It’s the tastiest time of the year for local foodies. The annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards return to put Dallas’ culinary stars in the spotlight, and this spring, things are getting even sweeter as we introduce our inaugural Dessert Program of the Year award.
These 10 finalists take us all around Dallas to honor the most exceptional pastries and desserts in town. From beautiful baked goods and composed dishes to the novel and unique, these establishments will satisfy any sweet tooth.
Meet the sweetest Tastemakers nominees below, then join us at the big event on May 7 at Astoria Event Venue. We'll gather to celebrate the best in Dallas food and drink, sampling chef-prepared bites and sipping specialty drinks while mingling with top Dallas chefs.
Limited discounted tickets are still available for general admission and VIP access, but prices will increase soon, so get yours today.
These are the 10 nominees for Dessert Program of the Year:
Crispy Cones
This franchise, which appeared on Shark Tank season 14, made a solid first impression in North Richland Hills in 2025 with its decadent, unique ice cream cones. A location in Plano followed, and Southlake is coming soon. The “chimney cone” — a hollow, fresh-dough ice cream cone with roots in Eastern European countries like Hungary and the Czech Republic — is crisp on the outside with a fluffy inside. It’s a customizable treat that comes dusted in cinnamon-sugar powder and filled with the customer’s choice of spread, such as strawberry jam or Nutella, gourmet soft-serve ice cream, fruit, and toppings.
IYKYK Mochi Churro
Korean-style mochi churros — a fusion of the Mexican fried doughnut and Japanese chewy rice cake — are this take-out dessert shop’s specialty. Offered up by a ghost kitchen near Dallas Love Field, the mochi churros are made with the rice flour used in mochi with a crispy-fried shell. Bonus feature: The sweet street food treats are also gluten-free. IYKYK Mochi Churro also has soft serve ice cream on tap in ube, Earl Grey, matcha, and chocolate flavors.
Le Reve Gelato & Patisserie
This French-style patisserie debuted its stylish signature macarons and gelato in North Dallas in fall 2021. Le Rêve, French for “the dream,” showcases intricate, upscale, and photo-ready desserts, baked goods, and espresso. The dessert bar comes from baker Andy Pham, a 26-year-old Dallas-area native who will expand the business with another location in Mockingbird Station this spring.
Lucia
With Maggie Huff, 2026 James Beard finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker, at the helm, it’s no surprise Lucia’s dessert program is a standout. The intimate, award-winning Italian eatery in Bishop Arts serves a rotating menu with sweet bites such as semolina cake with roasted grapes, rosemary, honey, and pistachio ice cream. Diners can opt for a tropical escape with coconut sorbet with nectarines and lime and mint pesto. For an earthy experience, there’s the hazelnut frangipane and goat cheese tart with figs and balsamic vinegar ice cream.
Pietro’s Italian Bakery
This family-run bakery provides Frisco with traditional Italian desserts and pastries — all made from scratch. From cakes such as tiramisu and ricotta cheesecake to pastries such as cannoli and biscotti, Pietro’s transports customers to Italy via sweet bites composed of fresh, quality ingredients. Other Italian staples on the menu include lemon-infused sponge cake with mascarpone mousse, carrot cake, chocolate eclair, and walnut or pistachio baklava.
A full case of cakes at Pietro's. Photo courtesy of Pietro's
Restaurant Beatrice
A culinary favorite in the Oak Cliff neighborhood, this critically acclaimed contemporary Cajun restaurant keeps the party going with a strong rotating dessert lineup. Among the seasonal offerings are Vietnamese iced coffee cake, made-to-order praline bread pudding with praline ice cream, vegan sorbet, key lime tart, and coconut cake. The Cajun eatery opened in 2022 and was nominated for the 2023 James Beard Best New Restaurant award.
Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas
The 5-star Ritz-Carlton in Las Colinas serves picturesque modern desserts that complement the resort’s upscale and elegant atmosphere. Sink into a vanilla bean crème brûlée topped with vibrant mixed berries, or opt for the signature Ritz-Carlton dark chocolate cake with candied orange peel and vanilla whipped cream. There’s more for chocolate enthusiasts in the Cookie Monster, a chocolate chip cookie sandwich with dark chocolate ganache and mini cookies to boot.
San Martin Bakery & Restaurant
From chocolate-dipped cookies to apple strudel sticks, this charming eatery serves a wide range of fresh-prepared European- and Latin-style sweet treats at its two Dallas locations (Uptown and Addison). Among the bakery’s dessert specialties are eclairs, Bundt cakes, a crispy puff pastry filled with dulce de leche, and fruit tarts. The baked goods are made fresh onsite. The Guatemalan-born concept tapped Uptown Dallas as its first foray into the United States in 2018; a Plano location will open this spring.
Uchi Dallas
This award-winning upscale Japanese restaurant landed in Dallas in 2015, and with it came a hard-to-resist selection of traditional desserts. A fan-favorite Uchi delicacy is the fried milk (also available in a pint to-go), which balances vanilla custard with salted fudge. Additionally, Uchi’s dessert menu offers a banana cake with white coffee ice cream, and the eye-catching coconut tapioca with lychee sorbet over layers of pickled blueberries and hazelnut.
Village Baking Co.
An artisan eatery with over 20 years in the game, Village Baking Co. has built a strong reputation through its several Dallas locations. Diners with a sweet tooth can find French-inspired pastries like a chocolate or glazed cherry tart scone on the cozy cafe’s menu. There’s a selection of fruit hand pies, lemon rosemary olive oil cake, and even a vegan chocolate cake.
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The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored in Dallas by Maker's Mark, Shutto, NXT LVL Event, Seedlip, Ritual Zero Proof, H-E-B, and more to be announced. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Harvest Project Food Rescue.
