Remember when you were learning to spell and would always mix up the words “desert” and “dessert?” To solve this mind f—k, my third grade teacher once said, “Dessert has two s’s because you always want two.” Ain’t that the truth?
My mission, which I begged to accept, was to seek out all of the best desserts around campus. And boy, did I ever.
Nonnah's Chocolate Temptation
Marie Antoinette may not have actually said, “Let them eat cake,” but this reporter definitely did the moment I stepped into Nonnah’s. It’s no surprise that Nonnah’s has been voted Best of Carolina for dessert and consistently been awarded ‘Best Desserts’ in Columbia from 1998 to 2013. That is nearly a decade of serving the sweetest of sweet treats. With so many choices, I went for their best-seller: The Chocolate Temptation, which is a moist chocolate cake laced with Godiva liquor, layered with vanilla cream filling and finished with chocolate ganache. For a dessert that looks like it could knock you into a sugar coma with your first, delightful bite, it is surprisingly light and airy. Most chocolate desserts leave you feeling super guilty about indulging, but this treat is all about having your cake (and eating it, too).
Cupcake's Mandarin Orange Chocolate Cupcake
I will never understand people who hate cupcakes. A cupcake is nature’s answer to a bad day. They are little, personalized cakes with enough icing to make the world go ‘round. Cupcake Down South, therefore, is a mecca for cupcake lovers—which I will again assert should be everyone—and for good reason. If you’re not a huge fan, you can start out with a few classic flavors. But I went into Cupcake looking to try something new. The Mandarin Orange Chocolate Cupcake was the first to catch my eye. I’m not the biggest fan of citrus-y desserts, but it looked too pretty not to try! I have yet to find the perfect way to eat a cupcake, but after the first bite, it didn’t matter how messy I was about to get. The orange icing was not overwhelming and, consistent with the cupcake itself, was a twist on the classic cream cheese icing. If you like adventure, don’t shy away from new flavors. I promise it’s worth it.
Cafe Strudel's Cherry Cheese Strudel
Three words: Dessert. For. Breakfast. (Or Breakfast. For. Dessert.) Whichever you prefer, this strudel is like a slice of heaven. Cafe Strudel is always bustling, but the fun, relaxed atmosphere (and the mimosas) make it worth the wait for some awesome food. The Cherry Cheese Strudel is served right off the grill, and every bite feels like a new discovery. You are Sacajawea and this is the new frontier. The crisp, warm crust tastes like a praline cookie, while the ooey, gooey center has the creamiest of cream cheese filling, complimented by sweet cherries. We all know the wonders German engineering has created, and this strudel is like a high-tech cinnamon bun—the Volkswagen of cinnamon buns, if you will.
Crepes & Croissants' Triple Treat Crepe
Bringing a little bit of French culture to Columbia, Crepes & Croissants has a ton of options from sweet to savory. Obviously, I chose the sweetest of the sweet for...creative purposes. (Let’s go with that.) Enter the Triple Treat, which definitely lives up to its name. This crepe is filled with bananas, strawberries and enough Nutella to feed a small army. To top it all off, it is covered in powdered sugar and accompanied by a large side of whipped cream. What makes this dessert so delicious is the way the flavors all come together in the perfect combination: the tanginess of the strawberries, the sweetness of the bananas and the chocolate-hazelnut perfection that is Nutella. The best part? You can eat it anytime you’d like—not that you need our permission.
