Boulder may be known as one of the fittest cities in the country, but we’re also the foodiest. This means we have great dessert.
Whether you prefer a cold ice cream or a warm brownie (or both), or whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, or want a bite-sized chocolate treat, Boulder has something for you.
Check out some of our favorite desserts in Boulder.
Frozen Treats
Ice cream is a stereotypical “kid” dessert, but Boulder has some great options whether you’re 9 or 90. (We know you all love ice cream. Don’t even lie.)
Glacier Ice Cream and Gelato is one of our favorites. It offers 70-plus flavors of ice cream, gelato, low-fat yogurt and sorbet, as well as milkshakes, malts, sundaes and more at each location. All of the products are made with naturally grown ingredients, sourced locally when possible. They’ve won multiple local and national awards. Glacier also offers catering and free ice cream on your birthday. Get yours at either of the two Boulder locations (one on Baseline and one on 28th st.) or at one of the Pearl Street carts (weather dependent).
Sweet Cow does one thing and it does it well: ice cream. Made in-shop at their two Boulder locations, from local ingredients, Sweet Cow’s scoops are award-winning. It also has an ice cream truck, serving up cones and more since 2011, which you can reserve for special events, including birthdays, office parties, weddings and more. You can also try the ice cream in either of the two Boulder locations. Sweet Cow is also sustainable. All of its products are recyclable or compostable, decreasing their impact on the planet, but not your taste buds.
Chocolate
There is something about chocolate that screams decadence, luxury and romance. Whether you’re sharing chocolates with a loved on or just treating yourself, Boulder’s chocolate shops don’t disappoint.
These guys know their chocolate. From truffles to perfume to gift baskets and more, if you’re craving chocolate, Piece, Love & Chocolate is where you need to be. The shop has both a retail section and a cafe, which offers both hot and cold drink options, as well as truffles, seasonal desserts, cakes and more. It has vegan, gluten-free and nut-free options so everyone can find something to enjoy.
Lift Chocolates offers premium, gourmet chocolates, handmade in small batches. With three different brands, Lift offers a variety of styles and flavors to fit all kinds of preferences. The signature brand, Lift, makes modern, artistic, high-fashion flavors. These are available exclusively online and at the retail store, 6395 Gunpark Drive. Lift’s Concertos in Chocolate are all-natural European-style chocolates. Lift’s Boulder Chocolate offers indulgences made with the heart of Boulder with Colorado in mind. Both Concertos and Boulder Chocolate are available in various stores across Boulder, as well as online and in Lift’s retail location.
Baked Goods
Pie. Cake. Cookies. Muffins. Cupcakes. Baked goods are a staple dessert for picnics, holidays, birthdays and other celebrations.
No dessert list would be complete without mentioning Boulder Baked, 1911 Broadway. This from-scratch bakery offers cupcakes, cookies, cakes, pies and more. Many of the options are vegan and/or gluten-free. And our favorite thing? It’s open until midnight and they deliver. Whether you need cookies now (we know how late-night munchies are) or you’re planning a birthday party and want to order in advance, Boulder Baked can hook you up.
Shamane’s Bake Shoppe is a bakery and cafe, located at 2825 Wilderness Place, unit 800. It offers cakes, pies, tarts, cookies, brownies and more. The cafe has a large menu, including salads, sandwiches, quiches, burritos and soups, as well as desserts including daily “flavorites” of pies and cupcakes. They use local ingredients whenever possible and make everything from scratch in the shop.
Vegetarian/Vegan
Dessert can be the hardest thing to order when you’re vegetarian or vegan. Eggs, milk and gelatin are present in most store-bought candies and desserts. But that’s not a problem in Boulder. There are some options that you can enjoy guilt-free.
Daydream Dessert Co. has so many great options, we couldn’t choose one. From beautiful raw cakes to cacao bars and caramel cups, this company will surely delight you. Daydream got its start at the Boulder Farmer’s Market in 2015, and since then has expanded its distribution. You can get its cacao bars at local grocery stores, including Whole Foods, Lucky’s and Alfalfa’s, and you can order the cakes, caramel cups and other items from the website or from Wonder on Pearl. All the products are 100 percent organic, vegan or “beegan” (containing honey) and gluten-free.
Leaf vegetarian restaurant has several great vegetarian and vegan desserts, but our favorite is by far the carrot cake. If someone didn’t tell you it was vegan, you wouldn’t know. The icing is sweet, the cake is moist and dense and it all comes together beautifully. For a less sweet treat, try the peanut butter cheesecake (also vegan). Leaf is located at 2010 16th St.
Gluten-Free
Whether you have celiac disease or just avoid gluten for health reasons, finding desserts with no flour can be quite a challenge. These bakeries are exclusively gluten-free, so you can enjoy anything on the menu with no fear of a reaction.
Aime’s Love bakery, 331 Main St. in Longmont, is a bakery where everything is gluten-free. Yes, that includes the German chocolate cake, the red velvet cake, the wedding cakes. And everything else. Along with the baked goods, it also offers breakfast and lunch menus, including sandwiches and crepes. Stop by for a quick bite, or order specialty bread, cupcakes, cookies and more. If you own a store and want to offer a gluten-free option to your customers, contact Aime’s Love about wholesale purchases.
Kim and Jake’s cake shop is a gluten-free cake shop located at 641 S. Broadway in Boulder. It can accommodate most dietary restrictions, but it is only exclusively gluten-free. Options include cakes and cupcakes, as well as cookies, cookie dough and bread. It has a variety of standard cakes you can order, or you can order something custom, including wedding cakes.
