Top 10 places in Orlando to take your kids for a treat.
Alternately titled: ‘Our 10 favorite places to take our kids when we’ve bribed them with a treat.’ I understand conceptually why bribing your kids with sugar in order to get them to behave is not the brightest parenting idea. But I also really love sweet treats and if I’m going to take them for one each week, I might as well get the most bang for my buck.
What makes a great treat when you have kids? I like to think it’s a delicate balance of the actual taste of the treat, the speed of service, and nearby opportunities for kids to burn off their sugar rush. Here’s our list of favorites.
Buttermilk Bakery
1198 N Orange Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
On the menu: Small batch baked goods, lunch, and coffee items. Everything is baked fresh daily and changed out based on season and the creative whims of the owners.
Our faves: The morning bun, ‘everything bagel’ croissant, and quiche are staple items that never disappoint. For your sake, just order one of everything on the day you go and revel in the goodness. On weekend mornings they make small batch donuts that are huge and your kids will love.
Why it makes the list: Everything here is delicious. Always. Hands down. It never fails. The Azalea Lane Playground is nearby, grab your treats and go to the park. Let the kids run around while you sit on a bench and indulge in these incredible heavenly pastries.
Frozen Nitrogen Ice Cream
4498 N Alafaya Trail suite 330, Orlando, FL 32826
On the menu: Ice cream and frozen yogurt that is made right in front of you using liquid nitrogen. You pick a base and toppings and watch your treat come to life.
Our faves: I was thrilled that there were coconut milk options for a base.
Why it makes the list: The liquid nitrogen process makes a giant science experiment atmosphere for your kids. They couldn’t get enough of watching ice cream orders be made. Since they make your ice cream from scratch this is a great option for little ones with food allergies.
Gideon’s Bakehouse
3201 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
On the menu: Insanely decadent cookies as well as cakes and other treats.
Our faves: Chocolate chip pistachio cookie.
Why it makes the list: It makes our list along with every other list in the country because these cookies are on another level delicious. They’re huge and rich, too much to eat in one sitting. But that just means you get to enjoy them more than once.
Watch out: Check their Facebook or Instagram before you go. The cookies sell out most days and you don’t want to get your hopes up if you’re headed there too late in the day.
ICE NY
4954 New Broad St, Orlando, FL 32814
On the menu: Rolled ice cream sundaes with candy treat toppings.
Our faves: Strawberry Cheesecake and Cookie Spree are huge hits in our house.
Why it makes the list: The ice cream is unique and delicious. The kids like watching the ice cream get made which keeps them very entertained. Afterwards you can go for a walk at Lake Baldwin.
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice
Multiple locations throughout Central Florida
On the menu: Italian ice in a variety of flavors and soft serve (chocolate and vanilla)
Our faves: The ‘Gelati’ is a mix of an italian ice flavor with soft serve in between. It’s heaven. Go for scoop froggy frog (mint chocolate chip) with swirl soft serve, salted caramel ice and chocolate soft serve, or orange ice and vanilla.
Why it makes the list: There are a ton of flavor options to make everyone in the family happy. There are so many locations you can always plan your visit by a nearby park.
Jillycakes
125 N. Orlando Avenue Winter Park, FL 32789
On the menu: Cupcakes in a variety of flavors. Jillycakes has 40 flavor options and picks 12 to bake each day. The cupcakes have icing in the center of the cupcake, not just on top, for the perfect cake to icing ratio.
Our faves: Chocolate Raspberry (this is Momlando’s ultimate flavor pairing of life), Caramel Churro, and Boston Cream Pie.
Why it makes the list: The cupcakes are delicious and we love the icing in the cake not just on top. Mini cupcakes are available if you’re looking to keep your kids’ sugar intake down. The shop is in the Trader Joe’s/Shake Shack plaza in Winter Park so after you eat you can take in the beautiful views of Lake Killarney.
Watch out: Parking in this plaza can be tricky… we usually don’t say the word cupcake to the kids until we have found a spot, just in case we give up.
Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream
3114 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
1817 S Ferncreek Ave Orlando, FL 32806
On the menu: Handcrafted ice cream and sorbet in a variety of traditional and unique flavors. Kelly’s also serves up a variety of delicious ways to eat your ice cream including sandwiches, tacos, floats, and milkshakes.
Our faves: Mexican Hot Chocolate and Salted Caramel are standards in our family. But there are always new flavors that are delicious. On your first visit, I suggest getting an ice cream flight which allows you to sample four flavors in little waffle bowls.
Why it makes the list: Our family’s love of Kelly’s is well documented (here and here). The ice cream is out of this world. The location is extremely kid friendly and the staff is always very kind.
Watch out: Follow Kelly’s on social media to see their specials and fun treats. But if you see an ice cream taco screaming your name, act fast. It will be sold out soon.
Little Blue Donut Co.
223 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
On the menu: Warm, fresh donuts, made to order. Choose from their flavor suggestions or make your own. If I get to choose what heaven looks like, this is it.
Our faves: The salted caramel is unparalleled. You’ll scrape the caramel drippings off the bottom of the plate.
Why it makes the list: These donuts are divine. So good, so fresh, warm, gooey, oozy, and flavorful. The atmosphere is kid friendly and things are expedited quickly even though it’s all made to order.
Watch out: Eating at Little Blue Donut even just one time will cause obsession. You will find ways to work their name into conversations. You will find excuses to go to Winter Park any time you can. If this happens to you, please don’t sue us.
Orlandough
Special order and pop ups around time
On the menu: Craft donuts in a variety of unique flavors.
Our faves: With new flavor combos every week that are off the charts delicious there’s no way to pick a favorite.
Why it makes the list: Delicious donuts are a no brainer of course but we’re always curious to see what flavors they dream up next. Orlandough’s pop-ups at New General are nice and early in the morning and you can let the kids run around Park Avenue’s Central Park after.
Wondermade
214 E 1st St, Sanford, FL 32771
On the menu: Handcrafted marshmallows and homemade ice cream all with a variety of ways to eat them. We’re talking smores, smoresicle ice cream pops, and toasted marshmallows on a stick.
Our faves: The toasted marshmallow stick allows you to try several flavors without overindulging! Smoresicle is a delightful blend of hot and cold unlike anything else we’ve ever eaten.
Why it makes the list: the unique items are exciting for grown ups and kids. The location, in historic downtown Sanford, makes for a fun adventure to explore after your treat.
