There are plenty of restaurants to go in Champaign-Urbana that are sure to satisfy whatever type of food craving you have — and there are many great options for sugary treats in town.
Where should those with sweet tooths go? Join me as I share my experiences at five places in Champaign and Urbana perfectly suited to satiate any fan of sweets. This list only scratches the surface. Even so, I hope you found at least one new place to try while reading. From extravagant milkshakes to fruit tarts, there is something for everyone.
Photo by by Matthew Macomber.
Cake Pops and Petit Four | The Cake Artist’s Studio
If you want to eat cake served in several different forms, The Cake Artist’s Studio is the place for you. Full-sized cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, and petit fours are some of the great sweets made at this wonderful local shop. This time around, I tried both the cake pops (vanilla and chocolate) for $3 each and a petit four ($3.50). The cake pops were incredibly moist, thanks to the surrounding layer of chocolate. The same was also true of the white chocolate-covered petit fours, although the true standout for that treat was the thick layer of buttercream frosting on the cake. At the Cake Artist’s Studio, you’ll rarely find the same thing twice, so wander over and give it a try.
The Cake Artist’s Studio
1100 W Bloomington Rd
Champaign
T-F 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sa 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Photo by Matthew Macomber.
Milkshake | El Oasis
Finally, we have El Oasis. While they specialize in Mexican-style ice cream (both dairy and dairy-free), I decided to try something a little different this time. Made from their Oreo ice cream, this milkshake ($4.49) was covered in chocolate syrup and topped with various chocolate treats that they also sell at the store. I chose to eat these snacks after drinking the thick, rich shake, but others may like to eat them right away. The treats stayed crispy the entire time, so choose what you prefer.
El Oasis
510 N Cunningham St
Urbana
M-F noon to 9 p.m.
Sa+Su noon to 8 p.m.
Photo by Matthew Macomber.
Strawberry Cream Bundt | Nothing Bundt Cakes
New to town, Nothing Bundt Cakes sells both small and large bundt cakes near the Champaign mall. Like the strawberry cream bundt ($4.75) I ordered, each of these cakes were artfully decorate with a creamy frosting. The store did a good job keeping their cake from drying out, so give them a visit if that is of high importance to you. I enjoyed the strawberry mixed into the bundt cake itself for the cake I ordered, as well.
Nothing Bundt Cakes
408 W Town Center Blvd
Champaign
M-F 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sa 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Photo by Matthew Macomber.
Matcha Shu Cream | Suzu’s
I also tried a matcha shu cream ($3.50) from Suzu’s, a Japanese Bakery. This dessert may be small and light, but it certainly isn’t lacking in flavor. The bitter matcha green tea cream helps the sweetness of the vanilla cream stand out even better than when it is on its own. Using the top of the shu cream to scoop out the interior cream helps this sweet experience last all that much longer. Sweets from Suzu’s tend to be less sweet than those from other places on this list, so give them a try if you don’t want a sugar overload.
Suzu’s – A Japanese Bakery
114 N Walnut St
Champaign
W-Sa 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Su 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Photo by Matthew Macomber.
Blueberry Tart | Tasty Tart
As seen by this blueberry tart, Tasty Tart specializes in wonderful presentation. Thankfully, the taste does not fall short of the appearance. Their blueberry tart ($4.99) was piled high with fresh, juicy blueberries. The smooth, slightly tart fruit cream filling was helped by the crisp out layer of the tart. Order online, so you can see all of their flavors — and don’t miss out if your favorite sells out.
Tasty Tart
405 S Neil St
Champaign
T-Su 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.