Unique Sweets To Try In Long Beach
Ice cream, cupcakes—they’ve had their day. If you’re looking to satisfy your sweet tooth, why not try a dessert that’s a bit more out of the ordinary? From over-the-top donuts to a nutty candy from New Orleans, Long Beach has many delicious desserts to indulge in across the city. And if it’s a donut, you can just call it breakfast, right?
KNEAD DONUTS & TEA
When visiting Knead Donuts & Tea (3490 E. 7th St.), the vast stretch of gleaming glazed treats decorated to the hilt can be overwhelming. Each donut is like its own little world, piled high with toppings or stuffed with fillings. There’s the mountain ridge of coffee cream on the Tiramisu, the mesmerizing pink and white rosette swirl on the Guava Cream Cheese, and the burnished boulder of the heart-shaped Creme Brûlée filled donut. No matter what you order, you will have fun eating it.
MOCHINUT
If you’ve never had a Japanese mochi donut, visit Mochinut (1936 N. Lakewood Blvd.) to sample these delicacies that blend the light and airy texture of a donut with the pleasingly chewy bite of mochi. Mochinut carries four standard flavors (Original Glaze, Strawberry Funnel, Churro, and Choco Churro), and check their Instagram page for the four additional flavors of the week (past selections have included Maple Bacon, Hazelnut Dream, Taro, Matcha Berry, Coffee Biscoff, and Crème Brûlée).
CANDIFIED
Does your kid poke their broccoli florets into their mashed potatoes to make a forest? Then Candified (5334 2nd St.), a new arrival to Belmont Shore, is going to be their favorite candy shop. Here you can create a plate of sushi entirely with candy ingredients, make a cookie pizza with candy toppings, or design and take home a non-edible project, like glitter-filled slime or personalized tote bag. Tap into your creativity or just shop this amazing array of sweets.
SOMISOMI
Here are the components of this highly Instagrammable treat: 1) the perfectly round swirl of soft serve in flavors like honeydew, black sesame, and pink guava, 2) the ah-boong, a goldfish-shaped waffle cone with a wide open mouth, and 3) the filling, your choice of custard, taro, red bean, and more. You can find this incredible cone at SomiSomi Soft Serve and Taiyaki (3900 Atlantic Ave). The taiyaki are a version of the treat without the ice cream—a fish-shaped waffle with a choice of filling.
CHURRIÑO
Everyone loves Mexican churros, the delicious fried treats rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Brazilian churros are similar, but they also come with a filling, typically caramel or chocolate. Try them at Churriño (345 The Promenade N.), where Brazilian churros are served with gelato, as a topping on a milkshake, or alongside a Churroccino, a churro-flavored spin on cappuccino. Plus, the churros don’t stop at cinnamon and sugar—get them topped with a drizzle of chocolate, a sprinkle of cereal, nuts, mango, even 24 karat gold flakes.
MABEL’S GOURMET PRALINES
Mabel's Gourmet Pralines (625 Pine Ave.) is the place to go if you want the real deal praline candy from New Orleans. This traditional Southern confection capitalizes on the sweet-savory combo of nuts and sugar and first arrived in Louisiana with French immigrants in the 1700s. Made from a recipe passed down through generations, Mabel’s pralines also come in a sugar-free version. Or you can order her perfectly pastel yellow “Banana Puddin” in various sizes, from a single serving to a party tray.