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Denver's Ten Staple Desserts to Try Before You Die

by Andra Zeppelin
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by Andra Zeppelin

Menus come and menus go, but these ten desserts have stood the test of time, seasons, and whims demanding changes. From the chocolate beignets that remained on the menu for nearly ten years at Table 6 to the budino that has quickly but forcefully become a must for the dessert menu at Pizzeria Locale and the chocolate caramel tart created by pastry wiz Yasmin Lozada-Hissom at Spuntino, these are the ten sweet ends to a meal that everyone dining in Denver must try.


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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Chocolate Pudding at Potager

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1109 Ogden St
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 832-5788
(303) 832-5788
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The dessert menu changes seasonally at this Cap Hill restaurant owned by Teri Rippeto, but this rich silky chocolate pudding is always there. It comes served with freshly whipped cream.

2. Salted Chocolate Tarte at Spuntino

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2639 W 32nd Ave
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 433-0949
(303) 433-0949
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James Beard semi-finalist pastry chef Yasmin Lozada-Hissom serves the Amadei chocolate sea salt caramel tart at her LoHi restaurant alongside brown butter-bay leaf gelato.

3. Grapefruit Tarte at Devil's Food

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1020 S Gaylord St
Denver, CO 80209
(303) 733-7448
(303) 733-7448
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All the tarts at Devil's Food are extraordinary but the pink grapefruit one takes the cake. A sugar cookie shell is lined with white chocolate, filled with Bavarian cream, topped with grapefruit, and sprinkled with crushed pistachio.

4. Chocolate Beignets at Table 6

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609 Corona St
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 831-8800
(303) 831-8800
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Ten years have these been on the menu. The small, round pastries are filled with a melted truffle made with Valrhona French chocolate and heavy cream. When you bite into it, warm silky dark chocolate oozes out.

5. Gingerbread at Bang!

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3472 W 32nd Ave
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 455-1117
(303) 455-1117
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Featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives, this simple and comforting dessert accented by notes of cinnamon and cloves comes served with fresh whipped cream.

6. Banana Cream Pie at Sushi Den

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1487 S Pearl St
Denver, CO 80210
(303) 777-0826
(303) 777-0826
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The banana cream pie is available at both Sushi Den and Izakaya Den. Made fresh daily, this dessert is a long time family recipe and originally introduced by Toshi Kizaki's wife.

7. Goat Cheese Beignets at Rioja

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1431 Larimer St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 820-2282
(303) 820-2282
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The beignets have been on the menu at Rioja since the restaurant opened in 2004. They are filled with sweet goat cheese and black mission fig and come served with a ruby port wine reduction.

8. Matty's Wacky Apple at Vesta Dipping Grill

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1822 Blake Street
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 296-1970
(303) 296-1970
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A caramel dipped apple is rolled in sweet crunch and served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup. This crowd pleaser is available with three dipping sauces- hot fudge, creme anglaise, and strawberry cointreau.

9. Budino at Pizzeria Locale

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1730 Pearl St
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 442-3003
(303) 442-3003
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There would be a revolution if Locale took the butterscotch pudding off the menu. The sweet ending is creamy and light in texture, with a rich caramel flavor. It is topped with a dense milk chocolate ganache.

10. Eton Mess at The Kitchen Boulder

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1039 Pearl St
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 544-5973
(303) 544-5973
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This traditional English dessert has been served at the original the Kitchen since it opened. Eton mess is a combination of Chantilly, strawberries, and meringue.

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1. Chocolate Pudding at Potager

1109 Ogden St, Denver, CO 80218
The dessert menu changes seasonally at this Cap Hill restaurant owned by Teri Rippeto, but this rich silky chocolate pudding is always there. It comes served with freshly whipped cream.
1109 Ogden St
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 832-5788
Visit Website

2. Salted Chocolate Tarte at Spuntino

2639 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
James Beard semi-finalist pastry chef Yasmin Lozada-Hissom serves the Amadei chocolate sea salt caramel tart at her LoHi restaurant alongside brown butter-bay leaf gelato.
2639 W 32nd Ave
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 433-0949
Visit Website

3. Grapefruit Tarte at Devil's Food

1020 S Gaylord St, Denver, CO 80209
All the tarts at Devil's Food are extraordinary but the pink grapefruit one takes the cake. A sugar cookie shell is lined with white chocolate, filled with Bavarian cream, topped with grapefruit, and sprinkled with crushed pistachio.
1020 S Gaylord St
Denver, CO 80209
(303) 733-7448
Visit Website

4. Chocolate Beignets at Table 6

609 Corona St, Denver, CO 80218
Ten years have these been on the menu. The small, round pastries are filled with a melted truffle made with Valrhona French chocolate and heavy cream. When you bite into it, warm silky dark chocolate oozes out.
609 Corona St
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 831-8800
Visit Website

5. Gingerbread at Bang!

3472 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
Featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives, this simple and comforting dessert accented by notes of cinnamon and cloves comes served with fresh whipped cream.
3472 W 32nd Ave
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 455-1117
Visit Website

6. Banana Cream Pie at Sushi Den

1487 S Pearl St, Denver, CO 80210
The banana cream pie is available at both Sushi Den and Izakaya Den. Made fresh daily, this dessert is a long time family recipe and originally introduced by Toshi Kizaki's wife.
1487 S Pearl St
Denver, CO 80210
(303) 777-0826
Visit Website

7. Goat Cheese Beignets at Rioja

1431 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202
The beignets have been on the menu at Rioja since the restaurant opened in 2004. They are filled with sweet goat cheese and black mission fig and come served with a ruby port wine reduction.
1431 Larimer St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 820-2282
Visit Website

8. Matty's Wacky Apple at Vesta Dipping Grill

1822 Blake Street, Denver, CO 80202
A caramel dipped apple is rolled in sweet crunch and served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup. This crowd pleaser is available with three dipping sauces- hot fudge, creme anglaise, and strawberry cointreau.
1822 Blake Street
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 296-1970
Visit Website

9. Budino at Pizzeria Locale

1730 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
There would be a revolution if Locale took the butterscotch pudding off the menu. The sweet ending is creamy and light in texture, with a rich caramel flavor. It is topped with a dense milk chocolate ganache.
1730 Pearl St
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 442-3003
Visit Website

10. Eton Mess at The Kitchen Boulder

1039 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
This traditional English dessert has been served at the original the Kitchen since it opened. Eton mess is a combination of Chantilly, strawberries, and meringue.
1039 Pearl St
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 544-5973
Visit Website

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