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13 Indulgent Asheville Dessert Spots

Are you searching for the best dessert in Asheville, NC? Don’t miss these indulgent and tempting Asheville dessert bars and bakeries perfect for your sweet tooth.

Known as Foodtopia, Asheville is full of hopping breweries and unique and famous restaurants. All across Western North Carolina (WNC), wineries, bars, and cafes greet hungry foodies.

After you’ve had a delicious lunch or fine dining dinner in Asheville, you might be craving something sweeter like a delicious cheesecake or smoky Old Fashioned.

So, where can you eat dessert in Downtown Asheville under the stars while people watching?

And, where can you devour gluten-free and vegan desserts in Asheville, including donuts, ice cream, cookies, and cakes?

Which Asheville dessert bar also serves the best cocktails and offers hookah? Out of all the bakeries, who makes the best pastries?

Keep reading to uncover where you can find the best desserts in Asheville, NC from locals. Let’s get started!

Grab some Asheville coffee with your dessert too.

Best Asheville Dessert Bars Cafes with picture of chocolate cake with blueberries and red fruit
Looking for those sweet treats? This Asheville dessert guide is for you!

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13 Best Asheville Dessert Places

1. Crave Dessert Bar

Crave Dessert Bar Asheville NC with hookah, fire pit, and Crave menu
If you are looking for hookah bars, Crave Dessert Bar has desserts, bites, and hookah.
Crave Dessert Bar Asheville Dessert with strawberries and blueberries next to orange-ish cocktail
Gluten-free and vegan dessert in Downtown Asheville? Crave’s coconut panna cotta is life.

Be still our hearts. Crave Dessert Bar has the best desserts in Asheville along with cocktails, hookah, tea, and coffee.

Picture a jar over an Old Fashioned, Beauty & The Beast-style. Lift that jar, and the smoke rushes out… Just like that oh-so-bad-for-you but deliciously flavored hookah.

While not the best spot for vegan and gluten-free treats, Crave has a few options. Plus, there is always liquid dessert. Crave Dessert Bar’s cocktails are crafty and delicious.

Even better, Crave Dessert Bar stays open until midnight, and they serve food including bites, handhelds, and flatbreads. Sit under the stars on their outdoor patio as you people watch.

Crave is also one of the most romantic dessert bars in Downtown Asheville and our top sweet treats picks.

We especially enjoy Crave after a night of fine dining over at Bouchon. Read more about date night restaurants in Asheville you don’t want to miss.

Crave Dessert Bar | 41 N Lexington Ave Suite #100, Asheville, NC 28801

2. Asheville Chocolate

“Get chocolate sauced” at Asheville Chocolate, a Downtown Asheville dessert cafe. Where do we even start?

Asheville Chocolate serves up truffles, gelato, drinks, and desserts. Think affogatos or hot chocolate and mochas with homemade ganache.

They also boast of seasonal and ever-changing flavors along with decadent vegan options. If you don’t see vegan items on the menu, just ask.

Asheville Chocolate is our personal favorite chocolate shop in Asheville for the chill vibes and comfy seating areas.

While you are indulging at Asheville Chocolate, don’t skip cocktails at the nearby AVL rooftop bars including The Social Lounge and Capella On 9.

Indulging at Asheville’s dessert and rooftop bars are some of the best things to do for couples in Asheville.

Asheville Chocolate | 25 Broadway Street, Asheville, NC 28801

3. Old Europe Pastries

Gluten Free Desserts Asheville Old Europe Pastries with gluten-free and vegan chocolate chip cookie in front of colorful flowers
Check out this gluten-free and vegan cookie from Old Europe Pastries.

Open since 1994, Old Europe is one of the longest-running cafés and coffee shops in Asheville. Old Europe makes some of the best pastries and desserts.

If you are vegan, lactose-intolerant, or looking for gluten-free desserts in Asheville, Old Europe will have something for you. They also serve traditional Hungarian desserts.

Locals and visitors may order treats online or via a food delivery service. Read more about Downtown Asheville’s best restaurants.

Old Europe Pastries | 13 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801

4. BimBeriBon (Closed In 2022)*

BimBeriBon Gluten Free Bakery Cafe West Asheville with vegan and gluten free donut and two cups of take away coffee
Grab a gluten-free and vegan donut from BimBeriBon in West Asheville.

*BimBeriBon temporarily and now permanently closed in 2022. We are waiting to see what comes to the area.

BimBeriBon is a globally inspired, locally sourced, and gluten and refined sugar-free cafe and bakery. They have one of the largest selections of gluten-free and vegan desserts in West Asheville.

BimBeriBon’s gluten-free and vegan desserts include cinnamon rolls, chocolate cake, and apple caramel donuts.

Forbes named them as the ‘best breakfast in town,’ and they cater to all food preferences and intolerances.

Read more about eating gluten-free in Asheville. Don’t miss the nearby West Village Market for specialty foods and treats to bring home.

BimBeriBon | 697 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806

5. French Broad Chocolate Lounge

French Broad Chocolate Lounge blue and brown colored building in Pack Square Asheville North Carolina
For the best desserts in Downtown Asheville, everyone knows French Broad Chocolate.

A popular dessert bar in Asheville, French Broad Chocolate Lounge is a must. They have vegan and gluten-free treats, too – including vegan hot chocolate.

Located in Pack Square next to the iconic Asheville Art Museum, you might find the line out the door. Grab a box of truffles and some coffee.

You may also want to take a stroll around Pack Square.

French Broad Chocolate is also the perfect place for dessert in Asheville after dining at Posana or Limones, two of Asheville’s unforgettable restaurants.

Discover even more delicious spots for dairy-free Asheville treats.

French Broad Chocolate Lounge | 10 South Pack Square, Asheville NC 28801

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6. Sunshine Sammies

Sunshine Sammies Asheville NC with white hand holding up a vegan chocolate chip ice cream sandwich in front of counter with menu
Did someone say vegan ice cream sandwich?

For local treats, creative ice cream sandwiches, cookies, and soda floats, head to Sunshine Sammies. Dessert in Asheville never smelled so good.

The moment you walk in, fresh ice cream and cookies baking swirl around you. It is magnificent.

Located in South Slope in Downtown AVL – with a vintage food truck that heads to South Asheville – feed your inner child.

Sunshine Sammies offers vegan and gluten-free selections along with regular ice cream and cookies. You can order online.

Honestly, the best part of Sunshine Sammies is that fresh vegan ice cream sandwich. Order some Penny Cup Co. too.

Sunshine Sammies | 99 S Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801

7. Hole Doughnuts

Hole Doughnuts brown donut with sugar and white hand holding it up
Head to West Asheville’s Hole Doughnuts for your classic donut fix.

Voted Best Dessert of 2016 by Bon Appetit, Hole Doughnuts is one of Asheville’s infamous donut shops. Along with classic donut flavors, they have a seasonal donut that rotates every week.

Hole Doughnuts also serves coffee and tea from the local Asheville businesses.

Nearby, don’t miss one of Asheville’s cideries, Urban Orchard. Or, head over to Archetype West — a gorgeous AVL brewery with rooftop seating.

If you are looking for more vegan options in Asheville, Vortex has vegan donuts.

Hole Doughnuts | 168 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806

8. Geraldine’s Bakery

Asheville donuts Geraldines Bakery with display case full of donuts and pastries
Growing up in New England, Geraldine’s gives us all of the feels.

For all of your freshly baked goods and dessert in Asheville, head to Geraldine’s Bakery.

They remind us of our Italian Bakery back home in CT and reside in North Asheville. Choose from wedding cakes, Italian cookies, fritters, and an endless display of colorful and gooey pastries.

Just keep in mind that Geraldine’s closes by 1 PM. If you are looking for more, don’t miss Asheville’s stellar weekend brunch places.

Geraldine’s Bakery | 840 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804

9. Double D’s Coffee & Desserts

Double Ds Coffee Desserts Asheville NC double decker red bus
You literally can’t miss Double D’s Coffee & Desserts in Downtown Asheville.

We are pretty sure that you’ve all seen that big double-decker red bus… Double D’s is one of the most touristy coffee spots with dessert in Downtown Asheville.

However, don’t let the Instagrammers scare you away… Double D’s serves up delicious coffee beverages and treats.

Along with coffee and tea, order iced drinks, frappes, smoothies, and milkshakes. Double D’s makes their own signature drinks.

Double D’s desserts involve ice cream, muffins, brownies, and cookies. They only accept cash, and they have Wi-Fi.

Double D’s Coffee & Desserts | 41 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801

10. The Hop Handcrafted Ice Cream

The Hop Ice Cream Asheville NC with vegan black waffle cone and vegan pumpkin ice cream in front of a mural
Don’t miss a vegan waffle cone with vegan ice cream at The Hop.

For vegan ice cream, hot apple cider floats, and shakes, we love The Hop.

The Hop has multiple locations across Asheville – including North, West, and Downtown – as well as a cafe in Black Mountain.

The Hop Ice Cream Cafe specializes in handcrafted dairy ice cream and 100% from-scratch, dairy-free, and vegan ice cream.

We are lactose-intolerant, and we can attest that the vegan flavors are creamy, plentiful, and delicious.

For kid-friendly Asheville restaurants, The Hop is perfect, too, with its whimsical decor and variety of flavors and treats.

Uncover even more of the best ice cream shops in AVL.

The Hop Ice Cream | North Asheville Flagship Location – 640 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804 | Find all of their locations here.

11. City Bakery

For artisanal loaves of bread and pastries as well as coffee, City Bakery has been around since 1999.

Using products from local companies, you’ll find a variety of freshly baked bread like Sourdough, Challah, Focaccia, and Ciabatta.

For pastries, pick from scones or muffins. City Bakery also serves cookies for dessert.

City Bakery | Downtown Asheville – 60 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 | North Asheville – 88 Charlotte St., Asheville, NC 28801

12. Pop Bubble Tea

If you are looking for boba dessert in Asheville, head to Pop Bubble Tea – located in The Hop on Merrimon Ave. in North AVL. They are brand new as of May 2022.

We are pretty sure from the name that you can guess what Pop specializes in: bubble tea!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with bubble tea – also known as boba or pearl milk tea – this is a Taiwanese tea-based drink mixed with fruit or milk and tapioca balls.

It’s delicious!

At Pop Bubble Tea, choose from specialty teas or build your own. Along with milk teas, find fruit, matcha, and classic tea flavors.

Add as much ice and sugar as you wish, and make tough decisions between jelly, tapioca, red bean, and pudding toppings.

Pop Bubble Tea labels its menu for caffeine, gluten, and dairy. We appreciate the oat milk option.

With brightly colored walls, boba stickers available for purchase, and even a bubble tea light, you cannot help but smile – even on a rainy day.

Dessert in Asheville never looked so colorful! Did we just drink a unicorn?

Pop Bubble Tea | 640 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804

13. Sky Top Orchard

Sky Top Orchard Apple Cider Donuts being coated in cinnamon and sugar
Sky Top Orchard makes their donuts right in front of you.
Sky Top Orchard Donuts with 6 brown donuts in a plastic container on a picnic table
Warm, sugary goodness right here.

Lastly, if you are visiting Asheville in the fall, don’t miss the Hendersonville apple orchards for donuts, cider, and slushies.

We frequent Sky Top in Flat Rock. Sky Top makes hot apple cider donuts on the spot and serves them warm. Along with slushies and apple cider, don’t miss their hard cider, caramel apples, and baked goods.

Of course, you can apple pick and shop at their country store.

Read more about all that you can do in Asheville in October.

Sky Top Orchard | 1193 Pinnacle Mountain Rd, Flat Rock, NC 28731

Save The Best Spots For Dessert In Asheville, NC

Best Dessert Asheville NC Pinterest pin with Crave Dessert Bar in downtown Asheville panna cotta with strawberries and blueberries and cocktail
Find a new favorite dessert bar in Asheville? Save the best Asheville dessert spots for later, and treat yourself like a local with Uncorked Asheville.

Who makes the best desserts in Asheville, NC?

Where do you love to go for dessert in Asheville? What is your favorite type of dessert: Donuts, ice cream, cakes, pastries, truffles, candy, or Italian cookies? Let us know in the comments.

See our Top Places To Stay in Asheville.

Don’t miss out on these Asheville properties on Booking.com, too.

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WAVL Dessert

Monday 3rd of October 2022

Bim Beri Bon is closed. :(

Christine

Tuesday 4th of October 2022

Yes; thank you - we caught the update on some posts but missed a few! I appreciate it. We are totally bummed.

trhlgrl

Tuesday 21st of September 2021

Ultimate Ice Cream! Chocolate Gems for gelato; Whitt's Custard (i know but we love it)

Christine

Tuesday 21st of September 2021

Ultimate ice cream is good -- we took friends when they were in town. I wish we got to see The Waterbird next door in N. AVL before they closed. We'll definitely be saving these recs for when we make an ice cream post, too! Thanks so much!

Macey @ Brine & Books

Tuesday 14th of September 2021

i'm definitely in the minority, but i'm not a dessert person! however, i never can resist scrolling through posts like these, and i have to say that i always come away with my mouth watering :') x

Christine

Wednesday 15th of September 2021

Tom loves dessert the most, and I like dessert in moderation (pre-Asheville, it was rare when we could find vegan and gluten-free desserts) -- although I am more of a cocktail person. Tom can eat cake for breakfast, haha. We also have a vegan restaurant called Plant, and their vegan desserts are the BEST.