Roaming around Destin and Panama City Beach presents an experience beyond picture-perfect shorelines and nature escapades. These Gulf Coast cities have some of the sweetest dessert shops in the country.
After a long day on the shore, it’s pretty simple to indulge your cravings on the Emerald Coast! From homemade creamy ice creams to freshly baked pastries and rich cakes, there’s no lack of places to indulge and treat yourself.
Whether you’re looking for the best of Southern classics or new, locally influenced creations, these dessert spots serve up something unforgettable. A majority of these joints pride themselves on using fresh, local ingredients, which brings their quality and flavor to a whole new level.
For visitors and locals alike, these dessert destinations provide a memorable way to wrap up a meal or indulge in a midday snack.
Top Ice Cream Shops
1. Discover Classic Ice Cream
If you’re looking for a nostalgic ice cream treat, visit Dippin’ Dots, an established establishment that offers a constantly expanding range of flavors. You’ll discover classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate, as well as old-time favorites Birthday Cake and Cookies ‘n Cream with Oreo!
These little, beaded ice cream morsels are super delicious and tons of fun to make and eat, making them a favorite between both kids and adults. Meanwhile, down at Pier Park and Destin Commons, Kilwin’s is not just a delicious ice cream shop. Alongside their creamy scoops, they’re known for their handmade chocolates crafted using traditional techniques, making it a sweet lover’s paradise.
And let’s not forget the legendary Ben & Jerry’s, located in Miramar Beach! Known for their funky and creative flavor combinations, like Half Baked and Cherry Garcia, Ben & Jerry’s serves up happiness in every scoop. Their commitment to using high-quality, Fair Trade-certified ingredients ensures that every bite is as meaningful as it is delicious. Whether you’re grabbing a classic waffle cone or digging into a sundae, this iconic spot is perfect for satisfying your cravings.
2. Explore Artisan Ice Cream Options
If you’re looking for something a little more sophisticated, Pino Gelato brings the authentic flavors of Italy to Panama City Beach. Tucked away in Pier Park, their menu offers lots of classics, including pistachio and stracciatella.
If you’re in search of a dairy-free treat, their vibrant fresh fruit sorbets are a perfect choice. Pink Pelican, another local favorite, uses only the best ingredients and mixes them into vibrant flavor combos. This shop is known for its dairy-free and sugar-free varieties.
Through creative thinking, they honor every dietary need with big-time flavor that sticks with you.
3. Try Family-Friendly Ice Cream Spots
Your family will love Gulf Coast Burger Co.! The milkshakes at Gulf Coast Burger Co. are visually stunning and delightful to taste! Other hot sellers are the “Mermaid,” a delicious sea salt vanilla shake topped with a fanciful mermaid cookie.
Another winner is the “Doughnut Touch My Coffees and Cream,” featuring a rich coffee ice cream paired with a decadent chocolate-frosted doughnut. Dolly’s Sweet Shop is the place to go in Pier Park. You’ll go crazy for their fabulous combination of ice cream and candy selections!
Unique Dessert Experiences
1. Indulge in Over-the-Top Milkshakes
The Yard Milkshake Bar has become a must-visit destination for milkshake enthusiasts. They are both world-famous for their over-the-top masterpieces. Their milkshakes are served in souvenir mason jars, ensuring they’re as fun to see as they are to eat.
Each one is topped with a veritable mountain of cookies, candy, and even entire slices of cake. Just take their Brownie Points milkshake, for instance, which features brownie bits, chocolate drizzle, and whipped cream—all stacked high. If you enjoy extravagant desserts that are perfect for Instagram, this place is heaven.
2. Experience Playful Frozen Treats
If ice cream is your preferred sweet treat, Panama City Beach caters to your needs. The Pink Pelican Ice Cream Bar stands out due to its vibrant atmosphere and diverse selection of intriguing flavors.
Their Key Lime Pie ice cream might be the best example—tart meets sweet in each scoop, and it’s a beloved local staple. For gelato aficionados, Pino Gelato is a must-stop. Serving up traditional finds like pistachio along with more wacky variations such as tiramisu, they make for a perfect blend of original and classic.
David’s takes a super fun approach to your dessert experience, incorporating cocktail and dessert-inspired flavors. We can’t wait for you to enjoy this special and delicious experience!
3. Enjoy Creative Dessert Presentations
There’s more here than just frozen desserts. The Candy Maker in Destin is more than just a candy shop; it’s a memory-making experience. Witness the creation of exquisite edible art by master craftsmen, available for immediate tasting!
Kilwin’s locations don’t hurt, either, with their live chocolate-making demos, making and selling everything from fudge to caramel apples. Surf’s Up Candy Shop transports guests to a fun in the sun, beachy paradise.
With its truly enormous array of sweets, it’s a dream stop for families. For friends with dietary restrictions, Dolly’s Sweet Shop serves delicious sugar-free options that don’t skimp on flavor.
Best Bakeries and Sweet Treats
1. Savor Freshly Baked Pastries
Destin and Panama City Beach have some of the best bakeries anywhere! Their succulent sweets will leave you wishing to visit them with each trip!
Dolly’s Sweet Shop is a must-stop, with freshly baked cookies and brownies that are great for on-the-go snacking. If you want to keep it a little lighter, Pino Gelato’s fruit sorbets are the perfect refreshing addition to classic baked treats.
2. Taste delectable Cakes and Cupcakes
If you’re a cake and cupcake lover, the options available here are incredible. Pink Pelican has won over customers with its moist and perfectly frosted cupcakes.
You’ll find a variety of inventive flavor pairings, like strawberry lemonade and red velvet! Their dedication to high standards is apparent, with first-time customers instantly turning into regulars after just one taste.
For a more decadent treat, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory offers fudge-filled cakes and chocolate-covered cupcakes. Whatever you choose, each of these rich, decadent desserts is handcrafted, artfully made from scratch, ensuring each bite feels indulgent.
Dolly’s Sweet Shop has expanded into the delivery of their popular, layered cakes. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply satisfying your sweet craving, these cakes are sure to leave a lasting impression!
3. Relish Gourmet Macarons and Tarts
Heavenly Macarons is the place to go for anyone looking for fresh, beautiful, and flavorful macarons heavenly deliciousness.
Their constantly changing menu means you’ll never get bored, but you can always find seasonal flavors such as pumpkin spice alongside staples like vanilla and chocolate.
Kilwin’s offers rich fruit-filled varieties that perfectly balance sweetness and sourness for those who enjoy tangy tarts. Pair these with a coffee for a glorious treat.
Candy and Chocolate Shops
Shop for Handmade Chocolates
When you’re visiting Destin and Panama City Beach, you need to try some handmade chocolates from this local treasure! Kilwin’s, one of our go-to places, has an awesome array of chocolates made from hand-poured, classic recipes.
One especially sweet perk is getting to watch the chocolatiers at work, whipping up everything from ganache-filled truffles to caramel-dipped social media love letters. This fun, interactive experience is a great way to bring a personal touch to your visit.
At Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Silver Sands Premuim Outlets, candy lovers can explore a world of sweet, handcrafted chocolate creations. Indulge in fresh chocolate-covered strawberries and our signature chocolate clusters, ideal for keeping all to yourself or sharing with friends and family!
Explore Nostalgic Candy Selections
Surf’s Up Candy Shop focuses on retro and hard-to-find candies, making up 90% of the store’s candy. From traditional taffy to retro candy sticks, Surf’s Up Candy Shop offers a delightful journey through nostalgia.
Another undisputed favorite is The Candy Maker, also located in Pier Park. Past its rainbow-hued facades, one big draw is the unique, behind-the-scenes experience of watching a candy-making process right before your eyes.
If variety is what you’re after, It’Sugar, found just around the corner, has lots of crazy and kooky candies to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Treat Yourself to Gourmet Fudge
No candy store visit is ever finished without picking up fudge. Dolly’s Sweet Shop in Pier Park offers a great selection of gourmet fudge flavors.
Each batch is made super fresh and super creamy just for you! Kilwin’s really gets my heart all a-flutter with their fancy fudge offerings. You can stick with traditional chocolate or go wild with daring tastes such as peanut butter and rocky road!
Family-Friendly Dessert Options
Visit Kid-Friendly Ice Cream Spots
In addition to all the fun family-friendly attractions, Destin and Panama City Beach are bursting with ice cream shops. Since then, Kilwin’s has become known not only for its creamy ice cream but for its total confectionery experience.
Beyond ice cream, there’s fudge, caramel apples, and homemade chocolates to tempt families. Observe the artisans creating their masterpieces. Kids will be fascinated by amazing chocolatiers honing their skills, making a visit both fun and educational.
Just like Pink Pelican, creating that family-friendly dessert option is what provides the welcoming feel while using the best quality ingredients. They offer dietary options with dairy-free and sugar-free choices, creating a welcoming stop for all diets and lifestyles.
For adventurous families, Pino Gelato is not to be missed. They dish out all the classic and unexpected flavors, tempting you to go further than your standard vanilla or chocolate.
Find Desserts with Fun Activities
Pairing your sweet treats with some creative activities and games will help make dessert time all that more special. You can satiate your sweet tooth with edible cookie dough, milkshakes, and more at Dolly’s Sweet Shop in Pier Park.
From milkshakes to chocolates, each dessert turns into a sweet marvel! Thanks to its colorful backdrop, families can stroll among different treats to find just the right fit for everyone’s taste buds.
Kilwin’s hooks kids with an experiential element. From our chocolate-making factory tour, they can see chocolates and other confections being created, receiving an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the world of sweets.
Share Large Portion Treats
If your family is one that enjoys sharing, large-portioned desserts are perfect. Places such as Dolly’s Sweet Shop offer over-the-top milkshakes piled high with toppings, meant for sharing.
These shareable treats create an experience you can gather around and enjoy together, making dessert a moment to celebrate.
Where to Find Desserts Near Destin and PCB
1. Locate Hidden Dessert Gems
Destin and PCB are full of dessert places that locals know are the best. Another favorite across PCB, Thomas Donuts is an institution known for their made-to-order, bursting-with-flavor donuts. It’s a laidback place with long lines that form outside the door as locals and tourists alike fill up on their faves.
A’more Donuts is another hidden treasure with more to offer than donuts alone. In addition to great scoops, you’ll find an unexpected menu of pizza, burgers, and subs. For something a little different, Gypsea Crepes is a fun spot to grab an inspired selection of sweet and savory crepes.
Their fresh ingredients and homemade-style food production result in an absolutely delicious experience. You have to go, whether you’re looking for something sweet or something savory!
2. Explore Waterfront Dessert Spots
There’s nothing quite like enjoying dessert with a view of the Gulf. Located in Pier Park, Kilwin’s adds to the charming atmosphere with old-fashioned candies and confections. Not only is watching them make fudge right in the store super entertaining, but you know you’ll be getting fresh treats!
For a cool treat, Sweet Frog Premium Frozen Yogurt, also in Pier Park, offers a variety of toppings to build your perfect dessert. Searching for something a little more thirst-quenching? Coco Locos serves up frozen treats such as Bahama Mama and mango colada in cool tropical containers such as coconuts and pineapples—ideal for your beach day!
3. Discover Dessert Cafes in Nearby Cities
If you can venture a little farther from these spots, there are even more delicious treats waiting for you. Apps like Uber Eats list over 80% of highly rated dessert spots in PCB, making it easy to discover new places.
Then, order from some of these local favorites and get dessert delivered right to your doorstep.
Conclusion
Whether you crave candy, cake, or ice cream, Destin and Panama City Beach are loaded with the best dessert places around. From rich ice cream to exquisite pastries, there’s a sugary treat for every sweet tooth. Head to the beach, take a sunset stroll down the shore, and enjoy a sweet treat on your vacation! These delightful locations will elevate your family’s vacation experience. Each is unique with their own flavor and vibe, so it’s hard not to find a new favorite.
Adventuring to one of these local treasures is much more sweet! It’s an opportunity to support local, independent small businesses at the same time that you’re enjoying once-in-a-lifetime desserts. After all, why not make your next getaway a little sweeter! Visit these places and enjoy the unique flavors that make them special. You might discover your new favorite dessert spot.
Internal Links:
- Link to The Ultimate Guide to Dining and Nightlife on the Emerald Coast to provide readers with more comprehensive dining options.
Exploring Panama City Beach Seafood Restaurants
Think Publishing Group