USA TODAY 10Best
Find your new favorite treat spot: 10 best chains across the US
Best Dessert / Treat Chain (2024)
When it comes to enjoying a yummy treat, national chains across the country are quite appealing. These 10 stores and restaurants have been selected by a panel of experts and voted by readers as the best in the U.S. because they offer convenience, consistency, and a variety of options.
Whether it's a tasty cupcake, a scoop of ice cream, or a warm cookie, customers consistently return to these spots to indulge in their favorite sweets.
- Krispy Kreme
- Culver's
- Nothing Bundt Cakes
- Tim Hortons
- Cold Stone Creamery
- Baked by Melissa
- Insomnia Cookies
- Marble Slab Creamery
- Baskin-Robbins
- Crumbl Cookies
Photo courtesy of bhofack2 // Getty Images
No. 10:
Krispy Kreme's mission is to "make the most awesome doughnuts on the planet every single day," and their sweet airy treats are pretty spectacular, especially when fresh and warm. Each retail shop makes approximately 16 million iced, glazed, filled, cake, and limited-time specialty doughnuts every year.
Photo courtesy of Tomsmith585 // Getty Images
No. 9:
A Midwestern favorite expanding across the country, Culver's fresh frozen custard is richer than ice cream and is made right in each restaurant every day. Enjoy it as a simple scoop, topped with hot fudge and other goodies, or incorporated in Concrete Mixers, malts, shakes, or root beer floats.
Photo courtesy of m-imagephotography / iStock / Getty Images Plus
No. 8:
Just as the name says, you can find your ideal bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes. Flavors include lemon, carrot, snickerdoodle, confetti, and classic vanilla, among others. Cakes come in a range of sizes (8-inch, 10-inch, and tiered) alongside smaller Bundtlets and even tinier Bundtinis by the dozen.
No. 7:
Tim Hortons is well-known for its delicious doughnuts — think honey crullers, vanilla dip doughnuts, and Boston cream confections, among others. But you also can get cookies, croissants, muffins, and fritters.
Photo courtesy of William Chua // Getty Images
No. 6:
Cold Stone has coined the "10-minute vacation," when customers get into watching the brand's signature preparation of a custom ice cream creation mixed on a frozen granite stone, then enjoy the icy fruits of the singing staff's labor. Ice cream is freshly made in each store and mixed with your choice of cake, fruit, nuts and candy, so you can have an apple pie a la mode or an Oreo overload of delicious fun.
Photo courtesy of Baked by Melissa
No. 5:
The handcrafted bite-size treats from Baked by Melissa allow you to have your (cup)cake and eat it, too. Choose signature mini cupcakes in chocolate, vanilla, tie-dye, or red velvet, or consider colorful, double-stuffed macarons made with almond flour, which are naturally gluten-free.
Photo courtesy of Insomnia Cookies
No. 4:
With more than 200 brick-and-mortar shops and delivery of warm, melty cookies, Insomnia Cookies cures what ails you in the middle of the night. Fans appreciate consistency of quality across the locations and the fact that one can get warm brownies and cookies, cold milk, and ice cream sandwiches up to 3 a.m.
No. 3:
Marble Slab Creamery's fresh, small batch ice cream has been satisfying cravings since 1983, turning customers into ice cream artists as they choose free mix-ins for their chilly masterpieces. Offering hand-rolled waffle cones, shakes, and ice cream cakes, too, the creamery originated the frozen slab technique.
Photo courtesy of Baskin-Robbins
No. 2:
Since 1945, Baskin-Robbins has been inviting ice cream lovers to make any day a celebration with a scoop or two of any of its many flavors (more than 1,400 nowadays), from Triple Mango to "Mom's Makin' Cookies." Eyes widen at the array of options at more than 2,400 locations in the U.S. which are locally owned and operated.
No. 1:
Two cousins tirelessly tested recipes until they created what they thought was the world’s best chocolate chip cookie, and the first Crumbl store debuted in Logan, Utah, in 2017. Expect that award-winning milk chocolate chip cookie on every menu across all 50 states as well as chilled pink sugar cookies and others inspired by desserts like brownies, cake batter, and dulce de leche.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
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The Experts
Allison Levine
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Allison Levine is the owner of Please The Palate, a boutique agency specializing in marketing and event planning for the wine and spirits industry. With over 15 years of experience in communications, marketing, and event planning, Allison is passionate about the world around her and the diverse people in it. Allison holds a master’s degree in international communications with a focus on cross-cultural training from the American University School of International Service and holds a WSET Level 3 Certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). As an industry expert, she has worked with wine regions around the world. She has traveled extensively and has lived abroad in Italy, Spain, and Mexico where she developed her passion for food and wine. Her work allows her to live life to the fullest and, as a freelance writer, Allison communicates her experiences in articles, as well as in her blog. Allison is the US Host for the international podcast Wine Soundtrack where she interviews winemakers and gets to know them in 30 questions, and she is co-host of the YouTube wine series Crush On This. Her website is www.pleasethepalate.com and you can follow her on Instagram @plsthepalate.
Allison Levine
Allison Levine is the owner of Please The Palate, a boutique agency specializing in marketing and event planning for the wine and spirits industry. With over 15 years of experience in communications, marketing, and event planning, Allison is passionate about the world around her and the diverse people in it. Allison holds a master’s degree in international communications with a focus on cross-cultural training from the American University School of International Service and holds a WSET Level 3 Certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). As an industry expert, she has worked with wine regions around the world. She has traveled extensively and has lived abroad in Italy, Spain, and Mexico where she developed her passion for food and wine. Her work allows her to live life to the fullest and, as a freelance writer, Allison communicates her experiences in articles, as well as in her blog. Allison is the US Host for the international podcast Wine Soundtrack where she interviews winemakers and gets to know them in 30 questions, and she is co-host of the YouTube wine series Crush On This. Her website is www.pleasethepalate.com and you can follow her on Instagram @plsthepalate.
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Carly Caramanna
Carly Caramanna has a passion for covering the latest in unique food, travel, and theme park trends. Growing up in the carb-filled land of bagels and pizza by the slice (aka New Jersey), her parents instilled a love of all things adventure and food. Featured on CNN Business, BBC, NPR, MSN, Huffington Post, and host of the Attractions Magazine podcast, she uses her expertise as a contributor to Travel + Leisure, Business Insider, Delish, and many more. www.adventuresbycarly.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/adventuresbycarly/ X: https://twitter.com/CarlyCaramanna
Jamie Davis Smith
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Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at jamiesmithwrites@gmail.com.
Kristin Luna
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Kristin Luna is a Nashville-based travel writer who has contributed to Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, USA TODAY, Southern Living and many more. You can follow her adventures via her blog Camels & Chocolate or on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Kristin Luna
Kristin Luna is a Nashville-based travel writer who has contributed to Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, USA TODAY, Southern Living and many more. You can follow her adventures via her blog Camels & Chocolate or on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Marilyn Johnson
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Marilyn Johnson is an award-winning Philadelphia area-based food and travel writer focusing on the greater Mid-Atlantic region. Marilyn founded Philly Grub in 2008 and South Jersey Food Scene in 2019. Her work has appeared on MSN, NewsBreak, Philadelphia Today, Cherry Hill Neighbors, New Jersey Monthly, and other online publications. She is a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier Philadelphia, a society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, beverage, and hospitality.
Marla Cimini
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Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
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Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Melissa Curtin
Melisa Curtin is a travel and food writer who has... Read More
Melisa Curtin is a travel and food writer who has documented her globetrotting adventures for over a decade. A Connecticut girl madly in love with California, her work has appeared in Lonely Planet, LA Weekly, Canadian Traveler, AAA, Roadtrippers, JohnnyJet, Travel Awaits, and many southern California print publications. Melissa is always on the hunt for the best local bites and destinations with few tourists, splitting her non-travel time between Malibu and Palm Springs with her husband and ever-growing collection of plants. Traveling around the world at age 20 on Semester at Sea sparked Melissa's desire for learning about other cultures. As a 20+ year educator and new travel advisor with Fora, she inspires others to reach their goals and pursue their travel dreams. Some of her recent favorite jaunts include a Viking river cruise from Paris to Normandy with her mom, truffle hunting in Tuscany, and eating her way through Florence. Get to know the Best of L.A. and California by checking out her website LaLaScoop.com or following the @lalascoop on Instagram.
Melissa Curtin
Melisa Curtin is a travel and food writer who has documented her globetrotting adventures for over a decade. A Connecticut girl madly in love with California, her work has appeared in Lonely Planet, LA Weekly, Canadian Traveler, AAA, Roadtrippers, JohnnyJet, Travel Awaits, and many southern California print publications. Melissa is always on the hunt for the best local bites and destinations with few tourists, splitting her non-travel time between Malibu and Palm Springs with her husband and ever-growing collection of plants. Traveling around the world at age 20 on Semester at Sea sparked Melissa's desire for learning about other cultures. As a 20+ year educator and new travel advisor with Fora, she inspires others to reach their goals and pursue their travel dreams. Some of her recent favorite jaunts include a Viking river cruise from Paris to Normandy with her mom, truffle hunting in Tuscany, and eating her way through Florence. Get to know the Best of L.A. and California by checking out her website LaLaScoop.com or following the @lalascoop on Instagram.
Melody Pittman
Melody Pittman is the owner and creator of Read More
Melody Pittman is the owner and creator of Wherever I May Roam Blog and is co-owner of the Southern Travelers Explore annual conference, in its 4th year, which brings CVBS and writers/influencers together from all over the country. She is a digital influencer and writes for both online and print publications, such as Travel Awaits, Charleston Home and Living Magazine, Matador Network, She Buys Travel, and more. Melody has worked with major brands during her nine-year career, such as Viking River Cruises, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Disney, hundreds of tourism boards, and GO RVing. Melody’s first book “100 Things to Do in West Virginia Before You Die” was released in the spring of 2023. She has a podcast, 100ThingsWV, and social channels to go along with the book. Melody loves road trips, small towns, cruising, and sharing lesser-known destinations with her followers via TikTok, Youtube, IG, and FB. After a year of full-time RV travel, she now resides in Mesquite, Nevada.
Melody Pittman
Melody Pittman is the owner and creator of Wherever I May Roam Blog and is co-owner of the Southern Travelers Explore annual conference, in its 4th year, which brings CVBS and writers/influencers together from all over the country. She is a digital influencer and writes for both online and print publications, such as Travel Awaits, Charleston Home and Living Magazine, Matador Network, She Buys Travel, and more. Melody has worked with major brands during her nine-year career, such as Viking River Cruises, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Disney, hundreds of tourism boards, and GO RVing. Melody’s first book “100 Things to Do in West Virginia Before You Die” was released in the spring of 2023. She has a podcast, 100ThingsWV, and social channels to go along with the book. Melody loves road trips, small towns, cruising, and sharing lesser-known destinations with her followers via TikTok, Youtube, IG, and FB. After a year of full-time RV travel, she now resides in Mesquite, Nevada.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
