15 Places to Treat Yourself in Goshen

What
Down Unders

Why
This small bakery next to the Goshen Farmers Market offers canelé, croissants, baguettes, macarons, and a variety of fresh baked breads. Among the delectable delights is the Down Under, a cinnamon roll made with croissant dough. Hungry yet? If “no,” are you even trying?

What
Gelato

Why
Because gelato – a frozen dessert of Italian origin – is delicious. The Nut Shoppe offers gelato and sorbet bars throughout the year. During the warm months, they have fresh gelato and sorbet (dairy-free gelato) to scoop into cups. This year, The Nut Shoppe will be offering several new flavors!

What
Handcrafted, Locally Sourced … Cake?

Why
When you want a dessert that’s rich, complex, and of the highest quality, try the Chocolate Cardamom Truffle Cake at Goshen Brewing Co. The cardamom cream gives the dark chocolate cake a kick and balances its sweetness. Eating this unusual treat is an experience you’ll not soon forget.

What
Frappes That Will Put You on Cloud 10

Why
Java Junction is a student-run coffee shop on the Goshen College campus with a menu that has been developed by student management and employees. If you’re looking for a midday pick-me-up that will bring you back to your sugar-loading, java-powered college days, try Java Junction’s “Cloud 10.” We promise it lives up to its name.

What
Ice Cream to Rule Them All

Why
When you drive west on Indiana Avenue between May and September, you’ll almost always see a long line from starting at the window of a small ice cream shop called The Chief. Of course, when it comes to The Chief’s ice cream, no one minds the wait. The Chief’s homemade ice cream flavors — from lemon to peanut butter to blue moon and beyond — are packed with fresh ingredients. So fresh and delightful, in fact, The Chief’s ice cream was named Indiana’s best ice cream by Visit Indiana.

What
Let Us Eat Cake

Why
Sweet Em’s crafts such artistic and intricate multi-layered cakes, she’d make the Cake Boss lose his cool. Seriously, take a minute (or an hour, if you’ve got the time) to flip through Em’s Facebook photos. You’ll find yourself lost in a seemingly endless album of the most beautiful cakes you’ve ever seen. The only problem is, if you order one, you may not want to eat it because, well, it’s just too gosh-darn pretty.

What
Chocolate…Delicious Chocolate

Why
Stepping into Olympia Candy Kitchen is like stepping into the past – a uniquely delicious, chocolate-filled past. This diner has treated patrons to hand-dipped chocolates, nougats, and candies for more than a hundred years. As the years go by, Olympia’s delectable treats just keep getting better and better.

What
The GAnsito Sundae

Why
Feast your eyes on the photo to the right, then head to Tropicana Ice Cream Shop to feast on the GAnsito Sundae. A gansito is basically a strawberry-flavored jelly and crème-filled cake with chocolate-flavored coating. Tropicana’s sundae is made with gansito ice cream, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and gansito cake.

And since you’re already at Tropicana, enjoy a customized strawberry jarrito, made with chamoy, Tajin, lime strawberries, Jarritos Strawberry, a stick of tamarindo, and gummy worms.

Why
Not only is The Electric Brew Goshen’s favorite gathering space, it’s also a great place to grab a sweet bite to eat. Try the cinnamon roll — it’s big enough for a full meal, sweet enough to quell your cravings, and light and fluffy enough to leave you ready for a refill or two of that famous house-roasted coffee.

What
Guy Fieri-Approved Lemon Meringue

Why
Everything on the menu at South Side Soda Shop has been perfected from the owners’ 30-plus years in the food business. Not only are their recipes fine-tuned, they’re house-made and ever-so-unique (ever tried their turtle soup?). A particular favorite — as seen on the Food Channel’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives — is the soda shop’s lemon meringue pie. It’s a tangy, sweet, and classic take on this Franco-American favorite.

What
Los Dulces Deliciosos

Why
If you’ve never tried a Mexican-style sweet bread, you’re in for a (literal) treat. At Gutierrez Bakery, you can choose from a wall of colorful house-baked pastries (or pan dulces). The pastries are flaky, fresh, are mildly sweet — with enough richness and flavor to keep you coming back time and time again.

What
Melt-In-Your-Mouth Pastries

Why
The cozy atmosphere in Dutch Maid Bakery is perfect for a long afternoon of studying, reading, or chatting with friends. Grab a hot cup of coffee with a flaky, sugar-topped pastry, and you’ll be set for the day. Dutch Maid specializes in butter cookies, doughnuts, pastries, and layered desserts.

What
Frozen Yogurt With All The Fixins

Why
Honey’s Frozen Desserts specializes in frozen yogurt –– but that’s not all they offer. There’s also custard, gelato, specialty coffee, espresso drinks, loose-leaf tea, energy drinks, and more. You can sample frozen yogurt, custard, and gelato flavors — from sea salt caramel to coconut to birthday cake — to make sure you get what you really want out of your snack time. When you’re finished, grab a hot tea to go.

What
Flavor Fiesta

Why
La Michoacana has arguably one of the best selections of ice cream flavors in the state (tying, of course, with The Chief). You can choose from classics like vanilla bean and chocolate, go tropical with mango, or daring with watermelon or arroz con leche. Once you’ve gone to La Michoacana, it’ll be tough to turn back to vanilla ever again.

What
Not Your Mama’s Dessert Pizza

Why
You cannot go wrong by eating at Venturi. Their nationally famous menu isn’t all they have to brag about — their dessert selection is bellissimo. Try their famous Nutella pizza, a chewy crust drizzled with hazelnut chocolate spread. Then there’s the “Pizza Al Giulio,” a mascarpone-filled nutella stuffed crust. And of course, you must try the panna cotta, an eggless vanilla custard topped with Amerana cherries and served in a martini glass.