Best Austin Sweet Spots for Valentine’s Day Delight

I begin every new year celebrating the tradition of keeping my Christmas tree in its rightful place until the celebration of St. Valentine. All over Austin, the 13 days preceding Valentine’s Day tend to be a slightly convoluted time of date-seeking and scouring for the perfect sweet treat.

After five consecutive years of single and somewhat satisfying February holidays, I thought it apropos to share some of my favorite and culturally different Austin dessert favorites. Take advantage of my tips for pre-purchase yummies or picnicking on the day of St. Valentine!

Cupprimo: The Classic Cupcake Dessert Date

Cupprimo’s Blue Velvet

8650 Spicewood Springs Rd.

Bring your classic valentine to Cupprimo for a traditional and classic Blue Velvet. Think Joe Black, Holly-Golightly with a kick of Fred Estaire. If you’re anything like me, you’ll fall in love with this modern Austin blue, old-fashioned take on a wedding cake mix of vanilla almond and sour cream topped with fresh cream cheese icing. It’s my number one choice Valentine go-to for your sweet-loving honey.

Amy Brown of Cupprimo says, “We have so many fans that actually fall into the category of ambassadors, advocates and downright cupcake lunatics…So we decided 2014 would be the year that we find all different kinds of ways to create more raving fans and honor the ones that we have.” (#ravingfan)

Cupprimo bakes fresh daily and offers a quiet coffee spot featuring Barrett’s Coffee of Austin. If your classic date needs some dramatic flare, share the tale of Cupprimo’s Cupcake Wars fame, where they “gained just the right amount of confidence to try anything.”  Pick up two, three or a dozen of these classic treats.

Gourdough’s Public House: The Hipster Doughnut Dessert Date

Gourdough’s Black Betty
Photo credit: Cris Mueller

2700 S. Lamar and 1504 1st Street (respectively)

I spent a dewy, mid-November Texas afternoon on the patio of Gourdough’s Public House with an Austin noob. It was a date day and it was a great date day! We shared weekend, afternoon drinks accompanied by some munchies. And, of course, we topped our time off with the Black Betty – a traditional Gourdough’s donut iced with thick cream cheese icing, topped heavily with blackberry jam and powdered sugar and drizzled with local honey.

Love it or hate it, I also happened to be wearing my Austin hipsteresque black framed specs. It’s a laid back, seat yourself and devour-all-of-the-fried-loveliness-you-can-handle dessert outing.

You can date indoors or outdoors, or you can take away at the Public House or the trailer venue for a romantic and friendly doughnut date.

Pieous: The Texas Country Dessert Date

Banana cream pie at Pieous
Photo credit: Linda Battson

Editor’s Note: As of July 2018, Pieous’ original location at 12005 Highway 290 W has closed. The business is moving to Belterra Village at West Highway 290 and Nutty Brown Road, and is scheduled to open by mid-July. The restaurant will be renamed Pieous Mecca.

This one is for the lovers of the grand Texas oaks, family weekends, and sweet memories of homemade pies! Bring your country-loving date to Pieous for the most blessed sweet and savory pies in Austin. When you make a pit stop at their far southwest location, pick up your sweetie’s favorite tart and – while you’re at it – write a love note on the blackboards.

Pieous boasts a slew of accolades for their pizza pies and have now been given a nod by CultureMap for their Chocolate Pecan Pie and one of “the 5 best pecan pies in town.” Serious Eats touted the Blueberry Pie as one of the “6 Pies We Love in Austin.” And the Chronicle tipped a hat to their Banana Cream Pie, “one of the Top 10 Sweet Treats” in Austin.

What are you waiting for? Grab your girl, your boots and a sweet tooth and make your way to this quaint, family-run kitchen.

Groovy Dog Bakery: The Dog Lovers Dessert Date

Groovy Dog Bakery (Photo courtesy of FringeHog via Flickr CC)

4477 South Lamar, Ste. 580

Here’s a small and random addition because I know Austinites, and we sure love our pets! Find your way to this local doggie bakery and surprise your Valentine date with a treat for their four-legged best friend!

Groovy Dog Bakery is a locally-owned spot where you can order a personalized pet-friendly birthday cake or just stop in for a sweet treat for man’s best friend, while you’re out for a day of fresh air and fun with your Valentine sweetheart.

No matter how you choose to spend your day of hearts, flowers, sweets and such, take a moment to remember the way to your special someone’s heart. If it’s through their tummy, try out one of these local spots to kick start their heart.

@CrisMueller asks:

What is your favorite sweet treat in Austin? Have you tried any of my favorites?