When your sweet tooth is calling and you want to treat your kiddos to something extra special, look no further than these unique desserts in Chicagoland.ย
The treats at these local sweet shops score top marks in presentation, taste and overall abundance. Celebrate a special occasion with one of these decadent desserts, or turn a dull day into a sweet one by sharing a treat with your family. From animal-decorated gelato cones to bubble waffles, these are some of my favorite unique desserts for Chicago kids.
This article was recently updated on Nov. 11, 2024 by Chicago Parentโs Assistant Editor, Nikki Roberts. The update included her research and fact-checking expertise to provide the latest information on over-the-top desserts for Chicagoland families. Questions? Please reach out to nikki@chicagoparent.com.
Over-the-top desserts near me
CHICAGO | NORTH/NORTHWEST SUBURBS | SOUTH SUBURBS | WESTERN SUBURBS
Unique desserts in Chicago
Chicago’s got a big old sweet tooth, and these local dessert spots offer something super special!ย
26th Street Sugar Shack
- Address:ย 630 W. 26th St., Chicago
If youโre craving classic funnel cakes, make your way to Bridgeport ASAP. The 26th Street Sugar Shack doesnโt offer your ordinary carnival dessert. No, it comes in a sundae, and you can add whatever toppings you want. Sprinkles? Oreos? Fruity Pebbles? The options are endless.ย
BomboBar
- Address:ย 832 W. Randolph St., Chicago
The coziest cup of hot cocoa awaits you at Bar Sienaโs walk-up dessert joint, BomboBar. The Sโmores Hotter Chocolate comes loaded with marshmallow fluff, chocolate drizzle, graham crackers and biscotti. Stuffed doughnut holes, housemade gelato and Italian ice are on the menu, too.
Eliโs Ark
- Address:ย 1843 W. North Ave., Chicago
This might be the cutest dessert place weโve seen yet! Eliโs Ark in Wicker Park serves traditional gelato with the incredible option to shape your scoop like an animal. From frozen bears and pigs to tasty unicorns, these scoops will delight everyone in the family. Want more than one animal scoop? Try the โpiggybackingโ option.
Dessert Dealer at Parlor Pizza Bar
- Address:ย 108 N. Green St., Chicago (West Loop);ย 1824 W. Division St., Chicago (Wicker Park);ย 405 N. Dearborn St., Chicago (River North)
While you must get the pizza at Parlor Pizza Bar, save room for the dessert counter, which serves tacolatos. Taco Choco fans will be in heaven when they see the endless options for dessert tacos here, with choices ranging from cookies galore to a banana split alternative.
Eiffel Waffle
- Address:ย 955 W. Webster Ave., Chicago; 1531 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago; 9990 Ridgeland Ave., Chicago Ridge; 15921 S Harlem Ave., Tinley Park; 284 S Weber Road, Bolingbrook; 1028 Curtiss St., Downers Grove
Eiffel Waffle takes bubble waffles to the next level with their unique creations. Each bubble waffle specialty comes with ice cream and fun toppings like Oreos or Fruity Pebbles. You can even build your own bubble waffle! While the bubble waffles are what draws all the attention, Eiffel Waffle also has fantastic ice cream. Other great items on the menu are Waffle Towers, Eiffel Minis and milkshakes.
JoJo’s ShakeBAR
- Address: 23 W. Hubbard St., Chicago (River North); 835 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago (Water Tower Place)
Families spending the day in downtown Chicago can easily make a stop at JoJo’s Shake Bar. Their outrageous milkshakes come topped with cookie crumbles, cotton candy, marshmallows and so much more. Keep an eye out for their seasonal milkshakes, too.
Joy Yee Plus
- Address: 2159 S. China Place, Chicago
Waffles and ice cream sound like the perfect combo. Joy Yee Plus takes that concept to the next level by selling Hong Kong-style bubble waffles with never-ending topping options. At theย Chinatown Square Mall location, you can top your ice cream with candy, marshmallows and so much more sweet goodness.
Muah Cotton Candy
- Address: 845 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago
In Water Tower Place, find a dessert shop that shapes sweet cotton shapes that are almost too adorable to eat! Customers can customize cotton candy dinosaurs, ducklings, froggies and many more cute characters to their individual flavor and color preferences.ย
Sweet Drip
- Address: 1658 E. 53rd St., Chicago
Head to Hyde Park to check out this new dessert shop that is becoming popular for their funnel cake sundaes. And if that didn’t intrigue you, they also have funnel cake ice cream sandwiches, milkshakes and ice cream.ย
XO Marshmallow
- Address: 2730 N. Clark St., Chicago
As if serving up delicious flavors of marshmallows wasnโt enough to win me over, edible cookie dough is also on the menu at XO Marshmallow! This season, check out the Oh Dough You Didnโt cookie dough cups and the Cosmallow Brownie Cups โ yes, a Cosmic- Brownie inspired treat topped with vanilla marshmallow, chocolate ganache and rainbow chips. Yum!
Xurro
- Address: 3927 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago; 3755 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago; 2214 S. Wolcott Ave. Chicago; 5646 W. 63rd St., Chicago; 1710 W. 18th St. Chicago
Get your churro fill at any of Xurroโs locations in the city and suburbs. There are plenty of treats to choose from like churro ice cream sandwiches, sundaes and milkshakes. Our personal favorite? Theย churro sโmores sandwich, of course.
Best desserts in the North/Northwest Suburbs
When you’re craving something sweet, these towns in the north and northwest suburbs got your back!
RELATED:ย Best Over-The-Top Desserts in Schaumburg
Amorino
- Address: 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg
Forget about taking a trip to Italy, you can enjoy gelato right here in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. Located inside Woodfield Mall, this gelato shop offers a variety of flavors. The dessert fun doesn’t stop at gelato because they have more options like gelato macarons, waffles and crepes.
Cinnaholic
- Address:ย 1404 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg
These gourmet cinnamon rolls take this classic treat to the next level with some incredible toppings. Did we mention that these cinnamon rolls are 100% vegan, egg-free, dairy- and lactose-free, and cholesterol-free?ย
Kurimu
- Address: 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg
Kurimu isn’t your typical soft serve spot. The ice cream flavors alone include more than 22 options like Very Avocado, Mango Tango, Chocolate Supreme and more. They also have two locations in Chicago (Wicker Park and Little Italy).
Melt n Dip
- Address: 5716 W. Touhy Ave., Niles
Melt n Dip is the place to go for loaded crepes and decadent Belgian waffles. Each dessert is topped with goodies like brownies, fresh fruit or gelato, then drizzled with three kinds of Belgian chocolate. The growing dessert chain also offers fruit bowls (which you can top with whipped cream, nuts, honey or gelato), as well as Turkish coffee and espresso drinks.
Triple Scoop’d Ice Cream
- Address: 801 Devon Avenue, Park Ridge
You might think this looks like a regular ice cream shop, but does your typical ice cream spot offer dessert flights? Try three or six tasting scoops. They even have flights for donuts and cookies, too!
Unique desserts in the South Suburbs
The south suburbs go all out for their crazy desserts from rolled ice cream, bubble waffles and so much more.ย
RELATED:ย Best Over-The-Top Desserts in Tinley Park
Eiffel Waffle
- Address: 15921 S. Harlem Ave., Tinley Park; 9990 Ridgeland Avenue, Chicago Ridge
Eiffel Waffle takes bubble waffles to the next level with their unique creations. Each bubble waffle specialty comes with ice cream and fun toppings like Oreos or Fruity Pebbles. You can even build your own bubble waffle! While the bubble waffles are what draws all the attention, Eiffel Waffle also has fantastic ice cream. Other great items on the menu are Waffle Towers, Eiffel Minis and milkshakes.
The Magical Plush Horse Ice Cream Shoppe
- Address: 7903 W. 171st St., Tinley Park
The ice cream at The Magical Plush Horse alone is so top-notch that we have it listed on our favorite ice cream shops for Chicagoland families. If you’re still in the crazy dessert mood, then you have to try one of the fun sundaes. The Monster Sundaes have to be our favorite since they add edible eyes and a mouth to your ice cream scoops โ and plenty of sprinkles, too!
Motea
- Address: 9501 W. 171st St., Tinley Park
While you can find great bubble tea and Japanese food at Motea, make sure to save room for dessert of rolled ice cream. It has a whole list of rolled ice cream combos to choose from such as the Summer Party with strawberry, mango, rainbow candy and M&Ms or the Strawnana with strawberry, banana, Fruity Pebbles, and strawberry syrup. Yum!
Best desserts in the Western Suburbs
These dessert shops in the western suburbs will make it worth for the sugar rush with your little ones.
RELATED:ย Best Over-The-Top Desserts in Naperville
Cinnaholicย
- Address: 41 W. Jefferson Ave., Suite 109, Naperville
This vegan bakery takes the beloved cinnamon roll up a few notches. Choose from signature treats like Cookie Monster, Very Berry, Campfire Sโmores or Caramel Apple Pie cinnamon rolls. Or, create your own treat by customizing your pastry with frosting, fruit, candy and more decadent toppings. The bakery also offers Cinnacakes and other treats.ย
Cookie Dough Creations
- Address: 22 W. Chicago Ave., Naperville
Thereโs no need to sneak a spoonful of cookie dough from the bowl when you can head to Cookie Dough Creations and enjoy a cup or cone piled high with homemade, egg-free cookie dough! Pick a classic like chocolate chip cookie dough, or try flavors like sโmores or snickerdoodle. Take your treat to the next level by pairing it with a scoop of ice cream, or enjoying it between two homemade cookies in an ice cream or cookie dough sandwich.ย
Firecakes Donuts
- Address: 104 N. Maple Ave., Oak Park
There are plenty of doughnut shops in Chicagoland, but have you ever had a donut ice cream sandwich? Luckily, Firecakes offers build-your-own donut ice cream sandwiches. You select the donut, ice cream and sauce (and toppings too, of course!). Keep an eye out for the featured sandwich of the month if you canโt decide your own combo.
Eiffel Waffle
- Address: 1028 Curtis St., Downers Grove; 284 S. Webster Road, Bolingbrook
Eiffel Waffle takes bubble waffles to the next level with their unique creations. Each bubble waffle specialty comes with ice cream and fun toppings like Oreos or Fruity Pebbles. You can even build your own bubble waffle! While the bubble waffles are what draws all the attention, Eiffel Waffle also has fantastic ice cream. Other great items on the menu are Waffle Towers, Eiffel Minis and milkshakes.
Freedom Brothers Pizzeria
- Address:1293 S Naper Blvd., Naperville and 11914 Illinois Rte 59, Plainfield
If your kids are obsessed with cotton candy, then they’ll go wild for the Sugar Mountain at Freedom Brothers Pizza. We can guarantee that you’ll enough cotton candy for the whole table.
JoJo’s ShakeBAR
- Address: 5 Jackson Avenue, Naperville
These outrageous milkshakes come topped with cookie crumbles, cotton candy, marshmallows and so much more. Keep an eye out for their seasonal milkshakes, too.
Follow Chicago Parent on Instagram.
