Best desserts in Miami, my picks that are WTC (worth the calories). And there’s a last minute addition of UNBELIEVABLE cakes and cupcakes from a bakery in California that ships. Enjoy!
AVA
The operators of MILA have another winner in AVA in Coconut Grove. And a highlight is their Valhrona chocolate mousse souffle. I sometimes find souffles a little insipid, but this was sooo chocolately and rich and a little crunchy thanks to the pistachio praline and accompanied with malt ice cream, an unlikely but very good choice.
Marion
Marion in the Brickell area came up with a simple yet delicious sundae, no surprise since the French pastry chef in the kitchen: Nelson Mendoca, worked beside Alain Ducasse. The sweet temptation sundae featured Salted Caramel Ice Cream, Dulce De Leche, and Caramelized Peanuts.
Coconut cake is one of my favorites and teamed up with cashew ice cream, OMG. We had to control ourselves to not eat the whole thing at The Joyce in South Beach.
Verde
One of the more unusual desserts I encountered at Verde restaurant at the Perez Art Museum. And even better, it was inspired by one of the works of art in an exhibit. The Dragon Fruit Key Lime Mousse , inspired by “Rorschach Polyrhythm,” featured white chocolate milk crumbles, dragon fruit and raspberry coulis, and a pink oblea. Different and delicious.
More Best Desserts in Miami
Maple & Ash
Taste and presentation award goes to this dessert at Maple &Ash at Miami World Center: A globe of chocolate, filled with ice cream and peanut butter crunch, appeared solid—until it was drenched in a hot sauce of butter, brown sugar, and rum, then flambéed tableside. The Sundae tower is terrific too.Amazing.
Amazonico
Corn seems to be an ingredient inspiring fine desserts these days. The next two are the proof. At new restaurant-to-be-topped, Amazonico on Brickell Avenue you can’t miss the crème de choclo which is corn crème brulee, coconut sponge and corn meringue .
Ro Steakhouse
Even topping that one is the “corn” dessert at Ro Steakhouse in Coral Gables.What looked like a corn on the cob complete with a few stalks was actually corn mousse filled with dulce de leche and topped with lemon crumble.
Vicky Bakery
Topping off the list in Miami is the collaboration rum cake between Vicky Bakery and Havana Club rum. It’s offered from now through January. Here’s the story: Vicky Bakery, Florida’s iconic Cuban bakery brand, and the real Havana Club, forced from home and aged in exile, but forever Cuban, are coming together once again just in time for the holidays with the limited-edition cake offered at all Vicky Bakery locations.This special-edition rum cake combines recipes from Vicky Bakery, dating back to the1950s, and the Arechabala family’s, who founded Havana Club, from the 1930s, resulting in a rich, moist, just the right amount of sweet cake.
If these aren’t enough for best desserts in Miami, check out last year’s blogposts on best desserts. Click here.
Rounding out my best desserts in Miami is an entry from California, Susiecakes. Read on as they ship. Their mantra is “We bake the best-tasting, timeless versions of your most-loved treats-all with simple, back to basics ingredients”. Though they make cookies, pies, cakes and cupcakes, the cupcakes and cakes with buttercream frosting are the ones to get. While I was in Santa Monica visiting my oldest son and his family we celebrated my birthday and he got me a trio of cupcakes — flourless chocolate, red velvet, and vanilla. I’ve had some darn good buttercream cupcakes and even used to make them, but these are the hands down the best ever (beats Magnolia from New York). The cake itself is moist and flavorful, but it’s the buttercream that is perfection as it’s just the right bit of creamy and sweet. They also have a DIY set. I’ve put in an order for New Year’s and you better believe whenever I go visit, Susiecakes will be on my list along with Sidecar donuts that are also amazing (wrote about them last year). Note that they ship the cakes not the cupcakes.
