thought that. With all that outdoor activity? Is there a good one in Sisters maybe? Love Bend, BTW.

The first sweet treat that comes to mind is not actually a dessert--it was my first trip to Europe in 1983, on a high school exchange program, in West Germany. The first morning I came downstairs for breakfast at my host family's house, and they had the meal all laid out on the table. I had Nutella for the first time. I couldn't believe that they put chocolate icing on their toast! It was amazing to me. It was like having dessert for breakfast.

Another taste sensation that's not a dessert was in Scotland, on the Isle of Skye. The hotel where we stayed was serving breakfast, and I ordered the oatmeal. But no brown sugar/nuts/craisins this time--the oatmeal came with maple syrup! I suppose people in North America might do this too, but I had never eaten oatmeal with syrup before.

Dessert wise I can really only recall bakeries--I think my first trip to Paris in 2004, where I was (briefly) addicted to pain au chocolat. I do recall a really fancy triple layered dessert in a tall glass in Nice in 2016 but don't remember what it was.

I had a cream cheese flan at a fabulous B&B in northern Spain (Hotel Rural 3 Cabos — highly recommended) that was my favorite dessert of all time. A little like panna cotta or crème brûlée without the torching. It was to die for!

Sfogliatella from Naples. Fruit filled olliebollen from Holland especially the ones with cherry filling. Skyr cake with rhubarb topping in Iceland. Apple strudel although we can get that here in the US as well as baklava. Any French pastry preferably from a tiny hole in the wall bakery in Paris. Edited to add Eton mess.

Love Eton mess!

Bossche Bollen is one to rule them all :)

https://bakkerijroyal.nl/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/bossche_bol.jpeg

So many treats to try!!

Some of my favorites in France:
Dark chocolate mousse - also in chocolate ganache tarts
Tarte au citron with a bit of meringue on top
Warm pain au chocolat
Any raspberry tart
Pêche Melba
Warm fruit crostata for breakfast
Cafe Gourmand is always a favorite…I even have a photo of a memorable one hanging in our kitchen!
Eclairs from a place known for them…simple and well made, not the over the top ones
Dessert soufflés from La Cuisine de Philippe restaurant near Luxembourg Gardens. The pistachio with chocolate nibs was outstanding, and my husband loved his Grand Marnier soufflé.

Italy:
Croissant style pastry with cream under a glistening apricot half -so amazing
Nougat - many flavors
Tiramisu

Switzerland:
We were wowed by Movenpick Stracciatella ice cream-so rich and creamy
Good quality Swiss chocolate from Coop stores made great sweet dessert treats while hiking
Apple strudel with cream

Laurie

Thanks, stan; I'll check that out!

Ah, this is a cruel thread for those of us who won't be traveling this summer. I must stop reading.

Linda, time to go to the best bakery in Indianapolis… ; )

You're right, Susan! I will go to Rene's today. That will make me feel much better!

Pete, with all the wonderful things Bend has to offer, a good bakery is not one of them. If you want whole wheat scones, or gluten free/dairy free/sugar free scones/muffins/cookies/cupcakes, there is plenty to choose from. But a chocolate mouse or cannoli won’t be found. There is a restaurant that has a great pastry chef, but you can’t get European style desserts at any bakeries in Bend.

I heard that in La Pine though the European-style bakeries are amazing ;)

travel4fun--ha ha--got it. Yes those kinds of pastries in Bend certainly make sense, but not the wonderland of a European pastry shop or bakery.

I'm surprised this wasn't mentioned:
German Classic: Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte aka. Black Forest Cake

Aldi sells this occasionally, from the freezer section.

My favorite desserts in Munich are:

Prinzregententorte : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prinzregententorte
A truly original and somewhat outdated experience is to try them at Cafe Luitpold, Brienner Str. 11 near Odeonsplatz

Of course there is also a nice selection of French baked goods in Munich.
You will find my favorite Macarons at Café MAELU, Theatinerstraße 32
And my favorite French bakery is, how could it be otherwise, in the French Quarter in Haidhausen: Les Deux Messieurs, Weißenburger Str. 36

My favorite ice cream deserves a little ride with the subway to Rotkreuzplatz: Sarcletti, Nymphenburger Str. 155

Wow, this thread’s been going for 3+ months.

France - already mentioned above, Kouign-Amann. It’s a classical Brittany specialty, virtually unknown anywhere else in France a few years ago. Now you’ll find it most anywhere in Paris. Cinnamon roll on steroids - lots of steroids, and even more butter.

Italy - Maritozzo. This is a Roman thing, but last October I found a reasonable approximation at a roadside cafe in Tuscany. Imagine a large bun split on top, then overfilled with whipped cream. You can find it for breakfast, a morning break, and possibly an afternoon treat. Dessert after dinner, I’m not certain.

I also look for yummy desserts when hubby and I travel. We are currently in Edinburgh and had dinner last night at an Italian restaurant. Homemade Banoffee Pie with ice cream was on the menu. I have never heard of it. Waitress said it was her favorite so of course I had to order it. Oh my, it is definitely one of the best desserts I have had.

Eaton Mess from a small French Irish restaurant in Normandie and Spaghetti Ice from the village ice cream parlor where I live outside Wiesbaden.

Linda, i hope you got yourself something wonderful!

Banofee Pie sounds amazing…

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banoffee_pie

Well, our Green Sauce festival is going on right now in Frankfurt until 15.07, so if you are here, try the Grüne Soße Eis. (Green Sauce Ice cream) It tastes a lot better than it sounds and is certainly unique. Not going to find this at Baskin Robbins or Hagen Daaz.

I remember one time in Paris we were in line at Amorino for gelato and I suggested to my daughter that we share one. The look she gave me, and then she firmly states that "one does not share ice cream", lol. Otherwise in France, any of the fruit tarts, but especially lemon or raspberry.

Macarons in Paris are so good. We even did a cooking class for that one one trip and did it the day before we headed home so we could take them home with us.

In Germany and Austria, the apple strudel. As someone else mentioned, it is not overly sweet like here at home. We took a cooking class for this in Salzburg this past December and it was a lot of fun, and very good. I had no idea how much was involved in the the dough. The stretching is difficult, IMO, but so worth it.

In Reykjavik, Braud & Co have the best cinnamon rolls I have ever had. They have some unique flavors too, such as blueberry and licorice together.

In Rothenburg, the schneeballen were everywhere, so we tried one but none of us cared for it at all.

mikliz, your daughter is right. Especially if it's Amorino or Berthillon…

Suan--Yes, she is right. The look on her face was just priceless though;). We still laugh about it and my husband is the same way and doesn't share ice cream.

mikliz, i can picture her face, same look my son would give me, lol. Like, what planet did you just come from?

The Schneeballen are dry and disgusting and you will never see a German eating them. Of all the delicious desserts you can spend you money on, this is not one of them. Why do people buy them? Why does Rick even mention them? Have seen them for sale in Heidelberg and Rüdesheim too.

Susan--Yes, and the look of disdain;)

Ms Jo--I didn't know RS suggested those. We just saw them all over and figured we would try one.