Sacramento is home to a collection of dessert counters and ice cream parlors, and many of them use ingredients sourced from local farms and ranches.
Feature photo: @gingerelizabethchocolates on Facebook
2401 J St, Sacramento
916.299.6273
In the heart of midtown, Rick’s Dessert Diner pulls in crowds for its made-from-scratch desserts, many on display in the front counter at the ’50s-style, pink-forward diner. Towering layer cakes come in many flavors: chocolate, white and yellow (in lots of variations), buttermilk framboise, lemon, chocolate-peanut butter, red velvet, vanilla raspberry and a delightful fresh-fruit basket one. Also on hand: pies in many flavors and fresh-fruit tarts.
2425 24th St, Sacramento
916.838.4007
At this grab-and-go bakery near Broadway, pastry chef and pie specialist Kira O’Donnell Babich and her husband, Fred, along with their team, turn out hand-crafted butter-crust pies filled with creams, fruits, nuts — even savory ones with chicken, meat and vegetables. The selection changes with the seasons and what’s available from area farms, but visitors will nearly always find jumbleberry, chocolate cream and butterscotch-banana cream. Kira’s summertime galettes and tarts, filled with local stone fruits, are a must. Also fun: a pie milkshake, made from pie and ice cream of choice.
2801 Franklin Blvd, Sacramento
916.457.6646
Since 1940, Gunther’s has scooped domes of its high butterfat ice cream and fruit freezes to hot and hungry patrons who line up out the door pretty much year-round beneath the landmark neon ice cream man. With a rotation of monthly special flavors that includes strawberry Nutella, caramel crackle crunch, Irish cream, watermelon sorbet and pumpkin, Gunther’s also has a strong lineup of always-availables. It’s a Sacramento tradition.
Vic's Ice Cream
3199 Riverside Blvd, Sacramento
916.448.0892
Another Sacramento institution, Vic’s Ice Cream has been around since 1947, serving its regular collection of ice creams, cookie sandwiches, shakes and sundaes — as well as diner fare. Every January, locals look forward to Vic’s special Jik Jak ice cream, a rich blend of chocolate, almonds, malt and cinnamon. At the holidays, Vic’s Nutcracker Crunch celebrates the Sacramento Ballet’s seasonal performances that star many local children. In springtime, people line up for a brilliant lemon chiffon.
2413 J St, Sacramento
916.706.1738
A chocolate boutique specializing in bonbons, macarons and ice cream, Ginger Elizabeth’s midtown shop is a popular stop for a gift box of chocolate goodies, a wintertime hot cocoa, a stack of colorful macarons or sometimes just one perfect little morsel chosen from the counter of many flavors. Owner/confectioner Ginger Elizabeth Hahn shares her love for her craft by offering classes as well.
1820 29th St, Sacramento
916.376.7752
Everything at Pushkin’s Bakery is gluten-free and dairy-free, and much of it is vegan. Cakes, cupcakes, cookies, breads and pastries grace the case, with favorites such as strawberry-rosemary scones, blueberry muffins, caramel chocolate cupcakes and morning buns going fast. Pushkin’s also is one of the few restaurants where lunch-goers can get sandwiches on gluten-free rolls. (The banh mi is vegan.)
Who’s writing these?
Meet our always-hungry team of foodies who compiled this list.
Please let us know if we’ve missed your favorite eat@localgetaways.com.
