15 Amazing Desserts You Need To Try In Sonoma County

Sometimes dessert gets short shrift. After a big meal, waving away the dessert menu happens more often than not — but it’s time to embrace your inner sweet tooth. Read on for 15 of our favorite sugary goodies.

Chocolate Lava Cake, Lazeaway Cafe at the Flamingo Resort: Cake with a gooey chocolate middle is great, but add coconut salted caramel, caramelized pineapple and vanilla ice cream and you've got a tropical treat. 2777 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, 707-545-8530

Crostata, Kina's Kitchen & Bar: Seasonal fruit is tenderly encased by buttery crust and topped by creme fraiche and ice cream at the former Picazo Kitchen. 19101 Highway 12, Sonoma, 707-935-3287 

Chocolate Hazelnut Croissant, Stellina Pronto: Think Nutella stuffed into a crisp croissant that threatens to shatter deliciously into your lap with every bite. A powdered sugar shower and chocolate drizzle make it perfetto. 23 Kentucky St., Petaluma, 707-789-9556

106 Grand, The Matheson: Chef Dustin Valette and Matheson Pastry Chef Skyler Spitz love a good twist on a classic candy bar. Their 106 Grand Bar is filled with caramel and chocolate mousse and coated with a thin chocolate shell and candied cocoa nibs. A pool of sweet-tart passion fruit caramel sauce takes this from grand to grandiose. 106 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-723-1106 

Peanut Butter Miso Cookies, Psychic Pie: Though savory miso (fermented soybean paste) sounds like an odd ingredient for cookies, it works perfectly with peanut butter for a sweet, nutty and savory cookie for car eating (if you’re taking home some pizza) or a late-afternoon treat. 980 Gravenstein Highway S., Sebastopol, 707-827-6032 

Bonbons, Fleur Sauvage Chocolates: Pastry Chef Robert Nieto's bite-sized chocolate bonbons are little works of candy art, flavored with fruit and chocolate ganache. His Windsor storefront is a chocolate wonderland. 370 Windsor River Road, Windsor, 707-892-2162

Mochi Doughnuts, Altamont General Store: You won't miss the gluten in these flourless mochi donuts from Occidental. 3703 Main St., Occidental, 707-874-6053

Chocolate Mini Cakes, Americana: We wouldn't say these are exactly like the Hostess Ding Dongs we had as kids, because they're way better. But rich chocolate cake filled with cream takes us way back. 205 5th St. Suite A, Sonoma, 707-755-1548

Mini Donuts, River Vine Cafe: Warm cinnamon sugared donuts aren't complete without a dunk of applejack spiked custard sauce. Chef Casey Stone also has a daily slice of pie a la mode if you're craving more sweets. 4350 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, 707-527-7687

Burnt Cheesecake, Animo: This light-as-a-cloud alternative to dense New York-style cheesecake gets gooey and caramelized in the oven in true Basque tradition. 18976 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma

Golden Mylk Chai Roll, Magdelena’s Savories & Sweets: This vegan bakery creates monster sweet rolls made with caramelized coconut milk, cardamom, black pepper, turmeric and coconut sugar with vegan Chai cream cheese on top. 5306 Old Redwood Highway N., Petaluma, 707-665-0644

Sprinkled Doughnuts, Johnny Doughnuts: Made with potato flour, these fluffy little nuggets of happiness can brighten the gloomiest day. 1200 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-308-4836

Caramel Crack Ice Cream, Angela's Ice Cream: Rich frozen cream studded with saltine cracker chocolate caramel crunch. Addictive? Yup. 1390 N. McDowell Blvd. E., Petaluma, 707-981-6910

Chai Shortbread Cookie, Cookie Take a Bite!: Shortbread is perfect on its own, but add some warm spices and you'll be nibbling these in bed with a warm glass of milk. 430 Larkfield Center, Santa Rosa, 707-291-1785

Strawberry Mississippi Mud Pie, Noble Folk Ice Cream and Pie: Strawberry and chocolate atop an Oreo crust with strawberry whipped cream. I don't think we have to say anything else. Scrumptastic. 539 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-978-3392

Written by Heather Irwin