Chocolate Cake at JL Patisserie
The brainchild of Belgium-born and French-trained pastry chef Jenna Leurquin, JL (her initials) is a French-inspired bakery specializing in high-end pies, cakes, breads, croissants, danish, macarons, madeleines, and jams. Among the most crave-worthy items on her regular menu is this cake. The base is dark chocolate, and it is topped with both milk chocolate ganache and dark chocolate glaze. Garnished with cocoa nibs and edible gold, we recommend ordering it ahead as it sells out daily. $40. 7342 E. Shea Blvd.; JLPatisserie.com
Caramel Apple Swirl Cheesecake at Proof Canteen
Like its main menu, Proof’s dessert menu—created under the guidance of the award-winning Executive Chef Chuck Kazme—is meant to transport guests on a cross-country road trip down the main streets of America, one bite at a time. Focused on offering elevated takes on home-style desserts, there are options such as homemade ice cream; a sundae and milkshake bar; giant cookies; banana bread; s’mores; and this mouthwatering (and gluten-free) pairing of caramel swirl cheesecake and fire-roasted apple chutney, complemented by whipped crème fraiche and a brown sugar oat crunch. $12. 10600 E. Crescent Moon Drive; ProofCanteen.com
Chocolate Orange at Geordie’s Restaurant
Geordie’s Restaurant at Wrigley Mansion is home base for Jolie Skwiercz. Known for her edible dessert sculptures as head pastry chef at the Sheraton Hotel Downtown Phoenix and sumptuous sweets at both We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort and Café Monarch, Skwiercz brought her distinctive talent to Wrigley Mansion in 2021. The ever-changing menu takes advantage of her avant-garde approach with whimsical re-imaginings of beloved flavor pairings, including this dark chocolate cake with Tahitian vanilla bean and chocolate sorbet, Grand Marnier-infused orange sauce, caramel corn, and mandarin oranges. $12. 2501 E Telawa Trail; WrigleyMansion.com
