Highest-rated dessert shops in the Knoxville area by diners
Highest-rated dessert shops in the Knoxville area by diners
There's no denying that Americans have a sweet tooth—nearly 41% say they enjoy a sweet treat at least once a day, according to a November 2024 YouGov survey.
One of the most popular desserts to dig into is ice cream. An International Dairy Foods Association survey from May 2024 found that just about all Americans (97%) love or like ice cream. The frozen confection has held a special place in the U.S. since the turn of the 19th century with the invention of insulated ice houses. By the mid-1800s, ice cream was manufactured and sold to the masses. Soon, old-fashioned soda fountains started selling sundaes, milkshakes, and ice cream sodas, becoming a gathering place for young people. Today, more than 150 years later, those dessert options not only remain perennial top choices but also evoke a sense of nostalgia and community.
Over the years, Americans' dessert tastes have led to some other tasty trends, from the cupcake craze of the early 2000s thanks to bakeries like Magnolia, Sprinkles, and Crumbs, to the self-serve frozen yogurt frenzy that followed in the early 2010s via Pinkberry, 16 Handles, and Red Mango. Most recently, the 2020s have seen cookies sweep the nation, with chains like Insomnia and Crumbl stoking childhood memories, launching TikTok trends, and growing exponentially.
Today's desserts also go far beyond ice cream, cupcakes, and cookies. Many modern dessert shops are redefining the experience by fusing timeless recipes with multicultural flavors, offering creative twists such as matcha-infused cupcakes, horchata ice cream, and Basque cheesecakes that celebrate both tradition and innovation.
To keep up with the ever-evolving dessert trends, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated dessert shops in the Knoxville area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of February 2025. Restaurants tagged as "desserts" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Knoxville were included. As a result, some restaurants featured may primarily serve other food items.
Whether indulging in a time-honored pie or exploring a fusion delight, the world of desserts remains as vibrant and diverse as the communities that enjoy them. Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list or to find your next sweet treat!
#24. Lulu Liquor Cakes
- Rating: 2.7/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 941 North Broadway Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Custom Cakes, Bakeries, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Insomnia Cookies
- Rating: 2.9/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2121 Cumberland Ave. Ste 103 Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Food Delivery Services
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Pizza Hoss
- Rating: 3.2/5 (44 reviews)
- Address: 7664 Oak Ridge Hwy Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Desserts, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#21. The Cheesecake Factory
- Rating: 3.4/5 (334 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 Morrell Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Desserts, American
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Kobe Japanese Grill
- Rating: 3.4/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6947 Maynardville Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Japanese, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Ham 'N Goodys
- Rating: 3.5/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 1049 North Cedar Bluff Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Desserts, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Bruster's Real Ice Cream
- Rating: 3.8/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 906 East Emory Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop
- Rating: 3.8/5 (105 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5400 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Bruster's Real Ice Cream
- Rating: 3.9/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 906 East Emory Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Ham 'n Goodys
- Rating: 3.9/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 314 South Northshore Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Custom Cakes
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Nixon's Deli
- Rating: 3.9/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5716 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Crumbl - Clinton Hwy
- Rating: 4.0/5 (38 reviews)
- Address: 6672 Clinton Hwy Ste 104 Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Scrambled Jake's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (568 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7428 South Northshore Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Desserts, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#11. KNOX DOUGH
- Rating: 4.0/5 (64 reviews)
- Address: 10605 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Lonesome Dove Western Bistro
- Rating: 4.1/5 (252 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 100 North Central St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Desserts, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Bruster's Real Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.2/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7670 South Northshore Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#8. The Whimsy Cookie
- Rating: 4.2/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 4927 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Hard Knox Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.3/5 (354 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4437 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Pizza, Salad, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Kooky Cookies
- Rating: 4.4/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 10710 Kingston Pike Ste B Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Stock & Barrel
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1854 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 35 Market Sq Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Burgers, Cocktail Bars, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Moonshine Mountain Cookie Company
- Rating: 4.6/5 (103 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7343 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Desserts, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Cinnaholic
- Rating: 4.6/5 (115 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9450 South Northshore Drive Ste 106 Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Desserts, Bakeries, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Nothing Bundt Cakes
- Rating: 4.6/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5300 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Cupcakes
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Hello Tea House
- Rating: 5.0/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 722 South Gay St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Desserts, Creperies
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 241 metros.
