Courtesy of Cooks | Bellecour
Low-sugar, low-fat, low-carb, gluten-intolerant, dairy-free, vegan—imagine working in the pastry world. You can’t catch a break with the dietary trends. As restaurant profit margins tighten, more and more restaurants are cutting out their pastry chefs. And yet the heartbeat of this state’s culinary tradition is flour. Mill City. We know baked goods. Our restaurants and bakeries are pushing boundaries and honoring traditions. Frankly, even at our most exclusive and expensive restaurants, dessert can be the best value on the menu. “Save room for dessert?” Yes! Explore a new spot or revisit a classic. Let’s celebrate the best treats in Minnesota. (Listed here alphabetically by restaurant name.)
Photo by Jessica Vostinar
Four-Star Plated Desserts
• Jasmine Weiser at Edwards Dessert Kitchen, 200 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis, 612-800-0335, edwardsdessertkitchen.com
• Nok Piyamaporn at Estelle, 1806 St. Clair Ave., St. Paul, 651-330-9648, estellestp.com
• Eddy Dhenin at Mara Restaurant & Bar, 245 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis,
612-895-5709, mararestaurantandbar.com
• Alexandra Motz at Spoon and Stable, 211 First St. N., Minneapolis, 612-224-9850, spoonandstable.com
My choice: Jessica Vostinar at Alma
528 University Ave. SE, Minneapolis, 612-379-4909, almampls.com
She does it all. From the first-rate cafe with gluten-free brownies and financiers to those rich, deep, chewy cookies to her top-notch plated desserts inside Alma, Vostinar is a true talent. Her use of creative, seasonal, and honest ingredients is her hallmark. (This fall, I hope you got to try her sweet corn semifreddo with honey-roasted peaches.)
Provided
Classic Desserts
• Butterscotch Budino at 112 Eatery, 112 Third St. N., Minneapolis, 612-343-7696, 112eatery.com
• Tres Leches at Cafe Latte, 850 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-224-5687; cafelatte.com
• Manny’s Brownie at Manny’s Steakhouse, 825 Marquette Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612-339-9900, mannyssteakhouse.com
• Grilled Pineapple at Porzana, 200 First St. N., Minneapolis, 612-489-6174, porzanampls.com
• Patticake at Yum! Kitchen & Bakery, several Twin Cities locations, yumkitchen.com
My choice: Raspberry Pie at Murray’s
26 Sixth St. S., Minneapolis, 612-339-0909, murraysrestaurant.com
This $10 slice of pie defies logic: The main event is a full pint of raspberries on top of a beautifully flaky yet incredibly supportive crust topped with gorgeous whipping cream. A little gelatin and preserves hold it all together. That’s it. Simple, beautiful, and I’m craving it right now.
Provided
Cake and Pie Bosses
• Danielle Bjorling at the Copper Hen Cakery & Kitchen, 2515 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis, 612-872-2221, copperhenkitchen.com
• Tara Coleman at Hot Hands Pie & Biscuit, 272 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul,
651-300-1503, hothandspie.com
• Abby Jimenez at Nadia Cakes, 11650 Fountains Drive, Maple Grove, 763-575-8885, 429 Commerce Drive, Woodbury, 651-314-4444, nadiacakes.com
• Thomas Boemer’s Banana Cream Pie at Revival, several Twin Cities locations, revivalrestaurants.com
My choice: Gavin Kaysen’s Crepe Cake at Cooks | Bellecour
Several Twin Cities locations, cooksbellecour.com
Birthed for Spoon and Stable’s first brunch service, the crepe cake has become one of the most popular items at Cooks | Bellecour. No surprise, because there’s a magical, spongy texture to each bite of vanilla cream and perfect crepe. There are usually around 14 layers, although seasonal fillings have different weights, and they don’t want the cake to collapse when you cut a slice.
Photo by Sarah Julson
Underrated Desserts
• Banana Pudding at Animales Barbeque Co., Bauhaus Brewlabs, 1315 Tyler St. NE, Minneapolis, 612-400-2153, animalesbarbeque.com
• Peach Cobbler at Lutunji’s Palate, 1400 Park Ave., Minneapolis, 612-345-4534, lutunjispalate.com
• Cotton Candy at Spinning Wylde,
Union Depot, 214 Fourth St. E., St. Paul, 651-493-7784, spinningwylde.com
• Soufflé Pancakes at Thirty-Six Café, 949 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-493-0163, thirtysixcafemn.com
• Olive oil soft serve at Young Joni,
165 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis, 612-345-5719, youngjoni.com
My choice: Alex Althoff at Dahlia
Pop-ups at various locations, eatatdahlia.com
The most exciting pastry development in town is a trio of Travail alums popping up at breweries, coffee houses, and sandwich shops. Althoff taught herself how to make laminated pastries at her old gig, and the Dahlia team has been teasing us with the hope of a standalone bakery since 2022. In the meantime, check Instagram for the dreamy chocolate cake, the lively citrus tarts—and don’t miss the creme brulee’d donut.
Photo by BonJwing Lee
Bakeries
• Shawn McKenzie at Café Cerés and Rustica Bakery, both with various locations, cafeceresmpls.com and rusticabakery.com
• John Kraus at Rose Street Patisserie, 171 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul, 651-556-4488, patisserie46.com/rose-street-patisserie
• Marc Heu Patisserie Paris, 156 Dale St. N., St. Paul, 763-401-7930, marcheuparis.com
My choice: Sarah Botcher at Black Walnut Bakery
3157 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612-353-6552, blackwalnutbakery.com
Meticulous attention to detail collides with fiery passion in the work of one of the nation’s most talented pastry chefs, Sarah Botcher. People line up on weekend mornings for the best croissants, kouign-amanns, and lemon scones in the state. Incredible breads make for impeccable sandwiches. (I’m a sucker for the egg custard on the breakfast sandwich.)
Plus, there’s a cake program! Black Walnut is also one of the few bakeries where you can get cake by the slice.
