In the era of the Gen-Z “sweet treat” obsession, there is truly nothing better than grabbing something yummy and refreshing, no matter the time of day – or how much is in your wallet. A good sweet treat pairs perfectly with a fun group of friends or your laptop as you study for classes, and Bloomington is just the place for your sweet tooth to thrive.
At this point, you may be salivating thinking of your next delicious excursion, so here is a guide to the best fall sweet treats in Bloomington.
532 N. College Ave., 316 S Swain Ave., 1567 S Piazza Drive / Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday / Closed Sundays
Crumble Coffee & Bakery was crowned as a top 10 pick in the 2024 Community Voting Awards Platform for a reason.
This autumn season Crumble has housemade syrups: pumpkin and toasted marshmallow. I tried the Teddy Bear Latte and a dirty chai with the cafe’s housemade pumpkin syrup.
The Teddy Bear Latte includes brown sugar, honey and cinnamon. The first sip was sweet but not overbearing. It was more refreshing and made me feel at home. From the first sip, I knew it was instantly something I am going to go back to as a comfort drink.
The dirty chai is chai with a shot of espresso and pumpkin syrup. It was less sweet than the Teddy Bear Latte, but still had sweetness and a natural-feeling.
Crumble’s drinks range from $2-6 each.
Quality of treat(s): 5/5
Taste of treat(s): 4.5/5
4531 E. Third St. / Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day
At Bruster’s, Pumpkin Patch and Eclair Brownie flavors ended up being a great match.
The Eclair Brownie was very flavorful. The white chocolate ice cream, fudge and brownie bites were not overpowering in any one area, and the brownie bites were fudgy and soft.
Pumpkin Patch, which is pumpkin ice cream with graham cracker ribbons and pie pieces, instantly transported me back to my childhood memories at the pumpkin patch, living up to its name. The ribbons of graham cracker added a slight texture difference from the ice cream itself, and the pie pieces added a very enjoyable crunch.
When paired, the two flavors of ice cream work together very well.
The small waffle bowl was $4, although each kind of treat varies.
While the ice cream at Bruster’s is very good, I wouldn’t say it’s noteworthy. It is good for a sweet craving fix, but it is not life-changing.
Quality of treat(s): 4/5
Taste of treat(s): 4/5
201 S. Rogers St. / Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday / Closed on Monday
Rainbow Bakery is a 100% vegan bakery that also has a separate case for gluten-free treats,
When I visited, I was greeted by a very friendly worker who helped me pick my treats: the bakery’s bestseller oatmeal cream pie and a mango donut.
The oatmeal cream pie was very sweet and a nice filler for a fall sweet treat craving. It surprised me that it was vegan, as it tasted just how it would if it had non-vegan ingredients.
The mango donut was covered in a sticky sweet mango icing. The flavor tasted like a fresh mango, not an artificial flavor. However, the icing was almost too sweet by the end of eating it. The donut itself had a good flavor, though it was stiffer than a regular donut.
Treats range from $4-5, and there is no added tax for students at IU.
Quality of treat(s): 4/5
Taste of treat(s): 3.8/5
