Where to Indulge in the Berkshires’ Sweetest Treats

Eat Dessert First!

Why wait until after dinner to enjoy a sweet treat? It is time to embrace the afternoon snack culture—fika, merenda, gouter, lanche, teatime— that is the norm in many other regions of the world, and taking time for a treat provides the perfect refreshment between hiking, shopping, and “culturing” in the Berkshires on a summer day.

Providing window service only (which often means roadside with some tables) experience, the Craft Food Barn in North Adams offers a range of sweet treats, including “daily creation” donuts, cookies and pastries, and a dairy bar. Breakfast is served all day, and there is a healthy selection of acai bowls if you need to switch out your ice cream for something tasty and cold.

For ice cream aficionados, the afternoon is your time to shine! And there is a plethora of cold treat offerings across the Berkshires, including the Farmstead Creamery Shop at High Lawn Farm in Lee. Enjoy “farm-to-cone” fare on the idyllic grounds of the historic dairy farm. The black raspberry is not to be missed, and the ginger has gained somewhat of a cult following in local grocery stores and restaurants. Just down the road from the jersey girls, Chocolate Springs in Lenox has some of the most incredible gelato this side of the Mediterranean. With flavors like Sicilian pistachio, mint, strawberry, and vanilla brownie, not to mention gelato macarons and mango sorbet, this café is a welcome oasis after a hike at Kennedy Park or a visit to the Arcadian Shop.

Responding to the relentless demand for the cold elixir of summer, Lanesborough Local Country Store, in you-guessed-it, Lanesborough, has recently opened Sweet Shoppe that includes Sunday (as in sundae) Socials from 12pm to 2pm. Their mouth-watering options include waffle sundaes, old-fashioned sundaes, fruit smoothies, oversized cupcakes, and whoopie pies. Not surprisingly, the peanut butter pie is often sold out. But we won’t stop trying. 

While ice cream tends to get center stage during the short Berkshires summers, the pastry culture—especially custom donuts—is strong with croissants, cupcakes, and pie. Shire Donuts in Dalton, offers fresh, made-to-order donuts, on the weekends (look for their new location in Lenox opening soon). You can watch your order being made right in front of you, or order online for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday pick-up. Flavors include Samoa (yes, that’s right THE Samoa of Girl Scout cookie fame), lemon pie, maple & bacon, and the classics like powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, and plain for the dunkers out there. In fact, let’s not leave out the potent accomplice to these decadent pastry spots: coffee. At the Southfield Store in the gorgeously quintessential village of New Marlborough, the espresso drinks menu is as robust as the sweet treats offerings of out-of-this-world homemade baked goods like chocolate banana bread, gooey cinnamon rolls, carrot cake, cookies, and Danishes for miles. A constant breeze and ample outdoor seating make this quiet place the perfect stop when you’re out exploring the woods and meadows and classic barns of this New England town known for its prolific artists and community gatherings. 

Tea & Boba Lounge, Williamstown, wild boba creations perfect for an afternoon treat. The Sweet Summer boba with watermelon and rose syrup, Vietnamese pour over, coconut & cream with milk foam and coconut water and a whole array of matcha lattes.

Find more great places to indulge your sweet tooth in the Berkshires with our online or printed guide! 

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