I have been a fan of designer desserts for over a decade now. My go to flavor is the Tuxedo…read moreCheesecake. They now even have vegan flavors! It is always very colorful inside the shop and they do have seating options. Sometimes the amount of options can be overwhelming so make sure you take your time to review all of the options before ordering. They also have cookies in addition to cupcakes and you can order cakes ahead of time. I recommend you go earlier as they don't replace the flavors that sell out for the day.

Designer Desserts really knows how to deliver an indulgent treat! We stopped by and couldn't resist…read morethe mini cherry cheesecake--just look at it! From the buttery graham cracker crust to the rich, creamy filling and that bright cherry on top, every bite was a sweet little moment of joy. The flavor was spot on--sweet but not overly sugary, and the texture was perfectly smooth. Presentation is a big win here too. The dessert came tucked into a cute little box that made it feel like opening a gift. You can tell there's real thought put into how they serve their treats. The only reason this isn't a full 5 stars? The wait was just a bit longer than expected, and we would've loved more variety available at the time we visited. But honestly, that cheesecake alone was worth it. Whether you're strolling downtown or just craving something sweet, Designer Desserts is a fun and flavorful stop worth it

While traveling home I stopped here to pick up a bag of Oopsie Gummies (IYKYK). This is always a…read morestaple for adults and kids of any age range to explore the candy factory. There are several options to choose from and the sugar high is flowing throughout. They keep the store at a nice controlled temperature and it's well kept. There is always someone willing to help. On this occasion I couldn't find what I was looking for and a nice lady assisted me by making a phone call to the store front just right up the road. Fortunately that had exactly what I needed and I was on my way. For your candy sweet tooth, it's worth visiting. If you plan on visiting. Make sure you enter the correct address. There are two locations on the same street going in different directions.

I happened to be in northwest Indiana, and thought, today I'll finally make it to Albanese. OMG,…read morewhat took me so long?!?!? This place is Disneyland for candy. I'm not wild about gummy bears, but, wow, the selection of chocolates is mind-blowing. The nice gentleman at the counter (sorry, I didn't catch his name) even offered samples when I said I was having trouble making up my mind. Everyone I dealt with was very nice and very helpful. This was my first visit, and I was a little overwhelmed. Now I'm determined to make a stop at Albanese any time I have reason to be in Indiana. And maybe once in a while make a special trip.

Such a cute little ice cream shop, their gelato is delicious however, you have to wait a few…read moreminutes to eat it because its a little too frozen. Overall the employees were extremely friendly and welcoming despite the fact that we walked in while they were closing. They have a large variety of popcorn to choose from and options are always great! Really appreciate small businesses like this!

From the owner: Family-friendly candy, popcorn, and snack shop with something fun and sweet for all ages!…read more Located in the heart of Valparaiso, Kernels and Kones is a perfect spot for birthday parties, bridal showers, anniversaries, or any special event. Come into the store, or call us today to find out about shipping nationwide!

Bao's Pastry is my kind of bakery: You walk in, and you're automatically overwhelmed by the…read morechoices. There are just so many good things in the display case! It seriously took me about 10 to decide on a dessert. In the end, I got a slice of strawberry cheesecake. I took it to go, knowing that I would eat it in my car. (The best place to eat any food.) I chose cheesecake, because in the end, cheesecake is the illest of the desserts. You can't go wrong with a silky smooth slice o' cake o' cheese. And I wasn't wrong! The cheesecake at Bao's is creamy, yet a little pleasantly gelatinous from the strawberry topping. It was so rich that I couldn't eat it all in my car, so I took it to go to enjoy back at my hotel. Some of the other things I was considering getting at Bao's included the mini tarts, tiramisu cup, raspberry opera cake, turnovers, passionfruit cake and many others. They also have lots of macarons, but I'm not a macaron lady! Try as I might, I do not like macarons, but if you like macarons, then Bao's is the place to find macarons. Mostly, this is a to-go joint, but there are a couple of tables on the outdoor patio, and a table or two inside. When I visited, I only saw people pop in and get their goodies and pop back out.

My 11 year old daughter has a very healthy obsession with Macarons. When our usual place was out of…read morethem (Costco) we searched for a place to enjoy them for Valentine's Day. The service was cordial although the store is very small. They have a wide variety of baked goods and I might visit in the future. We ended up with a couple of raspberry beignets and a 12 count variety box of macarons @ 12 for $25. My favorite was the pistachio.

Try the black licorice ice cream! It's a local favorite. I had the pecan and my partner had a…read moredouble scoop bowl.

I really wanted ice cream and like the coffee shops we explore in small downtowns, we also love to…read morefind local ice cream shops. At first, this one disappointed me. They had a lot of good-looking flavors and even some vegan ones. I'm not vegan (anymore), but I still like to limit my dairy intake, so I got excited at first when I saw oat milk based ice cream... especially in my favorite flavor - peanut butter & chocolate! BUT... they display their gorgeous waffle cones... FULL of gluten and crumbs... right on. top. of. the ice cream. I think the guy behind the counter saw me start to panic a little when he asked if I'd like a taste and I responded with, "I can't - these are contaminated." I was ready to choose a flavor in another cabinet where there weren't any cones, but the cones probably get moved around in those cases... so I wasn't sure if I could trust any of the flavors. He was a little hard to understand over the noisy patrons (kids ‍), but eventually I realized he said they keep each flavor in the back in clean containers for those with severe allergies. Cue HAPPY FACE!! He went to the back and got the oat milk flavor, then he even washed off the scoop before scooping mine out. I REALLY appreciate the extra effort! So if you have allergies, don't panic... gluten, dairy, nut, whatever it is... just let them know and ask for the good stuff in the back. The ice cream itself was OK - not the best dairy-free I've had - but it was decent. I'm sure their regular flavors are absolutely delicious. Hubs definitely enjoyed his.

All the donuts were so flavorful and light. They weren't too sweet either! The French toast was my…read morefavorite, tasted just like the French toast I used to have at school!

I have been meaning to stop in here and try their donuts for awhile now. I came here because my…read moredaughter has a dairy intolerance & i can't have dairy since she's breastfed. I decided to try their vegan donuts since there isn't any dairy. The texture is definitely different than a regular donut would be. But it's still packed with flavor. The lady at the front pulled out a menu for me that they use for their vegan donuts which made it ten times easier. I will definitely be going back to try more. This time I got the strawberry shortcake and a French toast flavor on a vanilla donut. When I can go back to eating dairy I will also be trying their regular donuts. They look DELICIOUS. I love that they also have a drive thru and that the service i received was friendly and quick.

Update: Tethan's is in a new location right in the heart of Chesterton. Such a better location with…read moreeven more to choose from. The owners go out of their way to find unique candies and treats that you can't get anywhere else in Northwest Indiana. You have to try the Crack Corn and Nude O Mints.

I recommend the crack corn, it is just simply delicious. I highly recommend this candy store, they…read moreeven give free sample, which my kids absolutely love. We went here to buy our Easter candy. Our kids loved it. I highly recommend this store.

My daughter ordered a cake for her birthday and it was decorated perfectly! Also delicious highly…read morerecommended

Kupkates is my go to bakery. I love the atmosphere of the shop and the friendly staff. The…read moreselection and tastes are always fabulous. My husband has been ordering my birthday cakes from Kupkates for the past three years, and they just keep getting better. Today's cake was perfect. I cannot recommend Kupkates enough - and make sure you try the macarons