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Celebrate National Dessert Day With These Iconic Chicagoland Desserts
Did you know Chicagoland offers more than just deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs? This city has a serious sweet tooth, too. In fact, some of its most beloved desserts were born right here. With National Dessert Day coming up on October 14, our real estate agents think this is the perfect excuse to treat yourself to one of Chicago's iconic sweets. Below, we've rounded up a few of our favorites.
The Palmer House Brownie
Did you know that the brownie was invented right here, in downtown Chicago? The Palmer House brownie has been in production since the late 19th century,first appearing in print in the Sears Roebuck Catalog published in Chicago in 1898. It was even served at the Columbian Exposition World's Fair in 1893! The Palmer House Hilton is still serving the same recipe today — follow the scent of warm chocolate to the Lockwood Express to get one.
Atomic Cake
Originally invented in the 1950s at Liberty Bakery by baker George Kremm, Atomic Cake is a staple of Chicago's South Side bakeries. Liberty Bakery has since closed, but the confection can still be found all over the city and suburbs at spots like Orland Park Bakery — although it's not always under the same name. At Weber's Bakery in Garfield Ridge, it's referred to as the "banana split torte," while other bakeries have dubbed it the "bomb cake." No matter where you go, the basic formula for this showstopping cake is constructed using layers of banana cake, Bavarian custard, sliced bananas, chocolate cake, whipped cream, yellow cake, sliced strawberries, strawberry glaze, and chocolate fudge.
Pączki
For the uninitiated, pączki, or the singular pączek, are a traditional yeasted pastry originating from Poland. They resemble doughnuts and are typically filled with cream, custard, or jam and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Chicagoland is home to the largest Polish diaspora community in the United States, and with them came a love for these delicious pastries that has spread throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. The official Pączki Day takes place in the spring, and many bakeries will offer pączki on special order, but you can get them year-round at places like Rudy's Bakery in Roscoe Village, Racine Bakery in Garfield Ridge, and Kurowski Sausage Shop in Logan Square.
The Original Rainbow Cone
Since 1926, the Original Rainbow Cone has been a staple for Chicago ice cream lovers. The signature cone features five flavors — chocolate, strawberry, pistachio, orange, and "Palmer House," a unique combination of vanilla ice cream with cherries and walnuts that was first created for the historic Palmer House hotel. The flagship location is still standing at 92nd and Western in the Beverly neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, but these days you can find both brick-and-mortar locations and trucks all across Chicagoland serving up these classic cones. There are even locations in Florida, Texas, and California!
Eli's Cheescake
This third-generation family-owned bakery was started by its namesake, Eli Schulman. Eli was also the purveyor of several restaurants, including Eli's Ogden Huddle from 1940 to 1966, Eli's Stage Delicatessen from 1958 to 1984, and Eli's The Place for Steak, which operated out of the historic Galter Carriage House from 1966 until it closed in 2005. At the time, the steakhouse was a popular haunt for celebrity clientele, and one of its signature dishes was its famous cheesecake. While the steakhouse is no longer open, Eli's cheesecakes today are shipped all over the world. You can also pick them up in person at the Eli's Cheesecake Company store in Dunning or at Eli's Cheesecake at O'Hare Airport.
Garrett Popcorn
At this point, Garrett Popcorn shops have become nearly synonymous with Chicago itself. While not a traditional dessert, no roundup of Chicagoland sweets would be complete without a mention of this beloved brand. Though Garrett Popcorn is now shipped internationally and stocked in retail stores worldwide, Chicagoans especially are never far from a shop — just follow the scent of freshly popped corn. Back in 1977, the brand's two fan-favorite flavors — caramel-coated CaramelCrisp and salty cheddar CheeseCorn — were famously combined to create what's now known as the "Chicago Mix."
This list is just the beginning of everything sweet Chicagoland has to offer. Contact us today to learn more about the best of Chicagoland. Our real estate agents are here to be your guides to life in the Chicago area.
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