7 of the Most Expensive Desserts from Around the World

Dessert is arguably the best part of a meal. From ice cream and cake to a bowl of fruit or a piece of candy, ending on a sweet note dates all the way back to 3000 BC. Although sugar wasn’t obtainable to most people until the Middle Ages, the wealthy enjoyed sweets anytime they wanted. Ice cream, invented by the Chinese, dates that far back with vanilla made popular by Mexicans. We have European explorers in Central America and Mexico to thank for discovering chocolate, but back then it was consumed as a spicy drink. Literally, hot chocolate! American colonists in 1381 loved apple pie, and we still eat plenty of it as a celebrated American favorite today. Yes, dessert is popular with children and adults alike, as the ultimate way to satiate the sweet tooth. Most of all, desserts are usually fairly inexpensive with a scoop of ice cream going for a few dollars at the local shop.

Last year, chefs from around the world decided to create some of the most elaborate and expensive desserts for a variety of reasons. Mainly for fun, but several were created for promotional purposes as they raised funds for various charities. This list includes a $1000 cupcake all the way up to $9 million strawberries. So finish up your dinner, we’ve got an array of dessert possibilities for you!

1. Beyond Gourmet Jelly Beans – $500

You could buy a bag of jelly beans at any given convenience store for under $1, but these gourmet jelly beans are going to cost you a few hundred dollars more. Made with no artificial flavors or colors, these delicious gems come in a dozen different flavors. Truth be told, the reason these tiny treats are so expensive is the fact that each jelly bean is coated in a 24-carat gold leaf and they are sold in a crystal jar.

2. Krispy Kreme’s Luxe Doughnut – $1,685

A dozen of these pastries might break the bank! This particular version of the tasty treat was created to help raise funds for The Children’s Trust. Covered in 24-carat gold leaf (we’re seeing a trend here), the donut includes a handful of edible diamonds and is ornamented with a lotus flower made of white chocolate. Not your typical jelly donut, this masterpiece is filled with champagne jelly.

3. Golden Opulence Sundae – $1,000

New York City’s Serendipity 3 crafted the ultimate ice cream sundae to celebrate their 50^th anniversary. It even made it into the Guinness Book of World Records because it was the most expensive ice cream sundae ever! Believe it or not, the restaurant sells a couple of these sundaes a month to its wealthy patrons.

4. The Golden Phoenix Cupcake – $1,000

Not an ice cream sundae fan? Don’t worry, you can take that $1000 and head to Bloomsbury’s, a small bakery in the Dubai Mall and get a cupcake. Made from Ugandan vanilla beans, strawberries dipped in gold, Italian chocolate, and then topped with edible gold, this cupcake is served with a golden fork so you can enjoy it in complete style. Btw, you’re not allowed to take that fork home.

5. Diamond Fruitcake – $1.72 Million

Bet you won’t be giving the neighbor’s one of these for Christmas this year! This particular one is the magnificent work of the Takashimaya Department Store in Tokyo. They took the holiday tradition to the next level. In fact, like the dessert found around the holidays, you won’t want to eat this cake. It’s
only for display purposes as it is made with 223 diamonds with a total weight of 170 carats. It took six months to design and an entire month to put it together. Pretty fancy, huh?

6. The Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel Chocolate Pudding – $34,000

Sure, pudding is good. That’s why the majority of us buy a six-pack of it at the local supermarket. But if you have the means to spend a whopping $34K on the most expensive pudding in the world, go for it. The innovation of Chef Marc Guibert at the Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel in England, this treat includes a replica of a Faberge egg and adds a few other embellishments such as edible gold, decadent chocolates, caviar, and a 2-carat diamond. The diamond, however is not edible. If you’re interested in ordering one of these, be sure to give the hotel at least a month notice and have your down payment ready.

7. Strawberries Arnaud – $9.85 Million

There are strawberries and then there are $9 million strawberries. The expensive kind are served at Arnaud’s Restaurant in New Orleans. While their average strawberries cost around $9, their most special dish (usually reserved for Valentine’s Day) sells for almost $10 million. Beyond really delicious strawberries, this dessert includes a 24-carat gold flake toppings, vanilla ice cream, a variety of expensive champagnes, and whipped cream. Oh, and we almost forgot, this delicious dessert comes with a royal blue 10.06-carat diamond ring and comes in an exquisite box alongside the dining plate. Hope she says yes!

If we’ve peaked your sweet tooth, but don’t want to break the bank or the scale, check out some of our favorite all over print apparel that are just as drool-worthy.