Celebrate National Dessert Day
October 14 is National Dessert Day, giving anyone with a sweet tooth an excuse to enjoy a favorite treat — and the Springfield area offers plenty of ways to celebrate.
From handmade pastries and cupcakes to donuts, chocolates and ice cream, local shops offer something for nearly every dessert preference.
Incredibly Delicious, located in the historic Weber House near downtown Springfield, has been serving the community since 1995. The locally owned French bakery and café specializes in traditional croissants, handmade pastries, specialty cakes and desserts, with selections that change with the seasons.
On Springfield's west side, Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery focuses on gourmet cupcakes made fresh daily. Its lineup includes signature and rotating flavors, along with made-in-house ice cream, cake pops, cookie sandwiches and other desserts.
Pease's at BUNN Gourmet at The Gables offers another stop for dessert lovers. Along with the chocolates that have made the Pease's name familiar to generations of Springfield residents, its pastry kitchen produces homemade desserts, pastries and ice cream. Visitors can also find cakes, chocolates, nuts and other sweets.
For a Springfield tradition that stretches back more than 90 years, Mel-O-Cream Donuts has been part of the community since 1932. Its Springfield shops continue to serve familiar favorites including glazed donuts, Long Johns, cake donuts, fritters and filled varieties.
A short drive east to Rochester offers yet another option. Cocoa Blue Chocolates specializes in handcrafted chocolates, caramels and truffles. Chocolatier Joshua Becker opened the business after studying pâtisserie and baking, and the shop is recognized through the Illinois Office of Tourism's Illinois Made program.
National Dessert Day covers just about every sweet ending imaginable — cakes, cookies, pastries, ice cream, chocolates, pies and more. That makes October 14 an easy opportunity to try something new or return to an old favorite.
However you choose to celebrate, Springfield and the surrounding communities offer plenty of locally made ways to make the day a little sweeter.
