Chocolate Lava Cake, Lazeaway Cafe at Flamingo Resort: A gooey chocolate cake is great, but add salted coconut caramel, caramelized pineapple and vanilla ice cream and you have a tropical treat. 2777 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, 707-545-8530, Flamingoresort.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Crostata, Kina’s kitchen and bar: Seasonal fruits are tenderly coated in a buttery crust and topped with fresh cream and old-fashioned Picazo kitchen ice cream. 19101 Highway 12, Sonoma, 707-935-3287, kinaskitchenbar.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Chocolate Hazelnut Croissant, Stellina Pronto: Think Nutella stuffed into a crunchy croissant that threatens to shatter deliciously in your lap with every bite. A shower of powdered sugar and a drizzle of chocolate make it perfect. 23 Kentucky St., Petaluma, 707-789-9556, stellinaproto.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
106 Grand, The Matheson: Chef Dustin Valette and Pastry Chef Matheson Skyler Spitz love to twist a classic candy bar. Their 106 Grand Bar is filled with caramel and chocolate mousse and coated in a thin shell of chocolate and candied cocoa nibs. A pool of sweet and tangy caramel and passion fruit sauce takes this from grand to grand. 106 Matheson Street, Healdsburg, 707-723-1106, thematheson.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Peanut Butter Miso Cookies, Psychic Pie: Although salty miso (fermented soybean paste) looks like a weird cookie ingredient, it works perfectly with peanut butter for a sweet, nutty, salty cookie to eat in the car (if you’re bringing home a pizza). or a treat in the late afternoon. 980 Gravenstein Highway S., Sevastopol, 707-827-6032, psychicpie.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Sweets, Chocolates Fleur Sauvage: Pastry chef Robert Nieto’s chocolate bites are sweet little works of art, flavored with fruit and chocolate ganache. Its Windsor storefront is a chocolate wonderland. 370 Windsor River Road, Windsor, 707-892-2162, fleursauvagechocolates.com. (Beth Schlanker / The Democrat of the Press)
Mochi Donuts, Altamont General Store: You won’t miss the gluten in these flourless mochi donuts from Occidental. 3703 Main St., Western, 707-874-6053, altamontgeneralstore.com. (Beth Schlanker/Sonoma Magazine)
Mini Chocolate Cakes, Americana: We wouldn’t say they’re exactly like the Hostess Ding Dongs we had when we were kids, because they’re so much better. The rich cream-filled chocolate cake takes us back. 205 5th St. Suite A, 707-755-1548, americanasr.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Mini Donuts, River Vine Cafe: Hot Cinnamon Sweet Donuts aren’t complete without a dip of apple custard sauce. Chef Casey Stone also offers a daily slice of pie a la mode if you’re craving more sweets. 4350 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, 707-527-7687, vintnersresort.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Burnt Cheesecake, Animo: This light, cloudy alternative to dense New York-style cheesecake becomes gooey and caramelized in the oven in true Basque fashion. 18976 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, instagram.com/animo_restaurant. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
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, magdelenas.square.site. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Sprinkled Donuts, Johnny Donuts: Made with potato flour, these chewy little nuggets of happiness can brighten up the darkest of days. 1200 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-308-4836, johnnydoughnuts.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Caramel crack ice cream, Angela’s ice cream: Rich ice cream sprinkled with salty chocolate and caramel crisp crackers. Addictive? Yeah. 1390 N. McDowell Blvd. E., Petaluma, 707-981-6910, lalasicecream.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Strawberry Mississippi Mud Pie, Noble Folk Pie and Ice Cream: Strawberry and chocolate on 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, thenoblefolk.com. (Courtesy of Noble Folk)
Chai Shortbread Cookie, Cookie Take a Bite! : Shortbread cookies are great on their own, but add a few hot spices and you’ll be snacking on them in bed with a glass of hot milk. 430 Larkfield Center, Santa Rosa, 707-291-1785, cookietakeabite.com. (John Burgess / The Democrat of the Press)
