We don’t always indulge in the sweet stuff, but when dessert is called for, we’re looking for healthier dessert spots like these gems. From baked donuts to soft serve made of green juice, these treats – and the cute shops that house them – are definitely Chalkboard-approved and provide the perfect way to indulge.
What’s the point of a slice of cake or giant cookie if it leaves us feeling totally bleh afterward?
There certainly aren’t as many healthy dessert spots as there are traditional ones, but we’re grateful they are slowly becoming easier to find. Here are a few of our tried-and-true faves in LA and NYC. Whether you’re looking to pick up something to bring along to your next social gathering or a cute spot to cozy up and sink your teeth into something sweet, peek through our favorite healthier dessert spots below…
Los Angeles
Fonuts | Fonuts serves us baked (not fried), often vegan and gluten-free donuts we just can’t quit. They’re cakey and flavorful, and come in both big and mini sizes (literally, the cutest). The brand’s West Hollywood location just relaunched and we couldn’t be happier. What’s more thrilling than a box of a dozen donuts? Win a box of your own on Instagram today! 
Sweet Laurel Bakery | The queen of grain, gluten, dairy and refined sugar-free baking, Laurel Gallucci, has finally opened her first IRL cafe. Sweet Laurel serves the clean, gut-friendly baked goods, we’ve been loving for years inside the all-pink Palisades cafe – including cake by the slice that you just shouldn’t miss. Learn all about what they’re serving up here.
Pressed Juicery Freeze | Available in both LA and NYC, Pressed Juicery’s Freeze is one of the best clean solutions for sweet tooth cravings we’ve tried – and apparently people from coast to coast agree. Just the mention of the vegan-friendly soft-serve gives every wellness-lover we know that heart-eyed emoji look. Freeze is made with pure whole food ingredients — vanilla, for example, only contains almonds, dates, sea salt and little else! Top off your swirl with fresh berries, almond butter and other superfoods for the ultimate sundae that won’t leave you feeling sugared out. Discover our team’s fave ways to top our Freeze here.
New York
by CHLOE | by CHLOE is a plant-based vegan restaurant chain that originated in New York (although there’s now one on the eastside of LA too!). Their claim to fame is creating delicious, accessible vegan dishes and desserts that don’t feel, well, vegan. If you’re looking for a cupcake, cinnamon roll or chunk of coffee cake that doesn’t contain dairy or eggs — and doesn’t turn-off more traditional sweettooths — by CHLOE is the place to go. Their giant chocolate chip cookie is one of IG’s faves.
Hu Kitchen | We’ve been in love with Hu Kitchen’s paleo, vegan-friendly natural chocolate bars since our first bite — they’re some of the best on the market. Hu Kitchen’s brick and mortar in NYC features a beverage bar, bakery, marketplace, hot foods bar and their glorious ‘mashbar’ which allows you to make epic natural food sundaes with bases like chia pudding, taro pudding and cashew cream! Clean, thoughtfully sourced ingredients are #1 priority.
Erin McKenna Bakery | In the same vein as our beloved Sweet Laurel above, Erin Mckenna’s bakery (formerly Babycakes NYC) is the local go-to for healthier desserts. Everything on her menu of clean donuts, cookies and cakes has us drooling from the Left Coast — and is grain, gluten, egg, dairy and refined sugar-free (as well as kosher).
Cha Cha Matcha | While you’ll find plenty of not-so-healthy treats at this cute NYC spot, you’ll find a few superfood gems as well. We love their coconut matcha power bowls topped with fresh seasonal fruit, and their coconut milk matcha latte for a little boost that’s perfect for when you need a hit of sweetness but don’t necessarily want to scarf down another dessert.
