Sweet Tooth Delights in Lake County, IL
By: Jonathan Jones 09/03/2020
Labor Day weekend is the perfect time to celebrate the transition from summer to autumn with a sweet tooth delight.
The land of lakes is home to a slew of confectioners creating sweet tooth delights for individuals that are jonesing for something to quell their sugar craving.
From ice cream to gelato, from sundaes to cannoli, from cookies to cocoa and everything inbetween, come and get your sweet tooth delights in Lake County.
Holy moly, that man Tony knows minds his ps and qs about cannolis! The Mundelein confectioner creates traditional and unconventional cannolis for customers to indulge their sweet tooth. Tony Cannoli Specialty Pastries also conducts classes to teach visitors how to make the sweet Italian treat. The Mundelein maker also makes cakes, donuts, cookies, chips and more.
The social distancing and curbside pickup go hand-and-hand with Miller’s Dog N Suds’ business model. Miller’s Dog N Suds is the home of the Coney dog and their famous creamy root beer. The Ingleside drive-thru styled eatery is a four-generation, family-owned business that recently celebrated its 50th birthday in 2017. A little touch of the past is still relevant today because you can’t pass up a delicious hot dog. Besides the world-class floats and shakes they serve to sweet tooth fiends, The Ingleside eatery also makes malts, sundaes, ice cream cones and even desserts for doggies called the Pup Cup. Currently, 14 Dog N Suds is still in operation with one other place in Lake County (Grayslake). Miller’s Dog N Suds is open from May through October. Also, it’s a drive-in, so social distancing is practiced by default.
This is the old factory where chocolatey divinity is born. The magical world of cocoa where sweet bliss is created opened its doors in 1975. The confectionery facility began as a retail store around the time of the U.S. Bicentennial, which looks like an 1800s schoolhouse. The sweet treat company is known for its mouthwatering and signature piece the Myrtle®; the confectionery also owns a factory in Buffalo Grove (built-in 2001), a Nut & Candy Factory Store (opened in 2016) and a Chicago location. The Long Grove Confectionery Co. proudly continues the dessert tradition with a menu containing other types of chocolate, barks, brittles, caramels, pretzels, peanut butter cups and so much more. Stay tuned for their fall treats!
The standard battle cry for the United States Navy and Coast Guard is an ice cream shop located in the Naval Station Great Lakes stop on MetraRail station. The sailor influenced shop has the scoop on all of the intel you need. The North Chicago dessert masons have ice cream ranging in 27 flavors, including caramel collision, cookie monster, chocolate peanut butter ecstasy, pineapple sherbet, Mississippi Mud and much more. They also serve milkshakes, sundaes, floats, snacks and breakfast and lunch eats. Anchors Aweigh to North Chicago.
The Oberweis farm makes some mean ice cream. The ice cream and dairy store grew its roots just south of the land of lakes in North Aurora. Oberweis is an old fashioned family ice cream parlor that also breakfasts, dinner, snacks and dessert and, of course, their renowned milk.
The Grayslake confectionery’s fudge was just introduced in 2019 to their variety of sweet tooth treats. The facility’s autumn-themed fudge eats are highlighted by flavors like peanut butter caramel and salted peanuts, English toffee, pumpkin nut (pumpkin., pecan and spices) pumpkin pie, golden harvest (spiced pumpkin, chocolate chip and buttery streusel), maple walnut fudges and more. These cocoa-inspired desserts are not the “Tale of a Fourth Grade Nothing,” because they’re considered “SuperFudge.” Besides their unbelievable fudge, Uniquely Sweet also offers toffee, patties, clusters, truffles, cookies, gourmet apples and much more.
Milkshakes and slushies and floats; stuff my face. These are a few from My Flavor It Place. From their authentic Hawaiian shaved ice made from 100 percent sugar cane to their award-winning soft serve ice cream and everything in between, the Lake County dessert maker has been providing delectable final course meals since 2003. With three land of lakes locations, it will cure anyone’s dessert withdrawal. Besides those as mentioned earlier, My FLavor It Place serves smoothies, coffees and other treats.
Overlooking pristine Lake Zurich (also located in Lake Zurich), Sunset Pavilion at Breezewald Park, is a new addition to the visual statement venue. The Lake Zurich entity serves dessert options like gelato and gelato pops with a variety of flavors. You can’t help but be mesmerized by where the sun sets at this beautiful location while sipping down your favorite adult beverage of choice or sweet delight. Sunset Pavilion, for the time being, because of the public health crisis, is open to solely Lake Zurich residents.
Curt’s or “Cultivating Unique Restaurant Training” Café in Highland Park utilizes local products to create homemade pastries, inspired sandwiches, soups and salads made from scratch. Besides a daily selection of house-made scones and cookies and other pastries and sweets, the Highland Park cafe serves a full espresso bar pack with lattes, frappes and seasonal beverages.
From their sweet home to yours, Sweet Home Gelato is a family-owned and operated dessert franchise based in the Chicagoland area. They specialize in authentic artisan gelato and sorbet (ranging in a slew of flavors) but also dabble in shakes, floats, baked treats, pastries and coffee.
Acai, the premier ingredient in many of Lolo Bowl’s servings, is a dark fruit that is in the berry family. This succulent fruit is native to tropical rain forests in Hawaii, Central and South America. The mission of this family-owned business is to bring the acai taste back to the Land of Lincoln. The Libertyville ice cream business creates soft-serve acai bowls, smoothies and avocado toast. When eating at this MainStreet Libertyville venue, it’s OK to lick the bowl.
The sweet tooth haven located in Lake Bluff is swirling goodness, greatness and gratitude. Ms. Suzy and co are highly regarded for their ice creams, yogurts and gelatos. They also serve cookies, ice cream sandwiches, spirits and vino and even hand sanitizer.
For more sweet tooth delights in Lake County, continue here. To see what else is going on in September, click here.
