I’m a big believer that one of the best ways to get to know a new city is through its sweets. As soon as I arrive in a new place, I’m googling away to find the top places to satisfy my sweet tooth. Indianapolis, Indiana is no disappointment when it comes to sugary treats. As one of the few states with an official “State Pie” (Sugar cream, if you’re wondering…) it’s no surprise that you can seriously indulge in Indiana’s capital. If you’re looking for a sweet way to spend an afternoon, here’s a little Indianapolis sweets tour I’ve put together.
Your Self-Guided Indianapolis Sweets Tour
Indianapolis is a very pedestrian-friendly city. With an extensive network of bike paths through the city, and widened sidewalks, it is very easy to get to each of these sweet spots using your own two feet. And bonus, with all the walking you’ll do, it’s basically like you’re not taking in any extra calories. Basically.
The South Bend Chocolate Company
30 Monument Circle
Starting out in the heart of the city, Fountain Circle, you’ll start off your Indianapolis sweets tour with a bit of chocolate. The South Bend Chocolate Company began in 1991, in South Bend, Indiana. There are now 11 stores located in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. The company makes over 500 different sweet products, so it may be difficult to choose your treat. Their hot chocolate drinks come in different flavors, and are very popular. However, if it’s not quite the right time for a hot beverage, try one of their chocolate-covered Oreos, or grab a few truffles!
Circle City Sweets
222 E. Market Street
Next, make your way down Market Street to the Indianapolis City Market. This beautiful, historic building houses a number of local vendors. While there are lots of savory selections, there are plenty of sweets available too. Circle City Sweets offers several different pastry items from brownies to breads, cakes, and macarons. While these all look absolutely divine, it’s hard to resist the temptation of their giant, flaky croissants. These things were literally the size of my entire face. Choose from plain, chocolate, ham and cheese, or my personal favorite- almond!
Three Carrots
222 E. Market Street
Also located in the Indianapolis City Market, you’ll find just one of Indianapolis’ vegetarian and vegan-friendly eateries. Forget everything you think you know about vegan desserts. This place is legit. Three Carrots offers a variety of dessert options from cakes, cookies, and cheesecakes, all without using animal products! All their sweets look absolutely drool-worthy, but you have to pick up some of their Double Chocolate Cookie Dough Madness. It is madness indeed. We’re talking chocolate chip cookie crust, filled with cheesecake, and topped with chocolate chip cookie dough. It simply can’t be missed.
For more information about vegan food in Indianapolis, check out my friend Ashley’s post!
Sub Zero Ice Cream
427 Massachusetts Avenue
For the next stop on your Indianapolis sweets tour, head to the fun and funky Massachusetts Avenue (locally known as Mass Ave). While Sub Zero Ice Cream began in Utah and is now a country-wide establishment, it is one of the more unique sweet spots you’ll in Indianapolis. This places combines cool, creamy, and customizable ice creams with the chemistry and fun of liquid nitrogen. From their extensive menu, choose your cream base, flavorings, and mix-ins. They will then blast your concoction with a foggy spray of liquid nitrogen, quickly turning your creation into a frozen treat! Science!
Best Chocolate in Town
880 Massachusetts Avenue
At the north end of Mass Ave, you’ll find some of the best chocolate town at a small shop called The Best Chocolate in Town. Creative, right? The chocolate smell will practically smack you in the head when you walk inside, and it’s hard to exercise restraint. With so many different flavors of truffles, it will be hard to pick just a few. If you’re not much of a truffle fan, try a chocolate dipped pretzel!
The Flying Cupcake
423 Massachusetts Avenue
Heading back towards the center of Indianapolis on Mass Ave, your next stop will be at The Flying Cupcake. As the name suggests, this adorable shop serves cupcakes that soar above others. They have many different flavors to choose from, and each cake is decorated beautifully with a generous pile of frosting on top. If you’re feeling like you need to up your cupcake game, check out their jumbo cupcakes! Gluten free and vegan options are available as well.
Rocket Fizz
55 Monument Circle
You will end your Indianapolis sweets tour back in Fountain Circle, at Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Store. This store is a whirlwind of unique and outrageous sodas. You can find sodas from all over the world, and just about every flavor you can pull out of your imagination. From classics like root beer and cream soda, and sweet flavors like marshmallow and coffee cake, to the utterly outrageous like ranch dressing, butter, sweet corn, and bacon. There are even many creative flavors like swamp juice and dog drool! You are going to have a seriously hard decision on what to try here. My suggestion: get one soda flavor you know you like, and one adventurous one.
Other Notable Nummies
This Indianapolis sweets tour is not all-encompassing of the dessert options in Indianapolis. If you have more time, a stronger sweet tooth, and a drive to walk more, check out some of these other notable nummies in Indy.
- Shapiro’s Delicatessen. 808 S. Meridian Street – Four generations of delicious foods with a Jewish influence. Try the authentic Jewish rugelaches.
- 3 Days in Paris. 222 E. Market Street – Delicious crepes located in the Indianapolis City Market.
- General American Donut Company. 827 S. East Street – Indianapolis’ craft donut shop. Go early for the best selection.
- Locally Grown Gardens. 1050 E. 54th Street – A small restaurant using fresh and locally grown ingredients. Try their seasonal pies!
*Note: I was in Indianapolis for BlogHouse Indy. Thank you to our sponsors, Visit Indy, Visit Indiana, and JW Marriott Indy. Sweets Tour itinerary and opinions are entirely my own.
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31 Comments
HOW DID I MISS ALL OF THESE?! I should have tagged along with you!
Next time 😉
Wow, I should have been hanging out with you! These are so truly delectable spots. I’ve only been to South Bend Chocolates, clearly, I need to return to Indy and do your self-guided tour!
Haha. I clearly know how to party 😛
Just make sure to do it on an almost empty stomach. I practically rolled back to the JW…
Great list for those of us with a sweet tooth – I’ll be sure to check out some of your recommendations if I ever find myself in Indianapolis…
Wow, so much incredible looking food! I only know Indianapolis because of the Indy car race but your post shows there is so much more to the city! Thanks for sharing
You are soooo a traveller after my own heart — I love to find all the best sweet treats in town. I’m particularly drawn to that ice cream and the chocolate shops!
I go to Indy often and I’ve never been to any of these spots. I will definitely save this!
I can totally relate to you in the first paragraph – I too always seek out places to satisfy my sweet tooth when I get to a new destination! This list is great. I have no plans to visit Indiana anytime soon but will definitely refer back to this blog when I am there !
Well, I may not have a big sweet tooth I would totally be up for a few of these tasty treats! Especially those unicorn cupcakes – they’re adorable!!!
Omg was drooling while reading this! They all look so good that I could never choose and would have to eat everything. Yum!
I see no problem with trying everything 😛
I would LOVE to sink my teeth into that Double Chocolate Cookie Dough Madness. It is everything that is good in the world. Can never go wrong with chocolate covered pretzels either.
What a great list of spots for people with a sweet tooth! And what a great way to discover different places in Indianapolis. Thanks for sharing!
Oh man, these all look and sound so delicious! I definitely have a sweet tooth so any destination that had good sweets on offer is a must visit. The chocolate dipped pretzel looks very tempting!
Oh that Double Chocolate Cookie Dough Madness looks like true insanity. I do want to try it, and all the weird soda flavours too! I can feel the sugar high just thinking about it. 😉
Uh-oh, this is real indulgence! I am afraid I do not want to do this. At 68 and pre-diabetic, I cam just look…and read. Thanks for the temptations!
Cool post, who doesn’t love something sweet 😉
Reading this just before I start making dinner… results: I am now eating ice cream and chocolate chips! All of it looks delicious but I have to say sugar cream pies are simply the absolute best. Nothing compares! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I relate to this post on so many levels!! Especially the chocolate company oh my looks lush – get me to Indianapolis so I can feast haha
The South Bend Chocolate Company and the Flying Cupcake sound like my kind of places! I love discovering sweet treat places like these. We have a few chocolate boutiques in New Zealand that are definitely worth investigating!
Now this would be the perfect adventure for me! I have such a sweet tooth! And in fact I’ve bucketlisted this… Yum!
I need that cookie dough madness in my mouth immediately. We also have Rocket Fizz here in Portland, and I love looking through all the crazy sodas. Great post 🙂
Everything looks so delicious. I love the name The Flying Cupcake!
OMG, yes, yes, and yes!!! I’ve just dribbled all over my keyboard. Love this post but that’s no surprise because I’ve got the biggest sweet tooth in the world…
A sweets tour would be just my thing! So many options to choose from but the chocolate pretzel and truffles can easily tempt me. I’ve hear of the ‘liquid’ Sub Zero ice cream and would love to try.
I have to agree with your first sentence! Sweets are the best. Just wish I could eat them all day long without worrying about health haha.
This was such a great post to read haha I have such a sweet tooth!!
I’m not sure what you did here, but I was salivating and I’m not generally a sweet tooth. Nicely done, but now I’m craving a sugar fix! 😉
Oh, wow! I have a crazy sweet tooth, so this all looks awesome! Wish I had known about the state pie when I visited…I have never even heard of sugar cream pie, but I bet it’s delicious!
Usually one of the first things I do when I know I’m going somewhere is google bakeries too:) Sweets are a special treat for me because I have food allergies, but when there’s a place like these where I can get a treat, it really makes my day:)