Best Cheesecake $3.79
Drizzled with chocolate and caramel, sprinkled with walnuts, Johnny T’s Turtle Cheesecake is the perfect balance of sweet and savory. The filling was not overly sweetened, so the cream cheese flavor had a chance to shine. There was enough chocolate sauce to allow for the right ratio of sweetness in every bite.
Jan Mosher, head baker at Market House, makes all of Johnny T’s pies fresh weekly, and this dessert definitely has a home-made taste.
It is the perfect combination of rich and creamy without any of the heaviness — you can actually eat the whole slice. After finishing off the plate, I found myself wanting more.
Best Elegant Date Dessert $7
When you order Bananas Foster, Olivia’s Chophouse gives you a show. The presentation of this dessert cannot be beat.
This dessert is prepared table-side, usually by manager Josh Butler, who has been making it for about six years.
Butler first heats butter in a skillet, then adds rum, brown sugar, banana liqueur, and cinnamon. A beautiful blue flame rises out of the pan when he adds each ingredient.
After the flame dies down, Butler adds cut-up, chilled banana. He coats them thoroughly in the glaze and then pours everything over high-quality, vanilla bean ice cream.
Each bite is a perfect combination of the smooth ice cream and the caramelized topping. There is a hint of rum, but the flavor did not overpower the sweetness or banana flavors of the glaze.
Best Casual Date Dessert $7.50 for two
On the side of a chalkboard dessert menu, there’s a little flag with “S’mores” written on it — this easily overlooked flag lists the best dessert at Rosalie’s Roadhouse.
While the quality of the ingredients could be better, the presentation of this dessert is fun, lively, and entertaining.
The wooden tray filled almost half of the table. Skewers, marshmallows, graham crackers packets, and pre-broken chocolate bars fill compartments around a central flame.
This dessert is not only classic — it really does taste like camping — it is a built-in ice breaker for any first date.
There is nothing like roasting marshmallows to help bring out fun camping stories, talk about embarrassing hiking stories, or to laugh about other family traditions.
Best Group Dessert $11
The Colossal Chocolate Cake from Olivia’s Chophouse is the perfect choice for any group celebration.
This cake has layers upon layers of moist, delicious chocolate cake, filled with, yes, more chocolate. The slice is hefty and perfect for sharing. The thick layers help keep the cake moist and delicious. No matter how much you want to stop, your fork will keep finding its way back for one more bite.
Another great thing about this dessert — once you cannot stuff anymore chocolaty goodness into your stomach, you can bring the rest of the slice home to enjoy again later.
Best Late Night Dessert
Nothing beats a late night craving like Dutch Uncle Donuts in Coldwater.
This 24-hour doughnut shop is worth every minute of the half-hour drive from Hillsdale College. The doughnuts are fresh, delicious, and their variety is unparalleled.
I recommend their Old-Fashioned doughnuts or Apple Fritters. Delicious.
The doughnut selection always changes depending on the day and hour, and never be afraid to try something new.
The doughnuts seem to improve as you approach midnight. This is definitely one dessert you want to have well after dinner. The ambiance of the 24-hour shop improves as characters from Coldwater and surrounding areas congregate.
