Best Unique Holiday Desserts in LA
Nothing quite says the holidays like a splurge on a unique and often nostalgic dessert. From revamping favorites reminiscent of childhood to new creations that include festive ingredients and a nod to holiday cheer, these are some of the best holiday desserts you'll find in Los Angeles.
Garnet Yam Cheesecake
CAFE del REY
4451 Admiralty Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 823-6395
www.cafedelreymarina.com
At CAFE del REY, located on the water in charming Marina del Rey, you can end your meal with their signature Garnet Yam Cheesecake, an inventive twist on a pumpkin cheesecake. Made with yam purée, a graham cracker crust, and drizzled with housemade caramel sauce, this cheesecake, also served with chocolate cookies, is sure to bring a smile for the holidays as well as year round.
Granny Smith & Marzipan Torte de Mela
RivaBella
9201 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 278-2060
www.innovativedining.com
West Hollywood's RivaBella is serving up a scrumptious update on one of America's greatest traditions, the Apple Pie. TheirGranny Smith & Marzipan Torte de Mela is a classic Tart Tatin of pan roasted caramel apples topped with caramel, whipped vanilla mascarpone, pieces of marzipan, and crumbled Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal for a playful touch.
Maple Berry Pie
4451 Admiralty Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 823-6395
www.cafedelreymarina.com
Made with brown sugar, sweet pastry crust, seasonal berries and paired with cinnamon ice cream, the Maple Berry Pie at Cafe Del Rey will have you wishing the holidays were year round. The restaurant, known for its Mediterranean cuisine will be serving it throughout the holidays.
Sweet Rose Creamery
Brentwood Country Mart, 225 26th St #51
Santa Monica, CA
(310) 260-2663
www.sweetrosecreamery.com
Each holiday season, Sweet Rose Creamery does something special to usher in most joyous time of year, and this year is no different. In November, look for their Pumpkin Pie with spiced pumpkin ice cream topped with whipped milk in a ginger cookie crust, as well as pecan pie with brown sugar ice cream topped with maple butter pecan halves in a chocolate crust. Want more? They also offer apple pie with apple pie with apple pie ice cream topped with salted pecan crumble and caramel in a graham crust. In December, the creamery known for its mouth watering ice cream and treats ups the ante with egg nog pies and cranberry ice cream sandwiches. For seasonal flavors, they will be offering flavors including Rum Raisin, Cranberry Compote with Chocolate Cake, Caramel Apple with Granola, Spiced Milk with Apricot Preserve, Eggnog, Persimmon Cardamom, Peppermint Patty, and more.
Superba Food & Bread
1900 Lincoln Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90291
(310) 907-5075
www.superbafoodandbread.com
This holiday season, Paul Hibler's Superba Food & Bread will be offering a delicious chocolate pecan pie with valrhona chocolate, sorghum molasses, and pecan crust as well as a pumpkin pie with rugosa butternut squash, maple sugar, and holiday spices for Thanksgiving.
Patina
141 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-3331
www.patinarestaurant.com
One of LA's top restaurants is serving up something special this year. For the holiday's, stop in at Patina to try their Raspberry Meyer Lemon Bûche de Nöel with sable cookie, cake with raspberry jam and Meyer lemon custard.
Barton G
861 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069
(310) 388-1888
www.bartongtherestaurantla.com
For the jolliest time of year, Barton G. LA presents an astonishing new take on an old dessert and offers up a truly unique treat. Their new Pot Pie Garden dessert features six individual pies—Pecan, Key Lime, Cherry Jubilee, Banana Cream, Rosemary Apple, and Mississippi Mud—outfitted as potted plants plucked straight from the garden. Each 'pie' is baked into individual flower pots, filled with different types of pie and topped with chocolate 'soil,' with a sprig of fresh herb. Muddied (chocolate-stained) gardening tools and gloves will make this picturesque dessert platter come to life too!
Butterscotch Bread Pudding
Napa Valley Grille
1100 Glendon Ave #100
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 824-3322
www.napavalleygrille.com
Located in Westwood, Napa Valley Grille offers a wide range of wine country cuisine by renowned chef Taylor Boudreaux. While running around and shopping this year during the holidays, stop into Napa Valley Grille for their Butterscotch Bread Pudding. Topped with housemade marshmallows and caramel sauce, this delight is both rich and satisfying.
Lady M's Signature Mille Crepe
Lady M Cake Boutique
8718 W 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(424) 279-9495
www.ladym.com
During the holidays, head straight to Lady M Cake Boutique to purchase one of their Signature Mille Crepe cakes. The twenty paper thin layers of perfectly baked crepes are separated by a delicious light pastry cream that will wow your friends and family. Can't make it to the storefront with your busy schedule? Lady M will deliver this cake straight to your door for all your holiday entertaining needs.
Classic Pumpkin Pie
Café Gratitude
512 Rose Ave.
Venice, CA 90291
(424) 231-8000
Additional Location On Larchmont Blvd.
www.cafegratitude.com
This holiday season, don't miss Café Gratitude's update on the classic pumpkin pie, available as a single slice or to-go to enjoy at your holiday parties and gatherings. Their version, both vegan and raw, uses butternut squash instead of pumpkin, creating a unique flavor combination that is equally tasty and still satisfying for guests with the most specific dietary restrictions.
Holiday Ice Cream
Coolhaus
8588 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 424-5559
www.eatcoolhaus.com
L.A. features one of the best holiday climates making holiday themed ice cream a great option for those festive afternoons. Coolhaus's architecturally-inspired gourmet ice cream boasts two L.A. scoop shops, in addition to 11 food trucks throughout the SoCal area. New holiday flavors include Maple Sweet Potato Marshie, Pumpkin Pie, Scotchmallow (Chivas scotch spiked ice cream with scotchmallow swirl, M&Ms, and salt), and the Drunk Gingerbread Man, with spiced ice cream (nutmeg, cinnamon, clove,
vanilla) and a ginger molasses cookies swirled and spiked with King's ginger liquor).
Nuage Cakes
Nuage Cakes
Bo Nuage
8010 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(310) 880-2065
www.bonuage.com
The Parisian-inspired Melrose pastry shop, Bo Nuage, is serving up a variety of holiday treats and goodies to satisfy the particular palate this season. To get in the spirit of the times, make sure not to miss their decadent "nuage" cakes with two layers of meringue filled with flavored whipped cream, covered in that same cream, and topped with shaved chocolate. Pumpkin-Ginger, Apple Cobbler, Gingerbread, and Chocolate Peppermint are just a few of the 15 flavor varieties available. Gluten-free and dairy free options are also served.
Kabocha Pie
Kye's
1518 Montana Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 395-5937
www.kyesmontana.com
If you are looking for a gluten-free, dairy-free pie option this holiday season, consider the Kabocha Pie at Kye's in Santa Monica. Filled with Kabocha Squash, Coconut Milk, Sucanat, Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, and cloves. These mini pies are a great way to end a festive holiday meal without the guilt.
Holiday French Pear Tart
L'Amande French Bakery
9530 S Santa Monica Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 734-8922
www.lamandebakery.com
Prepared from scratch with the finest ingredients, the Holiday French Pear Tart at L'Amande French Bakery is a labor of love. The puff pastry alone takes 48 hours to prepare, and the tart process an additional two. Served with fresh pears, individually torched for caramelization and glazed with a nappage apricot glaze, this tart will certainly provide a wow factor for the end of your holiday meal.
Holiday Cupcakes
Dreamy Creations Cupcake
19441 Business Center Dr
Northridge, CA 91324
(818) 882-0120
Cupcake Truck Also Available (Locate The Truck
www.roaminghunger.com
The Dreamy Creations Cupcake truck features a wide variety of holiday themed cupcakes including their Creme Brulee Cupcake, Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcake, Orange Cranberry Cupcake, and Chocolate Eggnog Cream Pie Cupcake, as well as a few bread puddings like the Banana Toffee Pecan Bread Pudding and Pumpkin Bread Pudding. The Pumpkin Cheesecake variety includes a graham cracker crust with vanilla pumpkin swirled cheesecake, while the candy cane cupcake (pictured) is the perfect holiday treat with a red velvety swirled ake topped with a peppermint frosting sprinkled in peppermint candies. Find their location using the Roaming Hunger site
