When sweet treats start calling your name, it’s time to halt your Big Island adventures and get yourself something delicious to enjoy. You have many options all over the island, too, making it easy to satisfy your cravings for shave ice, baked goods, and so much more. Ready to find just the right dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth? Here’s a look at the top 10 dessert spots on the Big Island to help you out.
Original Big Island Shave Ice
Original Big Island Shave Ice is the place to go in Waikoloa whenever you want icy cold treats on the double. Their homemade syrup is second to none, making it a must-visit spot at least once during your island adventures.
They’re always coming up with new combos, too, like the Mana Chantilly specialty shave ice. For this treat, they stack shave ice over a big scoop of macadamia nut ice cream, and then add their homemade chocolate flavored syrup. After that, their homemade Chantilly goes over top along with condensed cream and macadamia nuts.
Gypsea Gelato
If you love rich and creamy frozen treats, why not give Gypsea Gelato a try? Set in the Coconut Grove Marketplace, this dessert shop uses high-quality ingredients to handcraft gelato to remember.
Their house flavors include imaginative creations like Tom Kha and Toasted Coconut Haystack. Want something a little different? Just set your sights on their rotating flavors, which range from Gypsea Mud Pie to Goat Cheese Salad. They even have dairy-free creations if you need to skip the milk but don’t want to compromise on enjoying gelato goodness.
Gecko Girlz Shave Ice
Whenever you find yourself in Kailua-Kona, jet on over to Gecko Girlz Shave Ice. They only use 100% Hawaiian-made syrups created using pure cane sugar, so you can feel good about your selections.
While browsing their menu, you’ll see that their artisanal creations, like Lilikoi Sour and Shark Bite, make it easy to get your favorite flavors on the double. Or you can build your own shave ice from the ground up by selecting between all their syrups, toppings, and more. If that’s not quite your style, they have ice cream, too!
One Aloha Shave Ice
If organic fare served up with a side of sustainability is your jam, then let One Aloha Shave Ice win you over. At this Kailua-Kona shop, their approach starts with the tastiest organic syrups made using real fruit and all-natural food coloring. Even their Blue Vanilla flavor gets its vivid hue from a natural source, spirulina.
To help protect the Earth, they only put their shave ice in biodegradable flower cups and pair it with plant-based spoons. Want to get a drink? Your beverage will either come with a paper straw, for sure.
Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies
Whenever you’re in the mood for crispy cookies made with flair, just look to Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies for all you need. A true Kailua-Kona favorite, these award-winning cookies boast all the best island flavors in every bite. Better yet, they’re 100% natural and preservative free plus baked fresh each day.
If nothing else, stop by to try the Chocolate Dipped Macadamia Nut Shortbread Kona Cookies, which pair wonderfully with a cup of coffee. Just don’t forget to let your dog in on the fun, too, by getting a pack of Crushie’s Dog Cookies during your visit.
Punalu’u Bake Shop
Well-known as the southernmost bakery in the USA, Punalu’u Bake Shop goes all out to create decadent offerings daily. Their famous malasadas alone are worth the trip down to Naalehu. But if you come all that way, you might as well load up on their cookies, too.
You really don’t want to miss a chance to try their sweet bread either, which comes in a wide range of varieties. Can’t choose between all the options? Go with their Black Sand Box for traditional, taro, and guava Hawaiian sweet bread.
Paradise Bakery Hawaii
If you’d like to start your day out right, plan to get up bright and early for a visit to Paradise Bakery Hawaii. At this Kailua-Kona bakery, they bake their hearts out all night, and then happily serve up their creations until they run out. Their baked delights go fast, too, often selling out before the noon hour.
Make it through the doors in time and the sky is the limit in what you can enjoy. Pineapple Fritters, Malasadas, Chantilly Donuts, and other imaginative treats give you many unique options to consider.
Sweet Journey Soft Serve
As you spend the day browsing the shops at the Kona Inn Shopping Village, take a moment to come by Sweet Journey Soft Serve. Always made using organic local ingredients, their soft serve flavors never fail to delight. Even better, they’re plant-based and dairy-free, so you can nosh without the guilt.
To get a taste, you just have to decide if you want a cone, sundae, or hurricane. Then, select between their base flavors, like Blueberry Ube, and then load up on all the delicious toppings. They have coconut flakes, waffle chunks, cookie dough, and so much more, all awaiting your arrival.
Mr. Ed’s Bakery
If you find yourself over on the Hamakua Coast, do yourself a favor and jet on over to Mr. Ed’s Bakery. Every day, Ed, his wife, June, and all their crew members work hard to bring home-baked goodness to the masses.
Pastries and cookies are the names of the game, of course, although their bread is good enough reason to stop by all on their own. Just be sure to grab marmalade, jam, or jelly to enjoy with their selections. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on even more scratch-made decadence.
Kula Shave Ice
At Kula Shave Ice, they create all their syrups in-house from scratch using the freshest local ingredients around. The bright, bold flavors come through in every spoonful as a result, making it well worth choosing this Hilo shave ice shop.
Whenever you come through the doors, you can simply choose one of their combinations, like The Chocoholic. Or you’re welcome to build your own creation by choosing your shave ice cup size, up to two flavors, and toppings. Want to put Vanilla Ice Cream, Waipio Poi, or another filling right in the middle? Just ask and they’ll make that happen for you.
If you’re in the mood for sweets, you cannot go wrong with any of these Big Island shops. So, select whatever sounds the best to you – or pick a place at random – and then, get ready for pure deliciousness to come your way.
