Ah, Ann Arbor. Or as it’s known to many: A Squared. As the daughter of a University of Michigan alum, it was time to fly out for a tour of the school I’ve grown up rooting for. So rather than write about some of the classic standards (i.e. Zingerman's), I set my sites on exploring some of the sweet spots on campus. At each place, I discovered some of the best desserts in Ann Arbor.
1. Sweeting
With almost record breaking mild temperatures during my visit (69 degrees in mid-February), my sweet cravings led me straight to refreshing ice cream and bubble tea. For those New Yorkers familiar with 10Below, this is Ann Arbor’s version of rolled ice cream. I ordered the Funky Monkey, a to-die-for combination of banana and Nutella, that I topped with strawberries, bananas, and chocolate syrup. Also, their bubble tea is a nice, sweet drink alternative. The lavender/rose with boba is a cool and refreshing choice.
2. Rod's Diner
Next stop on the dessert trail was Rod’s Diner, a quirky late-night place that serves Korean fare with delicious frozen yogurt concoctions. They offer “Colliders” which are like DQ Blizzards. You can order your Collider with up to 5 toppings that can be blended in, or if you're not into that, you can opt for a simple cup of soft serve.
The choice of toppings? There's 40 amazing options, including fruit, cereal, and the freshest cookie dough I have ever tasted. All you have to do is check off your topping choices on a slip of paper that you fill out to place your order.
3. Cupcake Station
For those who feel the cupcake fad is “over,” you need to restore your faith in the cupcake with a visit to Cupcake Station. Choices of regular and mini-sized cupcakes range in flavors from What’s Up Doc? (carrot cake), Party Time (birthday cake), to my hands-down favorite: Salted Caramel Pretzel Crunch. The frosting is a delectable combination of smooth caramel buttercream rolled in crushed pretzels and drizzled with caramel and chocolate.
Everything is super fresh, and there are also delicious vegan options. If you are touring over a weekend, go on Sunday and you’ll be able to take the treats home to your family with this great deal: $3 off a regular 6 pack of cupcakes.
4. Schakolad Chocolate Factory
The moment you open their doors, the aroma of chocolate fills your senses...and your soul. Seriously. The chocolate is overwhelming in the best way possible. And although Schakolad Chocolate Factory is a little pricey, the quality of the dessert is worth it. Super creamy and made daily, the white chocolate oreo bark and the milk chocolate krispie square are two items that are sure to make your tastebuds do a happy dance.
5. Stucchi's
Stucchi's is a tried and true, traditional spot that has been around for over 30 years. Located very close to Michigan’s “Diag", this shop offers a solid variation of ice cream flavors, as well as yummy, solid frozen yogurt. I sampled two ice creams (banana pudding and mint chip) and chocolate peanut butter frozen yogurt. They were fantastic, obviously. A fun fact about Stucchi's that when it rains or snows, they will give you free sprinkles. As the sign reads: “Sprinkles when it Sprinkles!”
College touring takes a lot of stamina, so having a continuous sugar fix definitely helps. Aside from stellar academics, a beautiful campus, and sensational spirit, Ann Arbor is sure to satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth craving. With so many options, it offers something delicious for every dessert lover.