Sweet Treats and Dessert Spots Every Orlando Visitor Should Visit

🍨Why I Travel for Dessert

But I’ll admit something: whenever I come back to Orlando, I always end up indulging more than I expect. Orlando may be world-famous for its theme parks, but its dessert scene is just as adventurous and magical.
For me, dessert isn’t just about sugar—it’s about storytelling through flavor. It’s about discovering how local chefs transform Florida ingredients like oranges, honey, or Key limes into edible works of art. It’s about lining up late at night for a milkshake the size of my head, or tucking into a flaky pastry that tastes like a trip back to Europe.

I’ll take you through five of my personal favorite Orlando dessert spots, places I’ve actually visited, tasted, and drooled over. I’ll describe their signature treats, what they cost, where to find them, and most importantly, how I felt while eating them. Afterward, I’ll also share a few honorable mentions, reservation tips, budget advice, and food-safety notes that every traveler should know before indulging in Orlando’s sweet side.

🍩 1. The Glass Knife – A Dessert Heaven in Winter Park

📍 Location
276 S Orlando Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Just a 15-minute drive from downtown Orlando.
✨ My Experience
The Glass Knife isn’t just a bakery; it’s an experience in elegance. Walking in, I was immediately struck by its chic, modern design—pink accents, marble tables, and a case full of cakes that looked more like jewels than food.
I ordered their Signature Chocolate Cake ($8.95 per slice). It came as a towering wedge of glossy ganache with delicate chocolate curls. Each bite was silky, rich, and surprisingly balanced—it wasn’t just sugar; it was layers of flavor: deep cocoa, subtle espresso, and a hint of sea salt.
Then, curiosity got the better of me, and I tried one of their seasonal doughnuts ($4.25 each). Mine was filled with strawberry jam and topped with pistachio crumbs. It was pillowy soft, with just enough sweetness to make me close my eyes and hum involuntarily.
⭐ Pros
• High-quality ingredients, artisanal preparation.
• Gorgeous presentation—Instagram-worthy desserts.
• Friendly, knowledgeable staff who happily explain each item.
⚠️ Cons
• On weekends, it gets very busy. I had to wait 20 minutes just to order.
• Prices are higher than average, so budget accordingly.
📝 Tip
They don’t accept reservations for dessert, but you can book brunch online via OpenTable. If you want to avoid the rush, I recommend visiting right when they open at 8 a.m.

🍪 2. Gideon’s Bakehouse – Half-Pound Cookies That Broke My Diet

📍 Location
East End Market: 3201 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
Disney Springs: 1600 Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
✨ My Experience
Gideon’s Bakehouse is legendary in Orlando. When I first heard about their half-pound cookies, I thought, “Okay, maybe just hype.” But once I finally bit into one, I understood why people wait up to 2 hours in line at Disney Springs.
I chose their Original Chocolate Chip Cookie ($6). It was massive, studded with chocolate chunks and sprinkled with sea salt. The outside had a slight crunch, but the inside? Pure gooey heaven. It was like eating cookie dough and baked cookie at the same time.
I also splurged on their Peanut Butter Cold Brew ($6.50), which paired beautifully with the richness of the cookie.
⭐ Pros
• Unique, indulgent cookies unlike anything I’ve had elsewhere.
• Atmosphere inside the Disney Springs shop is Gothic and quirky—think Tim Burton meets bakery.
• Rotating limited-edition flavors every month keep locals coming back.
⚠️ Cons
• The wait is real. At Disney Springs, I had to join a virtual queue via text. My return time was nearly 3 hours later.
• Cookies are rich—splitting one is highly recommended.
📝 Tip
If you don’t want to wait long, head to their East End Market location instead of Disney Springs. Parking is free, and lines are shorter.

🍰 3. Better Than Sex – A Dessert-Only Restaurant

📍 Location
1905 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32804. About 2 miles north of downtown.
✨ My Experience
With a cheeky name like “Better Than Sex,” I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I found was one of the most unique dining experiences in Orlando. This is a full dessert restaurant—dim lighting, velvet booths, and a menu that reads more like romance novel than food list.
I ordered the Peanut Butter Perversion ($14). Imagine a dense chocolate cake, layered with peanut butter mousse, topped with chocolate chips. Rich? Absolutely. Worth every calorie? Without question.
For drinks, I couldn’t resist their rimmed wine glasses. I tried a Malbec served in a glass dipped in dark chocolate. At $12, it was more about the novelty than the pairing, but it made me smile the whole time.
⭐ Pros
• One-of-a-kind experience—perfect for date night.
• Creative presentation and playful atmosphere.
• Portions are generous—one dessert can easily be shared.
⚠️ Cons
• Reservations are essential. I booked through OpenTable and still had to wait 15 minutes.
• Prices are high for dessert, so it’s more of a splurge spot.
📝 Tip
Bring an adventurous attitude. This isn’t just food—it’s part theater, part indulgence.

🍦 4. Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream – Small-Batch Happiness

📍 Locations
Main shop: 3114 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
Multiple mini-shops around the city.
✨ My Experience
Sometimes, all I want is a good scoop of ice cream, and Kelly’s delivers exactly that. It’s a locally owned Orlando brand that makes small-batch flavors daily.
I tried their Florida Sunshine (a mix of orange, vanilla, and swirls of honey) in a waffle cone ($5 for a single scoop, $7 for a double). The flavors were vibrant and refreshing—it tasted like summer in Florida.
They also offered seasonal creations. On my last visit, I tried their Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream ($5.50), which had actual chunks of pie crust mixed in.
⭐ Pros
• Affordable prices compared to upscale dessert shops.
• Family-friendly atmosphere with bright pink decor.
• Wide variety of rotating flavors.
⚠️ Cons
• Limited seating inside.
• Popular flavors sell out quickly, especially in the evenings.
📝 Tip
Follow their Instagram (@kellyshomemadeicecream) to check daily flavors before visiting.

🧁 5. Sugar Dough Bakehouse – Asian-Inspired Pastries

📍 Location
3122 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32803 (Audubon Park Garden District).
✨ My Experience
This bakery blew me away with its creativity. Sugar Dough Bakehouse specializes in Korean and Japanese-inspired pastries with a modern twist.
I tried their Matcha Croissant Cube ($6.25). It looked like a cube of laminated pastry with vibrant green matcha cream inside. One bite and I was hooked—the bitterness of the matcha balanced perfectly with the buttery pastry layers.
I also couldn’t resist their Strawberry Cream Daifuku ($4.50), a soft mochi stuffed with whipped cream and fresh strawberry. It was light, chewy, and refreshing.
⭐ Pros
• Unique menu you won’t find anywhere else in Orlando.
• Perfect mix of Asian flavors and European pastry techniques.
• Prices reasonable for artisanal pastries.
⚠️ Cons
• They sell out of items very quickly—I arrived at 10 a.m., and some pastries were already gone.
• Parking in Audubon Park can be tricky.
📝 Tip
Go early in the morning for the best selection. They open at 8 a.m., and locals line up fast.

🍮 Other Sweet Spots Worth Mentioning

• Valhalla Bakery (The Milk District): Vegan desserts that taste just as indulgent—try their cinnamon rolls.
• Choulala (Winter Park): French choux pastries filled with creams and seasonal flavors.
• The Greenery Creamery (downtown): Orlando’s first artisanal ice cream shop offering vegan options and funky flavors like Ube.

💡 Things to Keep in Mind When Exploring Orlando’s Dessert Scene

1. Reservations & Lines
   o Better Than Sex requires reservations.
   o Gideon’s Bakehouse at Disney Springs uses a virtual queue—plan around it.
2. Budgeting
   o Most desserts cost $5–$15, but high-end spots can reach $20+ per item.
   o Splitting portions is smart—many are big enough for two.
3. Food Safety
   o Always check for fresh ingredients in dairy-based desserts during hot months.
   o When buying pastries from markets, go earlier in the day.
4. Booking Platforms
   o Use OpenTable for sit-down dessert restaurants like Better Than Sex or The Glass Knife brunch.
   o Follow shops on Instagram for daily specials and seasonal releases.

🌟I’ve come to believe that dessert is one of the purest ways to understand a place. In Orlando, sweets are more than sugar—they’re a reflection of the city’s creativity, multicultural influences, and playful spirit.

From the decadence of Better Than Sex to the whimsical artistry of The Glass Knife, from the giant cookies at Gideon’s to the small-batch ice creams of Kelly’s, Orlando has shown me that it takes dessert as seriously as it takes its theme parks.

When I look back on my Orlando trips, I don’t just remember rides and attractions—I remember the taste of chocolate ganache melting on my tongue, the crunch of a pistachio-topped doughnut, the delight of biting into a cube-shaped croissant filled with matcha.

If you come to Orlando, don’t stop at the theme parks. Follow your sweet tooth. You might just discover your most magical memories in a bakery case or an ice cream cone.