Best Dessert, Donuts, and Ice Cream in Asheville

If you have a sweet tooth and are looking to indulge, you’ll find quite the paradise for dessert-lovers in Asheville. From sipping chocolates, truffles and gourmet ice cream sandwiches to cupcakes, fresh-made donuts and pastries, you’ll have no regrets savoring these decadent, hand-crafted treats! (You can burn off those calories with the help of our Hiking Guide).

For chocolate and truffles, try the locally loved, award-winning French Broad Chocolate Lounge. They offer a variety of hand-crafted artisan chocolates, truffles, mouses, brownies, and ice creams with local and organic ingredients. Don’t miss their sipping chocolate for an extra special treat! 

The French Broad Chocolate Lounge isn’t the only chocolate shop in Asheville; downtown Asheville is a chocolate-lover’s dream. See our recommendations for a self-guided Chocolate Makers Tour in Asheville.

In Asheville you'll find many cakes shops and bakeries whipping up scratch-made cakes, cupcakes, pies, pastries and more to be enjoyed. There are also plenty of vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free options available. 

If ice cream is more your scoop, find plenty of local ice cream shops making hand-crafted, locally churned ice cream from local dairy, featuring fun and unique ice cream flavors. Some have gluten-free, sugar-free, and vegan ice cream options. Also find a nostalgic childhood treat: the beloved ice cream sandwich!

In the last few years, donuts have made a popular resurgence in Asheville. Asheville has multiple donut shops, all of which have their own unique flavors and way of crafting donuts.

Below you’ll find some of the best places for dessert, donuts, and ice cream in and around Asheville.