Now that it’s summertime, I’m sure we are all wanting fun things to do with our kiddos that aren’t outside. However, eating out and buying tickets for activities can get so expensive! Enter: the dessert date. I love taking my kids to grab a sweet treat during a rough week. The combination of a fun food, getting out of the house, and just chatting makes us all feel better every time. I live in the Meadowbrook area, so these are my recommendations for the best Sweet Treats near 280, specifically south of the Summit.
PopBar
If you’re craving a fun popsicle, be sure to check out PopBar! Serving both all-natural sorbetto and gelato pops, this spot is a hit for all ages! You can get your pops dipped, drizzled, topped, or even in a shake (for certain flavors, ONLY). Seasonal flavors are always on rotation, and I have it on good authority that the vanilla pop, dunked in dark chocolate with rainbow sprinkles is a kid-favorite. They also serve frozen lemonade, which is just delightful. While the family-friendly treats here are great, I have been known to opt for a “mom treat” in the form of an amazing coffee drink, since this PopBar shares a space with local coffee favorite, Baba Java.
The Churro Station
Okay, so this one isn’t technically “South of the Summit,” but it’s close enough. These deep fried Mexican dough sticks are just delightful! If you love churros, you have to visit; if you don’t know if you like churros, you still have to visit this Churreria. Their varieties of the dessert ensure there is something for everyone! You can get this deep-fried treat served the traditional way—coated in cinnamon and sugar—or with a filling, topping, or both. You can even get some ice cream on the side.
Heavenly Donuts
If Alton Brown likes their donuts, you know they’re worth checking out! Heavenly Donuts are a Birmingham staple with good reason. Not only are their plain donuts better than most, their filled and topped donuts are the best I’ve ever had! Most places make fancy donuts too sweet for me, but Heavenly gets the taste-to-sugar ratio just right. Each day they’re open, so not Monday, they have a special flavor available, including seasonal offerings! You’ll never exhaust your options here, and, even if you do, I’m sure you’ll happily revisit a favorite flavor again and again, like the Nutella-filled donut special on Fridays. Yummy!!
Edgars- Greystone
If you’ve been around the area for long, you’ve surely heard of Edgar’s Bakery. They’ve expanded across the state for good reason! My favorite sweets here are the cinnamon rugelach, thumbprint cookies, and macarons, but my girls usually go for the petit fours or cupcakes! Really, you can’t go wrong here with their wide selection of baked goods. Plus, you can even grab something to take home, like a braided challah loaf (I can eat this plain) or a box of chocolate bars. Fun fact: When I would visit this area before I moved here, my mother-in-law would often have a box of their chocolate bars waiting for me because I love them so much!
Thirstea Cafe 280
Do you have a little foodie? I’m sure they’ll enjoy the offerings at Thirstea Cafe. Tapioca boba and milk tea is available for the more adventurous of our kiddos, while fruity tea with popping bubbles or jellies is available for the more typically-American palates. One thing I love about this place is that you can order your drinks 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4 sweetened, so you can keep the sugar intake under control. You can also get some fun international snacks here, as well as Boba-themed merch, like keychains or jewelry.
Cookie Fix
Cookie Fix started in Homewood, but we recently got a new location in the Greystone area! These cookies are a Birmingham institution for a reason. With so many scrumptious flavors to pick from, you’re sure to make repeat trips just to try everything! However, if you’d prefer a different route to get your cookie fix (see what I did there?), then you can actually buy their frozen cookie dough to take home and cook when the craving strikes. If you get the hankering for a specific flavor, be sure to check their Cookie Calendar online to plan your visit.
What’s your favorite place to satisfy your sweet tooth? Let us know in the comments!
