5 Sweet Treats to Try in Southern California

If you’ve got a sweet tooth and your upcoming travel plans include Southern California, don’t miss some of these delicious dessert options. 

Churros

What was once a simple, must-have snack at Disneyland has transformed itself into a wide variety of unique dessert options that includes everything from cereal coated churros to ice cream sandwiches made with rainbow churros. Popular options include the Fruity Pebbles Churro with ice cream at Ridges Churro Bar (multiple locations), or the Instagram famous limited-edition Mermaid Churro with ice cream at The Loop in Westminster. 

If you want to opt for a unique savory option, head out to Sweet Daily Café in Riverside for its churro dog with garlic aioli. For a mix of savory and sweet, follow The Naughty Churro and see where they are popping up next. They take churros to a whole new level with creations like a churro ice cream sandwich with bacon and another one they call the Number 2, a chocolate churro that resembles the popular poop emoji. 

Ice Cream Sandwiches

The classic ice cream sandwich is anything but classic anymore in a number of dessert shops in Southern California. You can find all sorts of interesting creations, including funnel cake ice cream sandwiches at Ice Que in Alhambra. Available only on certain days, enjoy vanilla-mascarpone ice cream, strawberry jam, and St. Germain elderflower liqueur sandwiched between two house-made funnel cakes. Places like Milk in Los Angeles serve up macaron ice cream sandwiches with a variety of interesting flavors, including a banana dulce de leche version. Coolhaus in Culver City has a number of unique flavors like fried chicken and waffle ice cream sandwiched between maple flapjack cookies.  

Rolled Ice Cream 

Rolled ice cream became an internet sensation after videos from street vendors in Thailand went viral. Now, you can find rolled ice cream without having to fly halfway around the world. It’s made by laying flat sheets of liquid ice cream onto sub-zero surfaces. They mix in some toppings and roll into frozen tubes. It’s interesting to watch and fun to eat. There are a number of places around Los Angeles where you can find rolled ice cream, including The Freezin’ Point in Monterey Park. They have a lot of other sweet treats as well, including Hong Kong egg waffles. Pop for the color-changing cups for your rolled ice cream. It changes colors when it is cold. Great for kids, too! 

Nitrogen Ice Cream 

Nitrogen ice cream is ice cream made with liquid nitrogen, which helps create a super creamy consistency. There are a number of places you can get nitrogen ice cream in Los Angeles, including Molecular Creamery. Menu options include Blue Velvet, with organic ice cream, homemade blue velvet cupcakes, and cream cheese frosting, or Salt Lick Crunch, an organic ice cream base with salted pretzels and homemade caramel. 

Cotton Candy 

Cotton Candy has moved beyond the simple sticky treat you used to get at the carnival or fair, and it is now integrated in a variety of desserts and drinks. Barton G. in Los Angeles offers a one-of-a-kind cotton candy dessert. The Marie Antionette’s Head-Let Them Eat Cake is a towering cotton candy pompadour, yesteryear candies, and a bananas Foster “shake,” along with vanilla panna cotta, gianduja brownie, and caramelized banana cream. Head to a Snow Monster location in Los Angeles or Orange County to try one of their fancy boba drinks like Thai iced tea, and get cotton candy wrapped around it. Choose from the standard Mason jar or the light bulb version, both of which you take home and bring back on your next visit. 

Keep up with the latest travel news, stories and updates and sign up for our newsletter today!

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.