Cuisine Scene: Just Desserts
Life is sweet in Long Beach. Anyone with a craving for something sugary can get their dessert fix here — whether they are looking for a kaleidoscope of shaved ice flavors, macaroons stuffed with ice cream, decadent cupcakes, freshly baked seasonal fruit pies, classic candies, or anything else Willa Wonka would approve of.
Ice Cream
If you like ice cream (and who doesn’t?), locals favor Long Beach Creamery, which has unique flavors like Midnight Oolong, Whiskey Vanilla and Burnt Caramel made in small batches that cannot be found anywhere else. Long Beach Creamery has multiple locations, including 4141 Long Beach Blvd. in Bixby Knolls and 222 E. Broadway downtown.
Another ice cream shop with a similarly long line out the door is Ample Hills Creamery (6400 E. Pacific Coast Highway) in the 2ND & PCH shopping center. The beloved East Coast-based chain has a massive following for its one-of-a-kind flavors, like Summer of Love with ribbons of buttercream frosting and chunks of baked tie-dye cupcakes.
Stroll through Long Beach’s picturesque Shoreline Village on the waterfront with a scoop-filled homemade waffle cone, banana split, milkshake or a cinnamon dusted churro at Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt on the Boardwalk (429 Shoreline Village Dr.). For more than three decades, the atmospheric stop on the boardwalk has been a go-to for visitors to enjoy traditional treats.
Sweets
In Long Beach’s seaside Shoreline Village (429 Shoreline Village Dr.), two very different styles of candy shop offer something for everyone. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is home to the solid milk chocolate Long Beach skyline and specializes in gourmet chocolates, fudge and caramel made in-house, and a variety of elaborately dipped apples. Meanwhile, Sugar Daddies Sweet Shoppe capitalizes on nostalgic candy lovers, with scoopable candies and novelties from bygone eras.
A true California candy tradition since its founding in Los Angeles in 1921, See’s Candies (2129 N. Bellflower Blvd.) has one of its iconic stores in Long Beach. The beloved brand sells assorted chocolates and other timeless treats that will never go out of style.
And, you don’t have to be a kid to feel like a kid at Long Beach’s Candy Warehouse (2520 Mira Mar Ave.). A poorly kept secret, the bulk candy warehouse sells all the most popular mainstream — and not so mainstream — varieties of candy, from old-time Chuckles and Bit-O-Honey to Snickers and M&Ms. It’s also a fun place for an Instagrammable moment, with its rows of sky high, color-assorted candies.
Frozen Delights
Long Beach is a sunny land with many ice cream options, and some have taken a more unconventional approach to the classic dessert.
Snow Monster (5211 E. 2nd St.) creates innovative and artistic treats in Belmont Shore, where you’ll find macaroons filled with ice cream and even cheesecakes packed into jars. The trendy desserts at Snow Monster are both Instagram-worthy and frighteningly delicious.
Popbar, part of The Hangar food court at the Long Beach Exchange (4150 McGowen St.), serves all-natural, customizable gelato, sorbet and frozen yogurt on a stick. The handcrafted colorful frozen treats come plain or dipped and are love-at-first-bite for dessert connoisseurs.
Another cool treat is the New Orleans-style shaved ice at Fluffy’s Sno-Balls (1208 Long Beach Blvd.) on Long Beach Boulevard near Anaheim Street. No ordinary snow cone, the ice is shaved into a fine, snow-like texture before being topped with a wide variety of sweet syrups made with cane sugar.
Baked Treats
If you prefer to satisfy your sweet tooth with feel-good baked goods, Cinnaholic (5305 E. 2nd St.) recently opened in Belmont Shore. Part of a national franchise cooking up some popular vegan cinnamon rolls, Cinnaholic’s single rolls, batches and two-layer “cinnastacks” come with customizable frosting and toppings. The store also sells an impressive Cinnadoodle cookie cake.
The Pie Bar (450 Pine Ave.) in downtown smells like the quintessential grandmother’s kitchen. The independent shop makes everything from scratch using family recipes and fresh ingredients, no preservatives. Full-sized pies and single slices are available as well as “cutie pie” miniatures baked in jars for one person to enjoy. The motto at The Pie Bar is: “Pie fixes everything.”
A true Long Beach original, Frosted Cupcakery (4817 E. Second St.) was founded by a mother and daughter with a passion for cupcakes. Classic cupcakes at Frosted are baked fresh daily using seasonal ingredients and frosted with buttercream and cream cheese by hand. Each cupcake is a small work of art that’s worth every calorie.
If that’s not enough baked treats for you, many local bakeries offer some sweet eats. Check out our “Cuisine Scene” focused specifically on Long Beach’s bakeries.
