You may think you have a sweet tooth, but would you trade your diamonds for a piece of cake? It’s an age-old tradition to end your meals for the day on a sweet note. Desserts are a gastronomic delight that celebrates flavours, serving as a source of well-being with self-care staples encompassing all, from the rich, dark allure of chocolate to the nutritious creamy richness of pumpkin. In this sweet journey, we go on a trip to discover the most expensive desserts in the world.
Indulgence reaches new heights when sweet treats are adorned with edible gold and diamonds. These decadent delicacies, made from the finest ingredients, tempt individuals with a taste for lavishness to temporarily lay aside dietary restrictions and revel in the sheer luxury offered by each sumptuous bite. What comes after the most lavish dining experiences in the world? Why, the most expensive desserts that are the crowning jewels of culinary luxury, of course.
Take a look at the most expensive desserts in the world
24-carat popsicle
Price: USD 1,000
Cool down in style with this 24-carat popsicle from the Marquis Los Cabos resort in Mexico. Considering that it’s made with gold flakes and one of the most expensive tequilas ever, Tequilas Premium Clase Azul Ultra, this popsicle is a pocket-friendly deal. If you’re not in the mood for a popsicle, give the the tequila shot a try for USD 500.
Golden Opulence Sundae
Price: USD 1,000
New York is home to many posh fine-dining restaurants. But, Serendity 3 is the only restaurant to be featured in the most expensive dessert list twice. In honour of the establishment’s 50th anniversary, the restaurant revealed a masterpiece dessert that costs an eye-watering USD 1,000. Despite its steep price tag, the restaurant receives about one order each month from wealthy customers who want to savour its rich flavours.
Diners who wish to enjoy this lavish treat must provide the restaurant with 48 hours of prior notice. This allows the restaurant to gather the diverse ingredients from throughout the world, including Grand Passion Caviar, chocolate truffles, and Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream with 23-carat edible gold leaf. The dessert is then finished with gold flakes and gilded sugar. One significant bonus is that customers can take home a souvenir from their spectacular dessert experience: the USD 350 Baccarat Harcourt crystal glass that the ice cream is served in.
The Golden Phoenix Cupcake
Price: USD 1,000
Bloomsbury’s bakery in Dubai Mall serves a four-figure cupcake made with high-end ingredients such as Ugandan vanilla beans, Italian chocolate, and gold-dipped strawberries. The frosting is coated with edible gold, and the experience is enhanced with a golden spoon. The hefty price tag pays for the 23-carat edible gold sheets in the dessert, which are yours to eat; sadly, the golden spoon will remain at the bakery once you are finished.
The Bear Extraordinaire at Baccarat Hotel New York
Price: USD 1,500
The Baccarat Hotel in New York City is where the “Bear Extraordinaire” is served; priced at USD 1,500, it is one of the most expensive ice cream sundaes in the United States. The base is coated with a hand-painted white chocolate shell with coloured cocoa butter, and it is served with vanilla ice cream prepared using imported Madagascar vanilla beans. The sundae is topped with three grams of black truffle crumble, dark Manjari chocolate from Madagascar, Valrhona Gold cocoa nibs, hibiscus champagne sauce, lemon meringue, fondant butterflies, and angel hair sugar strands. Edible gold and silver leaves are then used to adorn the dish, adding to the luxury.
Krispy Kreme’s Luxe Doughnut
Price: USD 1,685
Known throughout the world for its delicious doughnuts, Krispy Kreme took creativity to new heights in 2014 when it introduced a luxe doughnut worth USD 1,685, making it the “most expensive” doughnut in the world. This decadent treat, created to benefit The Children’s Trust, is covered with 24-carat gold leaf and has a gilded white chocolate lotus encrusted with edible diamonds. The filling, which is made of Dom Perignon champagne jelly, is an absolute show-stopper. The doughnut was served with a fancy cocktail that included raspberry and passion fruit syrup, Courvoisier Cognac, and Dom Perignon 2002.
Byakuya ice cream
Price: USD 6,600 per serving
Cellato, a well-known high-end ice cream manufacturer, recently made news for producing the world’s most expensive ice cream, an accomplishment officially recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records. This sumptuous frozen pleasure, whcich is known as “Byakuya,” is a unique blend of white truffles imported from Alba, Italy, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and sake lees, a byproduct of sake manufacturing. A single 130 mL (4.4 ounce) serving of Byakuya costs an astounding JPY 873,400 (USD 6,696). Notably, white truffles alone can fetch up to USD 15,200 per kilogram, adding to the excessive price of this frozen delicacy. The ice cream comes drizzled in white truffle oil, and is served with a special handmade metal spoon crafted out of the same materials as seen in some of Kyoto’s temples and shrines.
Crystal Macaroons
Price: USD 9,703
Introducing the world’s most expensive macaron: the Crystal Macaron from St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, priced at USD 9,703 as a nod to the hotel’s address — 9703 Collins Avenue. Made with white tea and edible gold leaf, each serve of the macaron includes an overnight stay in a luxury Sky Palace Suite that can accommodate up to eight people. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, the services of a complimentary butler, and the joy of basking in the pinnacle of luxury.
The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence
Price: USD 14,500
In Galle, Sri Lanka, the Fortress Resort and Spa serves one of the world’s most expensive desserts, the Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence, priced at USD 14,500. This ode to stilt fishing was created on special request and features a chocolate fisherman atop an Italian cassata flavoured with Baileys Irish Cream. The showpiece is an 80-carat aquamarine stone on a chocolate stilt, accompanied by a mango and pomegranate compote and a Champagne sabayon sauce garnished with gold leaf. This one-of-a-kind dish requires 48 hours’ notice in advance and is served with bespoke handcrafted glass cutlery designed by Glass Studio for The Fortress. Guests can savour this sumptuous treat in Wine3, the resort’s glass wine cave featuring over 2,000 vintages.
Frrrozen Haute Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae
Price: USD 25,000
The expensive dessert comes with 5 grams of 23-carat edible gold and is topped with a USD 250 La Madeline au Truffle. Adorned with lavish accessories including a golden spoon and an 18-carat gold bracelet encrusted with 1-carat of white diamonds, the ice cream is presented in a goblet covered in edible gold. If you have your heart set on engaging this opulent experience, secure early reservations to allow the restaurant to methodically source truffles from France, cocoas from across the world, and gold from Switzerland. Bearing a staggering USD 25,000 price tag, this Serendipity 3 sundae surpasses its own Golden Opulence Sundae, claiming the top spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Golden Cannoli
Price: USD 26,000
Restaurateur and Chef Jasper Mirabile Jr. has created the world’s most luxurious and premium cannoli, valued at a staggering USD 26,010. This delectable dessert is made with a rich dark chocolate base and filled with whipped ricotta cheese, candied lemon, chocolate, and lemon peel, all wrapped in opulent gold leaf. It’s made to the specifications of an age-old recipe, courtesey of Chef Jasper’s great-grandmother’s, dating back to the 9th century when the Arabs occupied Sicily.
The Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel Faberge Chocolate Pudding
Price: USD 34,500
This lavish dessert was created by culinary master Chef Marc Guibert at Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel in Windermere, Cumbria, aiming to set the world record for the most expensive chocolate pudding. Chef Guibert’s creation, which is embellished as a Fabergé egg replica with a few luxurious decorations, is a monument to his culinary expertise. This regal dessert is a symphony of flavours, comprising four of Belgium’s most beautiful chocolates laced with orange, whisky, and peach hints. The luxurious combination is boosted further with champagne caviar, edible 24-carat gold flakes, and the centrepiece — a two-carat diamond.
The Absurdity Sundae
Price: USD 60,000
You may have heard that the perfect ambience can heighten the culinary experience. This delight, which costs a whopping USD 60,000, not only tantalises the taste buds, but also transports you to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in first-class comfort. A chef awaits at the mountain’s summit, ready to construct your sundae utilising glacial ice taken directly from the spectacular peak. The result is a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or any other flavour you want, created with an exclusive touch of glacial freshness. While the Three Twin’s sundae itself, a delightful banana split, costs a relatively modest USD 3,333.33 to put together, it’s the extras that elevate this experience. The bananas and syrups used in putting together this sweet masterpiece are made from rare wines, adding elegance to the dish. Furthermore, diners are served with an 1850s-era spoon, which adds a historical touch to each mouthful. For those ready to splurge on an outstanding gastronomic excursion, the opportunity to bring a companion along for an additional USD 25,000 is also available for turning this indulgence into a shared adventure.
Diamond Fruitcake
Price: USD 1.72 million
If you can’t choose between cake or carats, how about a cake of carats? Christmas is incomplete without a delicious fruitcake on your dining table. Taking the splendour of the holiday spirit to greater heights, the Takashimaya Department Store in Tokyo made a cake worth USD 1.72 million. Showcased for promotional purposes only, it sat in display at their store premises, featuring 223 diamonds that make up a total weight of 170 carats, thus contributing to its hefty price tag. The cake took almost six months to design and a whole month to prepare. Though the cake itself was edible, the diamonds weren’t. And thus, it became the grandest display fruitcake to ever exist.
Strawberries Arnaud
Price: USD 9.85 million
With a long history dating back to the 18th century, Strawberries Arnaud can be traced back to the creative minds of Pierre Arnaud and his wife, Jeanne, who lived on an island in the French city of Paris. This timeless dish, however, took on a luxury and ultra-expensive twist just a few years ago in the heart of New Orleans, at Arnaud’s Restaurant.
While their typical strawberry dessert, which is a lovely treat in its own right, costs roughly USD 9, Arnaud’s Restaurant chose to take the dessert experience to great new heights for those seeking an ‘I do‘. The special dessert sports a base of classic vanilla ice cream, surrounded by juicy strawberries and topped with billowy whipped cream. It is accompanied by 24-carat gold flake toppings, rich chocolate sauce, and a variety of expensive champagnes and liquors that enhance the flavours of the dish. But, it is the 10.06-carat diamond ring that comes with the beautiful confection that is unquestionably the pièce de résistance. In addition to the diamond engagement ring, the golden spoon is also the talking point of the desirable dish.
Runaway Cake by Debbie Wingham
Price: USD 75 million (Approx.)
Many ultra-expensive wedding cakes tend to cross the seven-figure mark. But there’s one birthday cum engagement cake that takes the crown as the most expensive cake, and thus dessert in the world. Priced at a staggering USD 75 million, the Runaway Cake, which was handcrafted by British designer Debbie Wingham, weighed over a staggering 450 kg (the same as a grizzly bear) comprising 120 kg of fondant and 60 kg of sculpting chocolate.
A wealthy Arab client who wished to remain anonymous due to an NDA ordered this 6-foot-long cake for his daughter’s birthday cum engagement party. Debbie replicated the atmosphere of a high-end fashion show on the cake, with a front row packed with people toting dazzling handbags, sunglasses, and the latest cellphones and tablets. Debbie’s gowns graced the runway, while a committed photographer, caught in fondant form, crouched at the front, clicking away at the ladies. Wingham handcrafted all the figures herself, dedicating 1,100 hours of labour to the creation of this masterpiece. Moreover, 4,000 diamonds of different shapes and colours were also used to add glitter to the Runaway Cake.
(Main image: Lalique; featured image: Alistair Ferrier/PA/Dailymail UK)
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After graduating from Calcutta University, Pallabi started her writing career as a freelancer. "She's so pieces" is the phrase that describes her the best. Pallabi is another typical introvert who loves to hide behind written words. Music is her comfort language. Binge-watching and eating delicious foods is her favourite pastime.
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