Best of NH 2016 Desserts, Ice Cream Stands, Coffee and Bakeries

Chris' Wicked Ice Cream. Photo by Susan Laughlin

Adult Ice Cream: Get out your ID to savor Chris’ Wicked Ice Cream created with Kelsen Brewing Company beers. It’s the perfect marriage of chocolate and hops. Find it at local beer stores and creator Chris Perry’s Barley & Hops Beer Shoppe in Lorden Plaza in Milford where they scoop several flavors at the tasting bar in back.

Brigadeiros: The brigadeiro is a bite-size Brazilian sweet that lies somewhere between fudge and truffle. They’re hard to describe until you’ve tried them, and luckily My Brigadeiro in Hanover is the perfect place to do it. Pick from 25 varieties, ranging from traditional dark chocolate to the white chocolate and guava-flavored Romeo & Juliet.

Ice Cream Macarons: Stop by La Maison Navarre in Portsmouth to find out that day’s flavors of ice cream macarons. This classic French confection has been made anew with the addition of ice cream instead of the usual fillings. We sense the beginning of a new trend.

Tiny Coffee Shop: The delightful Cup & Crumb in Moultonborough may be tiny, but it’s big on community — and delicious pastries. The menu here changes daily as everything is baked fresh that morning. You’ll find croissants, scones, sticky buns, New York-style crumb cake and many more from-scratch pastries. This former antique shop is a regular stop for locals with a cozy seating space for 10 complete with fireplace.

Vegan Ice Cream: You don’t have to be vegan to appreciate the dairy-free frozen confections from Rock Salt Creamery. Using raw organic cashews, recipe developer/owner Tom Morrison has created a very satisfying bar dipped in a rich, dark, vegan chocolate or sandwiched between homemade cookies. There is even a whoopie pie version. Better yet, you don’t even have to go the stand at Heritage Farm Pancake House in Sanbornton to get it. Find it scooped at Robie’s General Store in Hooksett and confections only at the Bedford Farmer’s Market on Tuesdays.

Readers' Poll Winners

Bakery
Bread and Chocolate
Concord

Bakery
Multi-location Regional
Frederick’s Pastries
Amherst, Bedford and N. Andover, Mass.

Bakery Bread
The Good Loaf
Milford

Bakery Bread
Multi-location Local
Me and Ollie’s
Multiple Locations

Bakery Concord Area
Jacques Fine European Pastries
Suncook

Bakery Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region
Lou’s Restaurant & Bakery
Hanover

Bakery Lakes Region
Laconia Village Bakery
Laconia

Bakery Manchester Area
Finesse Pastries
Manchester

Bakery Monadnock
Black Forest Café & Bakery
Amherst

Bakery Nashua Area
Crosby Bakery
Nashua

Bakery North Country
Vintage Baking Company
Glen

Bakery Salem Area
Klemm’s Bakery
Windham

Bakery Seacoast Region
Harvey’s Bakery
Dover

Cakes
Jacques Fine European Pastries
Suncook

Cakes
Multi-location Regional
Frederick’s Pastries
Amherst, Bedford and N. Andover, Mass.pastry.net

Chocolatier
Van Otis Chocolates
Manchester

Coffee Roaster
A&E Coffee Roastery and Whole-leaf Tea
Amherst and Manchester

Coffee Shop
BeanTowne Coffee House
Hampstead

Coffee Shop Concord Area
True Brew Barista
Concord

Coffee Shop Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Regon
Dirt Cowboy Café
Hanover

Coffee Shop Great North Woods Region
Moose Muck Coffee House
Colebrook

Coffee Shop Lakes Region
Wayfarer Coffee Roasters
Laconia

Coffee Shop Manchester Area
A&E Coffee Roastery and Whole-leaf Tea
Amherst and Manchester

Coffee Shop Monadnock Region
Prime Roast Coffee
Keene

Coffee Shop Nashua Area
Riverwalk Café
Nashua

Coffee Shop Salem Area
Grind Rail Trail Café
Derry

Coffee Shop Seacoast Region
Breaking New Grounds
Durham and Portsmouth

Coffee Shop White Mountains Region
Metropolitan Coffee House
North Conway

Cupcakes
Queen City Cupcakes
Manchester

Ice Cream Spot
Puritan Backroom
Manchester

Ice Cream Concord Area
Arnie’s Place
Concord

Ice Cream Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region
Sanctuary Dairy Farm
Sunapee

Ice Cream Great North Woods Region
Moose Alley Cones
Pittsburg

Ice Cream Lakes Region
Jordan’s Ice Creamery
Belmont

Ice Cream Manchester Area
GoldenRod Drive-In Restaurant
Manchester

Ice Cream Monadnock Region
Kimball Farm
Jaffrey

Ice Cream Nashua Area
Hayward’s Ice Cream
Nashua

Ice Cream Salem Region
Moo’s Place Homemade Ice Cream
Derry

Ice Cream Seacoast Region
Lago’s Ice Cream
Rye

Ice Cream White Mountains Region
Moose Scoops Ice Cream
Warren

Pastries
Finesse Pastries
Manchester

Pastries
Multi-location Regional
Frederick’s Pastries
Amherst, Bedford and N. Andover, Mass.

Pie
The Pie Guy
Manchester