The Sweet Spot: 8 Delectable Dessert Places In Calgary

Let's talk about dessert. It's no secret I love dessert. Well, all sweet things. Growing up in a bakery, I had access to all the donuts. And cookies. And cake slices. My parents made this dessert called a vanilla slice. If you have never had a vanilla slice, let me just tease you. It's a layered dessert with flaky pastry on the bottom, topped with vanilla custard. Then, there is another layer of pastry and vanilla custard. Then, there's a third layer of pastry. It's finished with a thin layer of icing glaze and a chocolate drizzle. HEAVEN!

I've spent the better part of four years in Calgary sourcing the best places for dessert. I think that after four years, I finally have a list to share with you. Without further ado, I present the eight delectable dessert places in Calgary.

Ollia Tea & Macarons

If you live in Calgary and you haven't been here, you are missing out. This little, French-inspired shop nestled on 16th Ave makes the best macarons I have ever had. Grab just a couple or a box of 7, and you can enjoy a sweet treat with some hand-blended tea. Ollia also offers some excellent classes, including Macaron Baking 101 and Tea Blending perfect for a girl's night or even a fun date.

My only caution: try NOT to eat an entire box in one sitting. I bet you can't.

Find it: www.byollia.com

Little Tucker

Little Tucker has hit the sweet spot when it comes to healthy snacks and desserts. If you follow her on Instagram (@littletuckeryyc), you know how drool-worthy her products are. Carrot cake with cream "cheese" frosting anyone? Yes, please! You can find Little Tucker all over the city. Some of my favorite places to pick up these sweet sensations include Wild and Raw, Monogram and Philosafy.

Find it: www.littletucker.ca

Manuel Latruwe

If you blink, you might miss this little gem. Tucked away in the same building as Cococo's chocolate factory, Manuel Latruwe has some the prettiest and most delicious Belgian pastries, desserts and sweet snacks. This cafe has become a staple in the Victoria Park community of the city since it opened its doors in 1998. I recommend...well...getting one of everything! No shame.

Find it: www.manuellatruwe.com

Village Ice Cream

Okay, so I wanted to include all three of my favorite ice cream shops in town, but this list would be way too long. So for the sake of convenience, I am listing Village Ice Cream as my go-to for my frozen treat fix.

Seriously, this place is five minutes from my house. It's dangerous.

What makes this place so special to me is the number of memories associated with it. The 11 pm ice cream cravings. The weekly post-church catch up. And they use natural and organic ingredients when possible, and everything is hand made - with love.

Find it: www.villageicecream.com

A Ladybug Bakery & Cafe

Probably one of my favorite French cafes in the city. I remember visiting The Ladybug & Cafe for the first time. My roommate planned a surprise birthday brunch for me, and it was a great morning of amazing quiche and lots of laughs.

The one thing I can never leave without is the mini palmiers. And if you have never had a palmier before, these are cookies baked with butter and dusted with sugar. I also recommend the lemon tart and vanilla crème brûlée.

Find it: LadyBug and Cafe

Sidewalk Citizen

The unofficial supplier of Bourbon & Honey's blogging sessions. From enjoying a croissant at any Phil & Sebastien location to grabbing a veggie sandwich in Sunnyside, I have had more than my fair share of sweet treats from here. I am in love with their rotating sweet scone flavors. I also recommend the blueberry tart.

Find it: www.sidewalkcitizenbakery.com

Crave Cupcakes

Cause you can't not love cupcakes. This shop has been making the world a better place with cupcakes for over ten years! Every cupcake, cake, and cookie is handcrafted with real ingredients, passion, and love. I love their classics: I can't get enough of the Red Velvet Elvis or the Lovely Bunch of Coconuts Vanilla. You can find these guys whipping up these baby cakes at four locations in Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon.

Find it: www.cravecupcakes.ca

Alforno Bakery

This bakery is still one of my favorite spots in the city. It's a great place to catch up with friends or even meet new people over a lime tart or earl grey tea cake. Every time I stop by, I end up picking up four desserts because I can't decide on one! And I end up eating them all. I highly recommend the lime tart - not too tart or sweet with the perfect crust.

Find it: www.alforno.ca

Honorable Mentions

Calgary has so many great places to grab a dessert or sweet snack that to include them all would make this a very long blog post so here are some honorable mentions. These are places that I've heard some great things about, but have never had the opportunity to visit.

• Burnt to Order
• Yann Haute Patisserie
• A Cookie Occasion
• Sweet Relief

What are your favorite sweet spots where you live?