October is National Dessert Month, and the DC Metropolitan area has a smorgasbord of options! Whether you like your desserts ice cold or skillet hot, there’s something for everybody and then some. Here are just a handful of my favorite dishes for when I’m craving somethin’ sweet.
It’s never too cold for ice cream, and I’m always craving the freshly-made, delicious ice creams from Mimi’s Handmade in Westpost. This DMV staple offers 32 flavors at any given time, including rotating and seasonal ones, and a wide array of Asian-inspired flavors. Today, I opted for a scoop of the Hojicha (Japanese green tea) atop their Ube (purple yam), and this was a match made in heaven! For those who are on the more adventurous side, they also offer flavors like Wasabi Peas and their seasonal Sichuan Spicy Girl. Pro-tip: ask for a cone on top of a cup for easy transport, and go for one of their pints to enjoy their treats at home.
The dessert pastry giant Ladurée has two locations in the DMV, including one in Bethesda Row. Known for their macarons and their opulent decor, one bite of their macarons always transports me back to Paris. I usually order a variety, but my staples are always the Marie Antoinette Tea, the Passion Fruit, and the Caramel flavored macarons. I absolutely love how they’re able to thoroughly capture the essence of the flavors in their macarons, as well as their knowledgeable service.
The newest on this list, Chip City Cookies, recently arrived in the DMV in October 2023 and already has three stores and counting! I adore their fun and iconic branding, and stepping into their stores always makes me feel like a kid again (think scholastic book fair meets nostalgic 90s vibes). They not only offer cookies but also have ice cream, thin Chips, as well as Chip Cookies at select locations. Whenever I’m at their Shirlington location, my all-time favorite is their Teddi-Fetti, although their seasonal Caramel Apple Cider Doughnut Cookie is an absolutely incredible mashup of both desserts.
One of my personal favorites since moving to Montgomery County, Sunday Morning Bakehouse, is a local small-batch bakery offering pastries, bread, coffee, and more. I could write paragraphs about their incredible items, but one thing I always come back for is the Brioche Donuts! They are sugar-coated pillows of goodness, and I happened to visit the other week when they had one of the Cookie Butter varieties. I am a sucker for fusion desserts, and the flavor of the cookie butter and texture of the airy brioche donut made this arguably my favorite dessert on this list! Savoring this donut was bittersweet since they do rotate flavors often, but I’m excited to see what flavors the holidays bring for these iconic donuts.
When you think of Matchbox you might think of crispy wood-fired pizza, but did you know that they use those same ovens to make a mean skillet Chocolate S’mores Dessert? My final dessert on this list harkens back to summer and firepits, and Matchbox Rockville is the perfect place to take advantage of the last days of summer with its patio seating. This Chocolate S’mores dessert features a fluffy, toasted marshmallow layer atop a homemade chocolate brownie, with chocolate drizzle, and graham crackers on the side. This dessert is perfect to be shared with friends, especially with the type of nostalgia it evokes. Thankfully, this dessert is offered year-round, but it is a perfect way to celebrate National Dessert Month.
