Decadent desserts and sweet treats are a special part of the holiday season. Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without peppermint candy canes, sugary cookies, frosted cakes, and other festive sweets. So, we’ve compiled a list of the best, the sweetest, the richest, the most irresistible holiday treats you can find in Franklin during the holidays. But we must warn you, reading this blog may cause overwhelming dessert cravings…sorry! Not sorry (haha). Keep on scrolling to find your favorite holiday craving, and come visit our mountain this December. We’re happy to share.
Christmas Cookies & Cupcakes
If your sweet tooth is craving traditional holiday sweets, then Renee’s Cake Shoppe on Main Street is the place to go. This holiday season, they feature a moist Sugar Cookie Cupcake, complete with a mini sugar cookie gingerbread man on top, and perfectly baked little Peppermint Macarons. This decadent bakery also offers holiday versions of Red Velvet Cupcakes and Sugar Cookies. Put it into your GPS right now, and satisfy that sweet tooth!
Festive Donuts
Imagine waking up to a beautiful view of the mountains outside your cabin’s bedroom window, the aroma of a fresh pot of coffee wafting throughout the rental and on the table waits the best sweet donuts ever. In Franklin, a locally-owned bakery is always a favorite for that sweet craving with the holiday flair. Just Donuts is a local favorite worth traveling for, and their melt-in-your-mouth donuts are sure to become one of your Christmas traditions after one taste. There’s a Boston Cream Christmas Tree, a Raspberry Snowman, and even a Strawberries & Cream filled creation!
Winter Berry Tart
Start with a warm puff pastry. Fill it with apples, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Then top it with vanilla ice cream and a bright red raspberry coulis. Voila! You have the decadent Winter Berry Tart from Gracious Plates On Main. This local spot on Main Street offers a great selection of wine pairings for everything on their menu, so ask your server about the perfect wine to enjoy with this refreshing holiday dessert. Yep, wine and dessert is a thing at Gracious Plates in Franklin.
Gingerbread Scones
It’s no secret that gingerbread is one of the most beloved holiday flavors. We make houses out of the sweet stuff, then eat them! So, don’t be surprised that one of our most beloved bakeries in Franklin incorporated gingerbread into a holiday specialty. The Gingerbread Scones at Bent Willow Bakeshop have just the right amount of ginger spice and are topped with homemade icing and sprinkled with sugar. These little scones are packed with big holiday flavor, so be prepared to eat more than one!
Warm Chocolate Lava Cake with Peppermint Ice Cream
Calling all chocolate lovers! JR Chophouse has the holy grail of all chocolate holiday desserts this month, and you don’t want to miss it! This Chocolate Lava Cake is served warm, with chocolatey goodness just oozing out of it. It’s also served with peppermint ice cream, for that perfect contrast of warm and gooey alongside cold and creamy. This dessert is truly the picture of decadence this holiday season, and we’re willing to bet that it tastes as good as it looks.
Pastel de Tres Leches
Franklin has been influenced by a variety of cultures over the decades, but one of our favorite holiday dessert influencers is undoubtedly La Toluca Bakery and its Pastel de Tres Leches. La Toluca makes a beautifully-crafted version of this traditional “Three Milk Cake” during the holidays, and we have a feeling that it might be difficult to eat just one piece! The bakery is open seven days a week, so stop in any time to ask about one of these sweet creations!
Well, now you’ve seen some of the best sweet treats Franklin has to offer this Christmas season. The only question that’s left is, which one will you try first? Check out all of the great dining options in town, and make your holiday plans today!
