Best Desserts

Pastry chef Pamela Moxley has emerged as a beacon of light in the dark morass of mediocre chocolate lava cakes and soggy pies. Moxley, who worked pastry from the opening to the closing of Craft and Craftbar, is in charge of all things sweet at Miller Union. Everything the disarmingly passionate chef makes is seasonally driven, unpretentious and expertly executed. Fat, juicy blueberries dribble over an upside-down-style buttery cake encrusted with crumbly brown sugar walnuts and oat-laced streusel topping. Highlights from the summer fruit season included a tart filled with sticky fig jam, and sliced figs tossed in wine reduction with homemade Earl Grey ice cream. These desserts showcase Moxley's moxy in their quiet beauty and precise simplicity. 999 Brady Ave. 678-733-8550. millerunion.com. less...

Nancy Cole's family-run SOUTHERN SWEETS BAKERY remains a favorite thanks to her staff's dedication to creating home-style sweets minus the muss and fuss. Rustic cherry pie covered in crushed sugar cubes, creme freche coffee cake with a thick layer of pecans, and any of the towering layer cakes – such as the chocolate coconut or Key lime – are sure to please the most discerning sweet tooth. The bakery makes a large selection of vegan cakes even the most ardent carnivore would savor. And if you happen to be there around lunchtime, Southern Sweets also serves up a mean sandwich. less...

Since the day chef/owner Gerry Klaskala’s ARIA opened, his secret weapon has been pastry chef Kathryn King. Her sweets have an unerring sense of harmony — part nostalgic Americana, part technical fireworks. Maybe words don’t do it justice. Just go slip a mouthful of sunny peach cobbler or toasted lemon pudding cake with roasted plums down your gullet and you’ll see what we mean. A bit out of your price range for a non-celebratory meal? Check out King’s moist, boozy pineapple upside down cake at the Globe in Midtown (she designed the dessert menu there). less...

With 120 desserts in rotation, Cafe Intermezzo offers something to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth. Among the highlights is a diverse assortment of cheesecakes. For the hardcore sweet-lovers, the Death by Chocolate cheesecake is, well, to die for. The tortes and pies also make pleasing treats and can be purchased for about $5.80 per slice or around $40 for the whole. There is no menu for the desserts, but the cafe does have tour guides to help you pick a tasty pastry. less...