The Best Desserts in West Palm Beach (2026 Local’s Guide to Cakes, Cookies, Ice Cream & More)

If dessert is your favorite course (it’s definitely mine), you’ve come to the right place.

After years of leading food tours through Downtown West Palm Beach—and conducting plenty of “research” along the way—I’ve developed a serious list of favorite dessert stops. Whether you’re craving authentic Key lime pie, giant stuffed cookies, handcrafted ice cream, flaky French pastries, or an over-the-top chocolate cake, West Palm Beach delivers.

Fun fact: Palm Beach County produces more sugar than any other county in the United States, with roughly one-third of its land dedicated to sugarcane farming. Consider this your excuse to order dessert first.

What desserts is South Florida known for?

South Florida is famous for Key lime pie, tres leches cake, guava pastries, rum cake, Cuban desserts, tropical fruit desserts, churros with dulce de leche, handcrafted ice cream, and bakery specialties inspired by Caribbean and Latin American flavors.

Best Key Lime Pie

Best Ice Cream

Sloan’s Ice Cream
Ice cream is always a good idea, and when you walk into Sloan’s pink paradise, you’ll feel like a kid again. All of their flavors are made with real ingredients…no artificial flavorings going on here. Expect creative flavors like carrot cake ice cream, coffee and donuts ice cream and even a cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears! Go BIG with their kitchen sink sundae…18 scoops of ice cream, all of the deluxe toppings, 4 cookies, 4 brownies, gobs of whipped cream & cherries – all served in a real sink!
Favorites: coconut storm, pralines & cream, dulce de leche

Best Cakes

Ganache Bakery
Owned by our local Food Network star, Jamal Lake and his wife Nish, their key lime tarts are always a favorite on the Downtown West Palm Beach Food Tour, but wait there’s more! Jamal is from the Virgin Islands, so expect authentic rum cakes, and if you’re looking for a custom cake…this is your place! Who wouldn’t want their birthday cake made by a Food Network star??!
Favorites: key lime tarts, rum cakes – try all 3 flavors, carrot cake cupcake, EVERYTHING!

Rhythm Cafe
I used to live just a few blocks from Rhythm Cafe, so my constant dessert cravings were quickly satisfied. Their extensive dessert menu makes it hard to decide, so do what I do and order two. 😊 All of their desserts are made in house including the ice cream!
Favorites: coconut quiche, chocolate layer cake

Kitchen
Any restaurant that has a dessert sampler plate gets my love since I struggle to choose just one dessert. Kitchen is owned by Tiger Woods former personal chef, and it’s an intimate fine dining destination. If you order the coconut cake, make sure to ask your server to share the story of the cake.
Favorites: coconut cake, dessert sampler plate

Havana
You can’t come to South Florida without trying the traditional Latin American dessert, tres leches – a sponge cake soaked in 3 milks and absolutely decadent. Havana Restaurant makes the best, and the slices are huge!
Favorite: tres leches (I’m not sharing)

Best Pastries

Hive Bakery & Cafe
If you like to ooh and aah over beautiful desserts, their pastry case is instagram-worthy. Owned by an interior designer, Hive Bakery & Cafe is as beautiful as their delicious desserts.
Favorite: brownie – it will be the best you’ve ever tasted

Bakery Loic
A French owned bakery that will beckon you with the aroma a fresh baked croissants. I live across the street, so I have a hard time walking by without indulging.
Favorites: white chocolate pistachio croissant, chocolate passion cookie

Best Cookies

La Gringuita Cookies
This is the super-popular cookie booth at the West Palm Beach GreenMarket, and make sure to visit Caroline early because she frequently sells out! Is there anything better than a warm just-baked cookie fresh from the oven? I think not! These are BIG 1/4 lb stuffed cookies in a variety of flavors, and she also sells the dough frozen and ready for you to bake in your oven. La Gringuita Cookies are also available at select specialty food stores, see website for locations.
Favorite: el churro cookie – a snickerdoodle stuffed with dulce de leche (served on the Mornings in the Market Food Tour)

Best Donuts

Salty Donut
Best donuts and biggest donuts in town with a menu featuring several Latin American inspired flavors along with seasonal flavors. Even for me, it’s tough to eat more than one, so I recommend ordering several and sharing…kind of like a taste test.
Favorites: white chocolate tres leches donut, guava cheese donut

Life’s too short to skip dessert—especially in West Palm Beach. Whether you’re chasing the perfect slice of Key lime pie, a warm stuffed cookie fresh from the oven, or an unforgettable scoop of handcrafted ice cream, this city has a sweet spot waiting for you. Start checking them off one delicious bite at a time…and don’t be surprised if you find yourself planning your next vacation around dessert.

updated:  8/3/26