Top Summertime Desserts In The Denver Area
(credit: leafandcrumb.com)
D Bar Desserts
1475 E.17th Ave.
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 861-4710
www.dbardesserts.com
Not many sit-down restaurants can successfully focus solely on desserts, but Keegan Gerhard and Lisa Bailey broke the mold with D Bar Desserts. The menu is divided into broad daylight and desserts at night, along with teas, cocktails and wine. The "Molten Cake Thingy Everybody Has..." uses Madagascar 64-percent chocolate, cherry compote, cherry coulis and pistachio ice cream. The best part for people with gluten allergies? It's gluten free. Now everyone can enjoy the delicious desserts. The evening menu offers key lime custard with pineapple mango chutney and buttermilk panna cotta with raspberry cloud and prickly pear sorbet.
Crave
891 14th St. #110
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 586-4199
www.cravedenver.com
Crave is that perfect little late-night stop for anyone craving something sweet. It's located just a few blocks from the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and the Convention Center, so if you are checking out a show or event, Crave is the perfect place to wind down. This ultra-hip, modern lounge features lots of great cocktails and so many amazing desserts that you'll need to order more than one. One of the best is the Strawberry Velvet Cake, which is a moist red velvet cake with candied almonds, lemon custard, dark chocolate ganache, poached strawberries and topped off with strawberry buttermilk ice cream. It's the perfect combination of sweet fruit, rich cake and cold ice cream. Or check out some of the many small pastries that are changed out daily. You really can't go wrong with anything at Crave.
Related: Best Free Summer Events In Denver
Leaf and Crumb
4416 E. 8th Ave.
Denver, CO 80220
(303) 355-0022
www.leafandcrumb.com
Jennifer Akina founded Leaf and Crumb in the midst of earning a doctorate in pharmacology, choosing to forgo the medical world and instead use those skills to enhance her lifelong love of baking. From lemon ricotta to strawberry Swiss buttercream, the cupcakes are a work of art. Summer calls for Leaf and Crumb's lavender orange cupcakes, perfect for dinner parties and birthday celebrations. The artists create beautiful wedding and themed cakes as well.
Lucky's Bakehouse
3990 Broadway St.
Boulder, CO 80304
(720) 596-4905
www.luckysmarket.com/bakehouse
Jen Bush, the executive pastry chef of Lucky's Bakehouse, locally sources ingredients and bakes everything from scratch in small-batch recipes. Specialties include vivid violet blueberry-lavender ice cream or "Uncle Pete's" salted licorice ice cream. Don't miss the savory selections including goat cheese mini-galettes.
Related: Best Cheesy Dishes In Denver
Root Down
1600 W. 33rd Ave.
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 993-4200
www.rootdowndenver.com
Pastry chef Samm Sherman applies Root Down's "field to fork" mentality to sensational sweets as she puts her own special spin on traditional desserts. White chocolate cheesecake is caramelized with candied rhubarb, raspberry coulis and pistachio crumble while chocolate coconut truffle is paired with avocado lime sorbet and fresh strawberries. And if you have an early carving for something sweet, Root Down is the place. It offers brunch Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Ellen Marchman Larkey has a savvy knowledge of culture and events and maintains trusted partnerships around the country. She has substantial expertise with food, wine and lifestyle including Aspen Food & Wine Festival, South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Cochon, Top Chef and numerous destination
restaurants and master mixologists. She has beeen Examiner.com's Denver's Fine Dining writer since 2009.
