The Best Places for Dessert, Donuts, and Ice Cream in Asheville

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. 

Sunshine Sammies Asheville

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.

Vortex Doughnuts Asheville

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

Best Dessert, Donuts, and Ice Cream in and around Asheville

French Broad Chocolate Lounge
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
Savor hand-crafted, artisanal, organic chocolates and pastries in this extremely popular emporium, served with wine, beer, coffee or tea. Or sip liquid truffle chocolates. Next door, Chocolate + Milk features the best ice cream in town. Skip the long lines at the Lounge and pick up truffles there! 10 South Pack Square
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Chocolate Fetish Asheville
Chocolate Fetish
A part of Asheville’s urban landscape for 30 years, this locally owned chocolate shop churns out small batch, artisan chocolates including truffles, sea salt caramels, chocolate covered fruits and even chocolate shoes! Take a tour watching chocolatiers craft award-winning chocolates and try a variety of samples. 36 Haywood St
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Vortex Doughnuts Asheville
Vortex Doughnuts
Located in downtown’s South Slope, this doughnut and coffee shop is off the charts with fun flavors like orange creamsicle and chocolate glazed with pretzel crumbles. They offer a classic menu of espresso drinks, signature drinks, and pour over style coffees. Find a variety of vegan, cake, and yeast doughnut options. See their weekly menu on their Facebook page. 32 Banks Ave, Ste 106
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Ultimate Ice Cream Asheville
Ultimate Ice Cream
It’s all about flavor at this ice cream shop on historic Charlotte Street in the famous Grove Park Inn area. Small, local dairy farms provide the creamery necessary to create fun flavors like Goat Cheese Bing Cherry and boozy ice cream like Pumpkin Whiskey. Each flavor of the month benefits local nonprofits. 195 Charlotte Street
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The Hop Ice Cream Cafe Asheville
The Hop Ice Cream Cafe
This local ice cream cafe has served up hand-crafted cones since 1978. A local favorite, Hop offers free family entertainment and events at each of their 2 locations in Asheville. Parents can enjoy their coffee and espresso bar while kids enjoy the kid-friendly space with toys and things to do.
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Short Street Cakes Asheville
Short Street Cakes
This family-owned, southern-style cake shop in West Asheville whips up scratch-made cakes, cupcakes, pies and pastries. Order a custom cake for an anniversary or birthday, or pick up some cupcakes to indulge in! 225 Haywood Rd
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Hole Doughnuts Asheville
Hole Doughnuts
This beloved West Asheville sweet shop makes hand-rolled doughnuts, made to order. Sip on coffee in the open kitchen and watch as your doughnut is fried, glazed and delivered to you piping hot! Enjoy locally roasted coffee, including nitro cold brews, as well as herbal and black teas. Find handmade mugs for sale, t-shirts, coffee beans and more. 168 Haywood Rd
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Sunshine Sammies Asheville
Sunshine Sammies
These homemade ice cream sandwiches will take you back to childhood, along with other “afterschool favorites” like SUNNY tarts, donut holes, biscuit rolls, whoopie pies, unicorn cakes, and more. Pair coffee or espresso with a fresh baked cookie or go all in with a scoop of icecream and a cookie flight. Vegan options available. 99 S Lexington Ave
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Baked Pie Company Asheville
Baked Pie Company
This friendly dessert heaven knows how to cure a sweet tooth with their decadent, fresh made pies. They serve a variety of classic pies, signature pies and weekly specialties. Can’t decide? Try a pie flight with 3 slices of pie and a scoop of ice cream, perfect for sharing! Also find savory pies, scones, sticky buns, cookies and more. Vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free options available. 50 North Merrimon, St 103
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Old Europe Pastries Asheville
Old Europe Pastries
This old world coffee shop has been serving European-style pastries and locally roasted coffee for 25 years in Asheville! Find an array of sweet offerings like tiramisu, cheesecake, pies, cupcakes and more to pair with coffee or one of their specialty espresso drinks. Their downtown location is convenient and great for people watching! 13 Broadway St
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City Bakery Asheville
City Bakery
An Asheville staple since 1999, this bakery specializes in European-Style breads and pastries, as well as pies, muffins, scones, cinnamon rolls, and sweet breads like their Chocolate Cherry Sourdough. Stop in for coffee, sandwiches, soup and salads too. 60 Biltmore Avenue.
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