There’s nothing like the perfect dessert to tantalize our taste buds and these treats seem even sweeter when you’re on vacation. If you are lucky enough to spend your vacation in the Greater Sarasota area, we’ve got some desserts that will put the exclamation point on a fun-filled day. So when you need your sweet treats in Sarasota, here is where you should go.
1886 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota 34231
(941) 921-5700
https://www.abelsicecream.com/
Abel’s is the #1 rated ice cream shop in Sarasota on Trip Advisor, Google, and Yelp, going on eight consecutive years, s well as their Certificate of Excellence award for eight straight years. The owners have won over 40 national ice cream ribbons and are on the national ice cream advisory committee. However, don’t take our word for it. Try it yourself and see what all the fuss is about. Family-owned and operated, they offer 40 flavors of premium ice cream as well as dairy-free ice creams.
7644 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 34231
(941) 922-2888
Flo’s is rated #4 in all of the bakeries in Florida and this little shop prides itself on the best Key Lime pie in Sarasota. Locals swear that their Honeybell orange cake is the best anywhere. They always have a great selection of pies, cakes, cookies, scones, quiches, and breads.
12 Boulevard of the Presidents, Sarasota 34236
(561) 718-1157
https://sarasotafudgefactory.com/
If you are in the St. Armands area, you definitely have to stop into The Fudge Factory. Their impressive team includes a fudge maker, an ice cream maker, and a candy and chocolate maker, so everything they offer is fresh and homemade. Great peanut brittle too. It’s a fun place to visit because you can see the treats being made as you wait.
367 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota 34236
(941) 388-4485
If you want the best gelato in Sarasota, you have to try Settimi’s. This place offers huge portions and a wide variety of flavors of their creamy gelatos. Gelato actually contains less butterfat than regular ice cream and little or no air, so it contains fewer calories, and less fat, and many people believe it is more delicious too.
2241 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota 34237
(941) 960-1370
Whether it is for breakfast or dessert, Five-O-Donut Company has a recipe that will make your mouth water. They have a rotating selection of classic and current donuts, including cake, yeast-raised, and croissants. The locals here in Sarasota often describe these as the freshest and best-tasting donuts in the area.
5336 Clark Road, Sarasota 34233
(941) 924-1234
http://www.rendezvoussarasota.com/
If you have an appetite for authentic French pastries, then Rendez-vous is the obvious choice in Sarasota. From their lemon tart to their almond chocolate croissant, this place has so many delicious choices that you will want to come back a second and third time to try something different.
Desserts can actually elevate our mood because the sugar in desserts causes our brain to release endorphins such as serotonin, which are the hormones responsible for making us feel happy and cheerful. So go ahead, be happy and cheerful. After all, you’re on vacation.