Top 10 Cities for People With a Sweet Tooth

Whether you prefer a frosted donut or a caramel apple, there’s a city that will satisfy your sweet tooth. Indulge yourself as you explore the top 10 cities around the world for lovers of all things sweet and sugary.

By: Erin Gifford

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Photo By: Shriver's Salt Water Taffy & Fudge

Photo By: Beechwood Doughnuts

Photo By: Bloomberg, Getty Images

Photo By: Long Beach Creamery

Photo By: Blue Bird Bake Shop

Photo By: Hatch Family Chocolates

Photo By: Sarah Bossert

Photo By: Smart Shanghai

Photo By: Five Daughters Bakery

Photo By: Erin Gifford ©Erin Gifford

Ocean City, N.J.

There’s no place like the beach for indulging a sweet tooth. A short walk along the boardwalk will turn up at least a dozen shops selling everything from soft serve ice cream to chocolate fudge, even funnel cake. A recent InfoGroup survey ranked Ocean City, N.J. as the top U.S. town for sweets lovers given the number of bakeries, candy shops and ice cream parlors around town. Make a stop at Shriver’s on the boardwalk for a beach town must, salt water taffy. Another can’t-miss spot is Aunt Betty’s Ice Cream Shack. Yum-o.

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

It’s been called the unofficial national food and the place to get your donut fix when in Canada is St. Catharines, Ontario. With more donut shops per capita than any other country in the world, donut lovers may have a hard time choosing where to go and which kind to choose. You can’t go wrong at award-winning Beechwood Doughnuts, which offers nearly 20 different donuts each day, including lemon poppy seed and apple fritter, a favorite donut variety in Canada.

Zurich, Switzerland

It should come as no surprise to see Zurich on a list of top cities for sweets lovers. Home to Lindt & Sprungli, one of the most famous chocolatiers in the world, chocolate truffles are for sale on nearly every corner. Whether you prefer milk chocolate or dark chocolate, be sure to take in the smells at the factory outlet before indulging in free chocolate samples. No wonder the Chocolate Manufacturers Association ranks Switzerland as leading the world in chocolate consumption at 18.1 pounds per person.

Long Beach, California

Ice cream lovers, go west to Long Beach, California where residents eat more ice cream than those in any other city in the country. Try Long Beach Creamery, an ice cream shop known for its organic, handcrafted ice cream. Go for flavors not found anywhere else, like goat cheese whiskey fig and blueberry donut. Stop in for a scoop, a pint or even an ice cream cake, which comes with step-by-step care instructions. Another local favorite is Paradis where a scoop of salted caramel fudge is absolute heaven.

Orlando, Florida

The Dole Whip may be tops at Walt Disney World, but there are many more sweet treats to be found in Orlando. Shari’s Berries recently ranked Orlando as the top city for sweet tooths given the variety of cupcake shops, ice cream parlors and candy stores around town. Try Blue Bird Bake Shop, a retro-style bakery boasting treats like chocolate cherry cordial cupcakes and butterscotch pecan blondies. Or, visit Se7en Bites for handmade whoopee pies and Swiss rolls.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Chocolate shops abound in Salt Lake City, especially artisan chocolates, which have really taken off in the last five to 10 years in Utah. So, can it come as any surprise that The Hershey Co. named Utah the Sweet Tooth Capital of America? While Twizzlers are tops in Salt Lake City, it’s the chocolate shops, like Hatch Family Chocolates and Cummings Studio Chocolates, that really draw the crowds. Go for boxed chocolates, frozen hot chocolate, chocolate milkshakes, even chocolate-dipped caramel apples.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Denmark consistently ranks among the happiest nations in the world. Maybe it’s because they also eat more candy than those living in any other country (36 pounds per year). Among their favorite sweets is flodeboller, a chocolate-covered cream puff, which is tops in Copenhagen. Many bakeries sell flodeboller, but Laura Berg at The Copenhagen Tales taste-tested this treat to save you time and shared where to get the best flodeboller in Copenhagen (spoiler: her clear winners were Mette Blomsterberg and Lagkagehuset).

Shanghai, China

Home to one of China’s oldest and largest ice cream factories, Yi Min No.1 Foods, it was a must to include Shanghai on a list of top cities for sweet tooths. One-third of all in cream bought around the world is consumed in China. Try Pree, a sophisticated ice cream “lounge” that boasts soft serve flavors like lemon grass ginger and porter beer. Another top pick is Gracie’s. Flavors range from the traditional, like rocky road, to signature flavors with a twist, like black sesame & honey. Even better, they deliver.

Franklin, Tennessee

With more bakeries than nearly any other city in the U.S., Franklin is the place to go for baked treats, like cupcakes and donuts, even paleo donuts. Head to Five Daughters Bakery to get your sugar fix while in town. Specialty flavors vary by week, but include peaches & cream and peanut butter & jealous. There’s even a live Donut Cam on their website to get up close and personal with the donuts of the day. If you fancy pies instead, head to Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop for Nancy’s Pecan Pie.

Myrtle Beach, SC

For colorful sugar shops that sell all kinds of candies, from jellybeans to bubble gum to gummy bears, head to Myrtle Beach. Home to both I Love Sugar and IT'SUGAR, you’ll find more candy inside each shop than you’ve ever seen. They’ve got giant versions of favorites, like Kit Kat bars and Air Heads, as well as international treats, like Pocky, chocolate-covered biscuit sticks from Japan. Kid may find themselves walking the stores wide-eyed taking in all the sweet deliciousness, but then, so will adults.

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Top 10 Cities for People With a Sweet Tooth

Shop This Look

Ocean City, N.J.

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Zurich, Switzerland

Long Beach, California

Orlando, Florida

Salt Lake City, Utah

Copenhagen, Denmark

Shanghai, China

Franklin, Tennessee

Myrtle Beach, SC

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