7 Sweet Spots to Celebrate National Dessert Day in Seattle

You work hard! You deserve a sweet little treat and a refreshing beveragino any time of year, but when National Dessert Day comes each October 14 you absolutely must savor something delicious. I asked friends on X which desserts they'd be most excited for and made sure to include their choices on my list.

Over the past few weeks, I've been visiting dessert spots around Seattle with different pals to enjoy the best the Emerald City has to offer. Here's a round up of some of my favorite places to celebrate this sugary holiday.

Latin American Inspired Treats at DOCE Donut Co.

Of course I had to check out DOCE Donut Co. There are two locations, one in Fremont and one in South Lake Union. My buddy and I went for a long walk through downtown on a sunny day to the SLU spot and were not disappointed. The family-owned business hails from Argentina and Venezuela via Florida, but DOCE Donut Co. is a Seattle company through and through. The name is a direct reference to the Seahawks' honorary 12th man, the football fan.

Their donuts combine exciting Latin American flavors with the iconic pastry in ways that will leave you salivating. I needed to try some of their classics: Churro, Tres Leches, and Guava con Queso donuts. My buddy opted for the seasonal Pumpkin Spice offering. All were absolutely stunning, but my buddy's favorite was the Tres Leches for sure. One of my favorite coworkers used to treat our team to donuts on Sunday mornings; if she brought these to her new workplace I think her new friends would be delighted.

Hong Kong Egg Tarts at Cafe O Dessert

Next up, I ventured to the U District on the first Thursday of the month to take advantage of the Burke Museum's free admission day with my favorite museum mate. Nearby, Cafe O Dessert beckoned us. When we walked in, we were blinded by the glistening white interior and enticed by the sweet smells of crepe cake slices of different flavors in the case.

The restaurant serves traditional Cantonese dishes as well as Hong Kong-style shave ice and other desserts. I decided to try some classic egg tarts and was delighted by the smooth texture, perfectly sweet filling, and flaky pie crusts. My museum mate noticed a mooncake left from the Mid-Autumn Festival last month, so he picked that and gave it to me as a gift. It was a wonderful place to grab dessert and make a nice memory with him. Next time I go, the crepe cake have my name written all over them.

Earl Grey Basque Cake at Corner Delights

Since I've been passing through Madison Valley on the newly-opened RapidRide G Line, I've been stopping by the delightful Corner Delights bakery and cafe whenever I have five minutes to spare on my bus transfer. While I've been enjoying lattes, savory danishes, and cozy vibes by myself on the way to work, I remember the first time I stopped by with my special coffee walk companion a couple months ago. The cafe has everything from freshly baked desserts to seasonal beverages and fruit smoothies, but a unique treat in the glass case caught my eye.

The Earl Grey Basque Cake came in a small tin with creamy frosting on top. The barista was really helpful in describing the traditional French pastry hailing from Basque Country cuisine as a cream-filled dessert similar to cheesecake. This distinctive flavor wasn't bitter at all, but would still satisfy fans of the black tea served with milk and sugar or London Fogs. It was so scrumptious I gobbled it up in two bites before hopping back on the bus to go to work.

Cloud Cake and Yuzu Pie at Tous les Jours

The first time I went to Tous les Jours was with my ex so every time I go there I think of him: sweet, indulgent, tinged with nostalgia. He's still so dear to me so I love visiting my memory at the Korean-French bakery and cafe chain. There's no better way to savor the joy and pain of past love then with a forkful of decadent Cloud Cake or tart and flaky Yuzu Pie, which is exactly what I did on an unseasonably warm Sunday morning at the Union Station location in the CID.

The cake was super moist and fluffy while the yuzu pie was crisp and flaky. The flavor of the pie filling was mostly sweet with a subtly tart undertone. There are five locations in the greater Seattle area (one conveniently in the M2M Market above the Capitol Hill Light rail Station), so this is a great spot to check out when you have a hankering for something luxurius.

Korean Bingsu and Japanese Crepes at Coché Valley

I pass Coché Valley Dessert Cafe place on my walk of glory (why would I feel shame?) every time I stay the night at my friend's apartment on the East side of Capitol Hill. When I trek back home in the early morning to let my dog out, the wide windows and bright aesthetic of the cafe on the corner of 15th and Pine always piqued my interest. After @seattle.food.diva proclaimed,"This is one of the cutest and yummiest dessert shops in Seattle!" I wanted to visit it even more.

Named after the owner's beloved cat and its location on the other side of the Hill, Coché Valley serves a wide menu of coffee and tea beverages, boba. The desserts include Bingsu Korean shaved ice with toppings, Shibuya toasts named after the Tokyo city district they originate from, Japanese crepes, and more. I went for the mixed berry bingsu with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. The cafe topped the mound of finely shredded ice with a scoop of berry sorbet and a cherry. I didn't get the syrup or condensed milk to pour over the ice after noshing on the fruit toppings, but definitely will next time. If you're in the mood to try something new, check this place out; It was glorious.

Vegan Cinnamon Rolls at Cinnaholic

I've been hearing a lot from Cinnaholic about the Capitol Hill cafe's 6th anniversary on October 21 (celebrate with $2.50 cinnamon rolls!) and I have a dear friend who used to work there, so I decided to check it out for the first time. This franchise location seems to have undergone some recent ownership changes, but it's part of a national chain that Mashed reports has Shark Tank origins. While our location ushers in an exciting new era, I wanted to remember my writing pal who used to work multiple food service jobs while traveling to Portland every week to work on her memoir. I love hardworking people and know Cinnaholic Seattle has a history of giving opportunities to really special members of our community.

The cafe uses all plant-based and allergen-free ingredients, so it's a great fit for vegans or people who don't consume lactose. However, "You don’t need to be a vegan to visit [Cinnaholic]. It is so good you don’t ... realize that it’s vegan. Super delicious and yummy," local dessert and travel influencer @foodloverasian points out. They also offer edible cookie dough, brownies, and cookies. While you can customize your roll or stick to the classic Old Skool offering, I had an in-shop featured Blueberry Vanilla Matcha flavor and really enjoyed it. The roll itself was denser than your usual cinnamon roll and there was a lot of frosting. Cold lemonade was a great way to wash it down.

Pineapple-Topped Elephant Ears with Ice Cream at Ananas

Finally, I had to finally get the exciting dessert offered at my neighborhood's iconic pizza joint: elephant ears! The fried dough coated with powdered sugar is a fair food funnel cake is comparable to, so it's surprising to find on the menu at Ananas Pizzeria. The restaurant is located in the lobby of an historic apartment building across from the Town Hall lecture hall and community event venue, stepping into the reputation left by Stromboli-slinging neighborhood favorite Primo. Eater Seattle reports that Ananas, which means pineapple, was opened in 2023 by celebrated restaurateur Khampaeng Panyathong to feature classic and Loatian-style pizza with a much-needed dive bar in First Hill.

I went with my neighbor and very special buddy for an impromptu dinner date. Although we devoured slices of za and saucy chicken wings, we saved space for the final course. The elephant ear came with slices of pineapple and a scoop of vanilla ice cream in addition to the classic sugar topping. It was huge, so perfect for splitting. Together, my prince and I were able to eat the entire thing, finishing our memorable evening. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Check Out These Seattle Dessert Spots on the Map

If any of these sound good to you, support Seattle business by treating yourself to something sweet. Look on the map to see where they're located!

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