Muffin Compares to You! 6 Venues to Find the Sweet Treat of Your Dreams

Did you know the word dessert comes from the French verb ‘desservir’, meaning to ‘clear the table’?

When dessert first appeared as part of our eating rituals, it was to allow the tables to be cleared for after-dinner activities – sweet meats and spiced wines were consumed standing up, away from the table.

Sugar was so important in medical practices of the past, that the saying ‘like an apothecary without sugar’ meant a state of utter desolation. Sugar was used for everything, from aiding digestion to preserving the body.

Whatever the reason, we all crave a sugar fix that only a sweet treat can fix; here are six of our fave places to indulge your senses and your palate:

Delicious bread that warms the heart along with pastries, sweet treats, toasties and rolls are on the menu at Hearthfire Bakery on Hyde Street in Bellingen. Owners Sally and Dave are passionate about not only bread but also sustainability, local ingredients and creating a sense of community; while a team of highly-skilled craftspeople lovingly create doughs turning them into loaves such as baguettes, ciabatta and spelt multigrain.

 

Pair a dandelion chai tea with an oat and raisin cookie, or rose pistachio brownie; perhaps a flaky and creamy vanilla slice is the indulgent treat you are looking for, or take home a frangipane tart for an easy weeknight family dessert. Those with a savoury bent, opt for a chicken and mushroom gourmet pie, or pulled pork and slaw roll; don’t forget to grab a loaf of spiced raisin bread for tomorrow’s toast at breakfast.

Noosa’s latest French offering, La Vie en Rose on Gympie Terrace in Noosaville is a crêperie with a twist. Formerly a popular crêpe cart on Hastings Street, this now bricks and mortar café boasts Parisian-style bistro table settings alfresco for soaking up rays and people-watching, while indoors resonates with the lively buzz of conversation as guests mingle over charcuterie and cheese platters with a wine in hand.

 

Breakfast-goers stop in for tempting crêpes such as juicy strawberries and Nutella, sprinkled with icing sugar, or go au naturel with sugar and butter; those savour lovers opt for a breaky galette with scrambled eggs, Swiss cheese, crispy bacon and fresh avocado. Perhaps wrap your hands around a Croque Madame with decadent mornay sauce, gooey cheese, ham and a fried egg.

Set on Elizabeth Street, McGinn’s of Kenilworth is a delightful café providing the ideal spot to sit back with a brew and bite and watch the world pass by. Take a seat alfresco under market umbrellas and relax amongst potted greenery, or head indoors where a warm and welcoming vibe of recycled timber awaits and cabinets overflow with all manner of temptations.

 

Take time to refuel and recharge for the day ahead with breakfast plates like pancakes with ice cream and maple syrup, or stop in for morning tea and pair your cappuccino with a slice of lemon and wild blueberry cake with cream cheese icing; choose from a daily changing array of muffins such as butterscotch and white chocolate or triple choc, while housemade scones, jam and cream always hit the mark.

Kangarilla locals and visitors to McLaren Vale head to Gourmet Gluten Free Bakery on Colbert Road for all manner of sweet temptations and freshly baked bread. The only gluten-free bakery in the area, this little gem is also the place to find awesome coffee to go with decadent brownies, vanilla slices and pies. Catering for most special dietary requirements, from dairy, lactose, soy and nut-free to vegetarians and vegans, this bakery delivers spectacular celebration cakes, or doughnut towers for that next special event or birthday.

 

Catch up with friends over coffee and an orange and poppyseed muffin, or chocolate hazelnut slice; brownie lovers are spoilt for choice with raspberry and pistachio along with rocky road on offer, or take home a pear, almond and ginger tart to treat the family. On the way out, grab a crusty loaf of sourdough bread, cheese and bacon loaf, or pumpkin and pepita for the school lunches.

Kingscliff has welcomed a new kind of fusion eatery that weaves together Filipino flavours with American toasted sandwiches and doughnuts at George’s Deli on Marine Parade. With a bright orange vibe inside and out, take a seat alfresco and soak up the sun, or head indoors where banquette seating awaits and tantalising aromas waft from the open kitchen.

 

Grab a sweet treat from the cabinet where a selection of doughnuts is sure to tempt, with a nod to the owners’ Filipino heritage expect flavours like ube, filled with bright purple cream made from yams. Get ready to pucker up for zesty, fluffy doughnuts filled with tangy lemon curd and topped with perfectly torched meringue, or the strawberry latte and Homer D’oh-nut duo – velvety smooth latte with a strawberry twist, topped with a freshly glazed, sprinkle-covered and so tasty doughnut.

Nestled next to Brighton Beach Railway Station, Lou’s On Hampton offers a chance to refuel on the way to the beach with shady seats outside and freshly baked pastries awaiting inside. The ideal spot for a quick bite or to linger over a cup of coffee with friends while catching up on the news of the day, team a latte with a housemade granola, roasted peaches and yoghurt, or a flaky chocolate and hazelnut Danish.

 

Freshly baked muffins such as poached rhubarb crumble never disappoint, or devour a zesty lemon tart with meringue and fresh raspberries; perhaps wrap your hands around a ham, lettuce, tomato and avocado sandwich on housemade sourdough, or chow down on a gourmet braised beef cheek and marrow bone pie with golden puff pastry and tender meat.