Dynamic duos in desserts take many forms: pie à la mode, chocolate and peanut butter, and our favorite, alcohol in sweet treats. The bookends of the meal -- the beverage and the closer -- need some fusing, showcasing, and devouring.
For a list so sweet and spiked it goes straight to your head (and your cavities), we present Miami's ten best boozy desserts. Caution: This list might contain enough simultaneous pleasure to melt your listicle.
10. Drunken Cupcake at Sweetcakes Edibles
The drunken cupcake of the day is a lot like Drunk Uncle: While entertaining and enjoyable, it doesn't fit quite in among the other more conservative relatives. This precious pink cupcake looks innocent enough, but don't let the raspberry frosting fool you -- this cupcake contains a strong kick of vodka. Alcohol, often a social lubricant, also moistens the average cupcake. Look for other boozed-up flavors such as bananas and cream mojito and Kahlúa raspberry chai.
9. Spiked Sorbet at Serendipity Yogurt Café
A kosher frozen-yogurt shop may not initially scream dessert to get you buzzed. However, Serendipity Yogurt Café in Surfside offers an array of spiked sorbets. Our current favorite is the pear Riesling, so delicate and refined. Enjoy the gentle graininess of the pear and the sweetness of the wine against the backdrop of an icy treat.
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8. Spiked Popsicles at Feverish Pops
A spiked popsicle brings back the innocence of your youth and couples it with the advantages of age (duh, you can drink) in the most delightful way. Another advantage of age: freedom of choice! You can decide if you want your popsicle dipped in chocolate, rolled in nuts, or prepared with any other variety of toppings that tickle your fancy.
7. Rum Raisin Adult Shake at Bourbon Steak
Sitting at the soda fountain bar with a vanilla malt just isn't as sexy as lounging at a sleek bar in an award-winning restaurant while taking in an adult milkshake one sip at a time. The rum raisin shake features Appleton rum and plump raisins. Other adult shakes offered include the minty grasshoper and the malted bourbon.
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6. Buttery Nipple Donut from Josh's Delicatessen and Appetizing
A buttery nipple shot is a rite of passage at college bars everywhere, and it's just so much fun to say. Imagine that same satisfaction but now you get to order it in the morning and afternoon alongside your bagel and lox. One bite yields sweet Irish cream and butterscotch for the ultimate indulgence. If these doughnuts are on the rotation, be sure to cop a feel order one or two.
5. Spiked Frrrozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity 3
We previously featured the spiked version of this oh-so-famous dessert, and it is well worth another mention. Frrrozen Hot Chocolate is worthy of its three r's, and all three spiked flavors deserve some love. From the Black Nijinsky, with vodka and Kahlúa, to the raspberry flavor that comes with a side shot of raspberry liqueur in case one boozy shake isn't enough for you. Brain freeze combined with light headiness is a winning combination.
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4. Warm Sticky Icky Bun at Swine Southern Table & Bar
In a surprising turn of events, warm buns are better than hot ones. And do you know what makes them even better? Bourbon, maple, toffee, candied bacon, pecan butter, and sweet potato pie ice cream. This dessert is over-the-top, and while it can seem like the booze is a bit lost in the mix, it is all a part of an even greater dessert plan.
3. Rum Raisin Ice Cream at Azucar Ice Cream Company
Yes, Azucar makes many of our lists, but that's because this shop churns out an array of fantastic flavors to suit any need. Like a good booze enthusiast, we recently asked for a double as we stuck to the alcohol-infused flavors. The rum raisin ice cream offers a stiff scoop that we topped off with the Beam Me Up, featuring Jim Beam and Heath bars mixed in.
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2. Champagne Sorbet at Frieze Ice Cream Factory
Popping bottles all night in South Beach is nice and all, but sometimes you need to change it up. When the heat is beating down, treat yourself to the most refreshingly light and luxurious dessert: champagne sorbet. You can taste the delicateness of the grapes in this divine dessert, which will have you waiting for it to melt just so you can sip any remaining drops.
1. Warm Malva Pud at NeMesis Urban Bistro
The exotic meat at NeMisis is just the beginning. The malva pud is a dessert showstopper. This version of the South African dessert features amarula and piri piri caramel sauce. Amarula is a South African spirit made from marula trees most famous for allegedly getting elephants drunk. Elephant tranquilizer or not, this is one powerful liqueur and dessert. The piri piri adds some intense heat to the dish. And the rooibos gelato that tops this boozy doozy makes it perfectly balanced. The tea gelato sobers us back up like a strong cup of coffee, and the milkiness cools the spiciness of the chili-caramel sauce. This is the ultimate and most complex alcoholic dessert, with sweet, spicy, warm, icy, and creamy all present.
Want access to our Best Of picks from your smartphone? Download our free Best Of app for the iPhone or Android phone from the App Store or Google Play. Don't forget to check out the full Best of Miami® online at bestof.voiceplaces.com.
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