Eat dessert first, because those peas and carrots aren’t going anywhere. No matter what mom said, we’re all about enjoying the sweeter things in life and worrying about the rest tomorrow.
When the call went out for some of your favorite desserts, we couldn’t help but add a few of our own guilty pleasures from around Sonoma County. Read with caution, because this list is jam-packed with chocolate, sugar, whipped cream and cookies.
National Dessert Day is Oct. 14, so now would be as good a time as any to get acquainted with the best desserts in the county.
Story by Sofia Englund, Jennifer Graue, Heather Irwin and Maci Martell. Readers contributed their dessert picks on the Sonoma Magazine Facebook.
Heather’s Picks
Banana Pudding, Rocker Oysterfeller’s at Lucas Wharf, Bodega Bay
Cupcakes, Odd Cookie Bakery, Penngrove
Tiramisu, Portico, Sebastopol
Strudel, Tisza Bistro, Healdsburg
Friday Pie Day, Hazel, Occidental
Chai Tea Ice Cream, Darling Ice Cream Shop, Sonoma
Sofia’s Picks
Glacée and Petit Beurre Cookies, Goguette Bread, Santa Rosa
This popular boulangerie extended its opening hours to 9 p.m. this summer, a brilliant move as warm Sonoma County nights made for a perfect excuse to indulge in their housemate glacée — a decadent French custard-style ice cream — to the tune of chansons on their Parisian patio. Picking a couple of flavors (new ones are made each week) is near impossible when you have choices like pistachio, rose, violet and choco-orange. Whatever flavor you pick, pair your treat with Le Petit Beurre, Goguette’s take on the shortbread from Nantes, in the Brittany region of France. Order in advance to bring your desserts home during fall and winter — ice cream and cookies are not just for summer.
59 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, goguettebread.com
Mini Lemon Meringue, The Pharmacy, Santa Rosa
Editor’s Note: The Pharmacy closed unexpectedly in early November 2024.
If you’re craving dessert, this miniature version of lemon meringue may seem a bit petite at first glance. But what it lacks in size it makes up for in flavor. It’s also very pretty — a bright yellow swirl served in a tiny glass jar. Enjoy it in one of the Adirondack chairs outdoors or seated by the large windows, watching the world go by on Sonoma Avenue. Or bring it home, like we often do. The evidence: tall stacks of tiny glass jars in our kitchen cupboard.
990 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-978-2801, thepharmacysonomacounty.com
Gluten-free Carrot Cake, Zoftig Eatery, Santa Rosa
Carrot cake, done right, can be absolutely sublime. Zoftig Eatery has perfected the art of the carrot cake with a gluten-free version that has the Goldilocks ratio of just the right amount of carrot, spice, sweetness and moistness. It is rich, but not overpowering, and the cream cheese frosting is really the icing on the cake, not detracting from the flavors by being overly sweet or artificial-tasting. The secret, according to co-owner Sonjia Spector, is high-quality spices and lasting friendships: the restaurant buys the gluten-free flour for the cake from Spector’s childhood friend Dawn Zaft of Criminal Baking Co. We have attempted to split this generous slice of carrot cake in two and save the second half for the following day, but never succeeded.
57 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-521-9554, zoftigeatery.com
Vegan Elderflower/Berry Mini Cake, Criminal Baking Company, Santa Rosa
This hidden gem bakery, located off the beaten path in a red brick industrial building on Donahue Street, continues to serve up the best sweet treats in Sonoma County. The menu changes frequently, but you won’t be disappointed whatever you order. A recent favorite includes a vegan elderflower/berry mini cake — the kind of heavenly dessert that treats your taste buds to a kind of transcendental experience. The outdoor seating, under bright yellow umbrellas, is lovely but we like the bustling indoor space that feels like a theater set beneath tall ceilings.
808 Donahue St., Santa Rosa, 707-888-3546, criminalbakingcompany.com
Jennifer’s Picks
Gateau Parisien, Patisserie Angelica, Sebastopol
If the words “gluten-free dessert” normally leave you cold, this ethereal treat (which just won the best of show award in the 2024 Sonoma County Harvest Fair) will change your mind. Three layers of almond macaron are layered with Italian praline buttercream. It’s not overly sweet and is simply delicious. The best part? In addition to full sized cakes, they also come in individual servings so you don’t have to share.
6821 Laguna Park Way, Sebastopol, 707-827-7998, patisserieangelica.com
Fruit Basket Cake, Oliver’s Market, multiple locations
This cake perennially pops up at birthdays, retirement parties and Mother’s Day gatherings, and every single time it appears, we make a beeline for the dessert table. An eye-catching rainbow of fruit for a topping draws you in, but the layers of moist vanilla cake, pastry cream and a hint of raspberry jam keep you coming back for just one more bite. Cakes come in 6, 8 and 10 inches, plus two sheet cake sizes for when you’re serving a crowd.
Locations in Cotati, Santa Rosa and Windsor. oliversmarket.com
Peanut Butter Mousse Pie, Noble Folk, Santa Rosa & Healdsburg
This pie is 9 inches of decadence, and it is worthy every single, silky bite. Noble Folk’s co-owner, Christian Sullberg, fills an Oreo cookie crust with whipped peanut butter mousse and tops it all with a cloud of whipped cream. It’s a seasonal pie, usually only on the menu a couple of times a year, but it’s your lucky day because it’s available right now just in time for National Dessert Day. My 2022 Thanksgiving story included a recipe for it; super bonus!
116 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-395-4426; 539 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-978-3392, thenoblefolk.com
Maci’s Picks
Brownie Cupcake and Baby Fruit Galettes, Downtown Bakery & Creamery, Healdsburg
Step into Healdsburg’s Downtown Bakery, and suddenly words like “carbs” and “calories” have no meaning. The incredibly rich and chocolaty brownie cupcake is a treat I will never pass up. And whatever fruit galette is available, get it. All of them are winners.
308 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-431-2719, downtownbakeryhealdsburg.com
Cinnamon Babka, Grossman’s Noshery & Bar, Santa Rosa
Skip the slice and go right for the half loaf of Grossman’s sticky, sweet cinnamon babka to take home and share with loved ones. Or hide it away to indulge in to yourself — we’ve all been there. The chocolate crinkle cookies and rugelach also never disappoint.
308 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, 707-595-7707, grossmanssr.com
Apple Pecan Crumble Pie, Petaluma Pie Company, Petaluma
This brown sugar-sweetened apple pie is topped with a nutty crumble and a generous drizzle of housemade salted caramel for a luscious fall dessert. Bring it to the Thanksgiving table this year to switch up your traditional pie offerings and make a lasting impression. And while nothing beats grandma’s homemade, from-the-garden strawberry rhubarb pie, this humble pie shop’s sweet-tart strawberry rhubarb comes as close as it gets.
125 Petaluma Blvd. N., Suite B, Petaluma, 707-766-6743, petalumapiecompany.com
Readers’ Picks
Carrot Chocolate Chip Cookies and Cardamom Braids, Cacau Bakery, Santa Rosa
“Cacau bakery (Swedish and Brazillian, found in the farmers markets in Santa Rosa and elsewhere) — carrot chocolate chip cookies and cardamom braids. Go here if you’re tired of sugar being used as the flavor rather than the flavor enhancer,” wrote Per-Anders Edwards on Facebook. “They know what Scandinavian food tastes like … they even use the right type of cardamom.”
Santa Rosa, instagram.com/cacau.sweets
Princess Cake, Scandia Bakery, Sonoma
A vanilla cake filled with raspberry jam and vanilla custard, covered in whipped cream and rolled in marzipan icing.
“The Swedish Princess Cake from (the) Scandinavian bakery in Sonoma! Outstanding!” wrote in Maria LeVicki on Facebook.
“That was the birthday cake my mom wanted every year!” replied Donna Litvin.
500 W. Napa St., Suite 542, Sonoma, 707-938-5820, scandiabakery.com
Berry Turnovers, Mom’s Apple Pie, Sebastopol
“The berry turnovers at Mom’s Apple Pie,” replied Elizabeth Jack to our query on best local desserts on Facebook. “Crispy, buttery layers around mixed berries. Yum!”
4550 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol, 707-823-8330, momsapplepieusa.com
Chocolate Mousse, CIBO Rustico Pizzeria, Santa Rosa
The Coppa Tre Cioccolati Mousse at CIBO has silky white chocolate, dark chocolate, and hazelnut and wafers.
“CIBO Rustico Pizzeria — 3 layer chocolate mousse,” wrote Emily Haws on Facebook. “What dreams are made of.”
1305 Cleveland Ave., Suite C, Santa Rosa, 707-623-9906, ciborustico.com
Ice Cream, Screamin’ Mimi’s, Sebastopol
“Screaming Mimi’s Mimi’s Mud Chocolate Espresso Ice Cream in Sebastopol!” wrote Marty Waldron.
Mimi’s Mud is an espresso ice cream with chocolate chips, Oreo-like cookies and housemade fudge. Screamin’ Mimi’s Pumpkin Mud is also back this fall season.
“Lavender ice cream from Screamin’ Mimi’s Ice Cream,” wrote Michi Cardenas Campos.
6902 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol, 707-823-5902, screaminmimisicecream.com
S’more, Wit & Wisdom, Sonoma
“Wit & Wisdom: Deconstructed S’more,” Emily Haws wrote on Facebook. “Chef Danny and team always push the level with desserts. I have enjoyed so many incredible ones — and they serve Fiorello’s Artisan Gelato, which is a plus in my eyes!”
The restaurant’s current dessert menu includes Woodfired S’mores Souffle for two, served with cherry coulis, Fiorello vanilla gelato and a graham streusel.
1325 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-931-3405, witandwisdomsonoma.com
Meringue, Les Pascals Patisserie, Glen Ellen
“You might miss these little guys next to the till, or pass over them thinking they’re just for decoration,” wrote Per-Anders Edwards. “But if you’re a fan of gooey meringue (the best kind on a pavlova, Eton Mess or lemon meringue tart) and miss it, here you can get a single mouthful that’s just as much as you’d want before the sugar coma kicks in. Two flavors. They have some great savory options.”
13758 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, 707-934-8378, lespascalspatisserie.com
Mama Janne’s Cream Cheese Pie, Stark’s Steak & Seafood, Santa Rosa
“Mama Janne’s Cheese Pie at Stark’s Steakhouse — the best,” John Noble wrote on Facebook.
The pie is filled with brown butter peaches and topped with a graham cracker crumble.
521 Adams St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-5100, starkrestaurants.com
Churros, Warike Restobar, Santa Rosa
“Warike Restobar – Churros,” wrote Per-Anders Edwards on Facebook. “Fun, shareable, finally a decent amount of cinnamon! The rest of the menu’s great, too.”
Warike’s churros are filled with manjar blanco (similar to dulce de leche) and served with vanilla ice cream.
527 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-536-9201, warikesf.com
Pumpkin Spice Bundtlet, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Santa Rosa
“Nothing Bundt Cakes (Santa Rosa Coddingtown mall) — Pumpkin Spice bundtlet,” wrote Per-Anders Edwards on Facebook. “You can ask for it minus the icing in ‘naked’ form. Once you eliminate the octopus of icing, this is pretty similar in flavor profile and texture to some Swedish spice cakes.”
266 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa, 707-708-4800, nothingbundtcakes.com
Cakes and Apple Cider Doughnuts, Flour Girl, Cloverdale
“Flour Girl — her cakes and apple cider donuts are to die for!” wrote Savannah DelCampo-Snyde.
227 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, myflourgirl.com
Chocolate Caramel Crunch Bars, BurtoNZ Bakery, Windsor
“BurtoNZ Bakery in Windsor has chocolate caramel crunch bars that are seriously addictive,” wrote Elizabeth Jack on Facebook.
9076 Brooks Road S., Windsor, 707-687-5455, burtonzbakery.com
Other notable mentions
“Sarmentine — A French patisserie worth visiting in three locations now (Santa Rosa, Sebastopol and Petaluma). Go for the tartlets, the fruit one is a favorite, also a good loaf and super deep dish quiche.” – Per-Anders Edwards
“Mad Batter Cakery Co. — Best GF cupcakes I have had in my life.” – Emily Haws
“A Lil Somethin’ Sweet is amazing!” – Joseph Anthony
“Almond macaroon ganache at Oliver’s is the best treat in the world.” – Trent Tarranï
“Fleur Sauvage Chocolates creative, yummy, seasonal, fun desserts!” – Laura Jean
“Affogato at Caffe Giostra (in) Petaluma.” – Tom Curran
“Donut holes from Seared and Easy Rider.” – Kathy Goldstein
“Crinkle cookie from Criminal Baking & Catering Company. Ice cream from Nimble & Finn’s Ice Cream and Noble Folk Ice Cream and Pie Bar.” – Corry Kanzenberg