1. The Ritz-Carlton Cake at Alba Café
We start our list with something that is a little out of the box. This special treat with dark Valrhona chocolate and orange, may look like a plain rectangular parcel, but it is a Ritz-Carlton signature that you will find at any of its hotels worldwide. It’s an ode to the company’s heritage and has a rich, dark chocolate flavour that is accented with sharp candied orange. Its easy-to-transport packaging makes it an impressive food gift to give at dinner parties.
Dhs26. Open daily 8am-11pm. Alba Café, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal (02 818 8888).
2. Guava Cheesecake at Asia de Cuba
You know you can expect a flurry of fusion from this Chino-Latin restaurant and this dessert is no exception. It layers the sweet and the savoury to create one curious, but delicious plate. Inspired by the Cuban pastry casquitos de guyaba con queso, a vanilla bean cream cheese cake is baked, whipped and piped onto coconut tuile tiles. It is served with fresh guava and topped with dehydrated coconut, pink papaya, mango and kiwi.
Dhs50. Daily noon-3pm, 6pm-midnight. Asia de Cuba, Nation Riviera, Corniche Road, Al Khalidiyah (02 699 3333).
3. Rosewater Raspberry Dome at Café Bateel
A refreshing taste of the Middle East comes dressed up in the shape of this next number. It might look like a small shot, but it packs quite a punch. A velvety raspberry coulis cuts through a luscious rosewater mousse that sits atop a crumbly almond shortcrust.
Dhs29. Open daily 8am-11pm. Café Bateel, The Galleria, Al Maryah Island (02 671 2284).
4. Chocolate Fudge Cake at Beverly Cakes 
If you’ve got a weakness for chocolate we apologise for what we’re about to tell you. This decadent cake stacks up beautifully dense chocolate/fudge layers that have been separated for no other reason than to make way for a gooey, glossy chocolate frosting. Piped frosting rosettes make it ready for purchase. The bad news (although we think it really is a matter of perspective) is that all cakes and pies available at the shop are sold whole – no meagre slivers here. Makes you want to dive in for a lick, doesn’t it?
Dhs500. Open daily 10am-9pm. Beverly Cakes, Khalifa City (02 444 9669).
5. Flan BrÉsilienne at Brasserie Angelique
The French do love their desserts. And we love them for their sweet contribution to the culinary world. This flan is even better than the ones you will find at a Parisian café. In true Brasserie Angélique style it has been pumped up to greater heights. A disc of delightful vanilla flan holds the central position. Around it are portions of banana compote with banana and sugarcane ice cream, while caramelised hazelnuts and delicate coconut tuile make up the garnish.
Dhs45. Open daily 7pm-11.30pm. Brasserie Angélique, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers (02 811 5666).
6. Pavlova at Brasserie Flo
If eating this dessert, that is named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, brings you as much joy as a child who gets candy, then Brasserie Flo’s signature dessert is a must-try. A fluffy English custard is spread over a crunchy, light meringue that is topped with red fruit and mandarins. A drizzle of mandarin coulis provides an extra citrus hit.
Dhs45. Open daily 3.30pm-11pm. Brasserie Flo, Venetian Village, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Al Maqtaa (02 404 1931).
7. Cheesecake Alfajor at Bu!
This is a deconstructed dish that celebrates Latin America in a gloriously sweet way. The baked dulce de leche cheesecake is sandwiched between two rounds of shortbread. A caramel filling pushes it higher up on the chart of decadence and the plate is garnished with chocolate nougat, toasted crumble and fresh berries.
Dhs45. Sun-Thu noon-3pm, 6pm-2am, Fri-Sat noon-3am. Bu! World Trade Center Mall, Airport Road, Abu Dhabi (02 304 8179).
8. Date & Honey Tart at Carluccio’s
This popular Italian chain aces more than just its tiramisu. Another favourite at the restaurant, this tart features a flaky fluted pastry base that is filled with dates, pistachios, pecans and walnuts. If you love nuts, well…
Dhs34. Open daily 10am-10pm. Carluccio’s, Eastern Mangroves Promenade, Al Salam Street, Eastern Mangroves (02 641 2231).
9. Melting Chocolate Sphere at Catch 
There is no such thing as too much of a good thing. Especially if the “thing” in question is chocolate. The name is just a partial giveaway into what you can expect. Think of this dessert as an edible piñata. A chocolate “ball” dissolves right before your eyes to reveal what’s been hiding inside. Make room for a scoop of chocolate mousse, marshmallows and chunks of choco brownie.
Dhs59. Open daily noon-midnight, upper terrace from 6pm-3am. Catch, Nation Riviera Boat Club at St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Corniche Road (02 611 0909).
10. Chocolate Mousse Pastry at Dusit Gourmet 
The hotel’s little café pit stop is stocked with freshly baked goods and savouries. This dessert is for all chocolate lovers. At the base sits a layer of sponge, over it lies a delicate slice of dark choccy mousse and on top of that is a log of white chocolate mousse. It is garnished with gold leaf and a bunch of fresh berries.
Dhs28. Open daily 10am-10pm. Dusit Gourmet, Dusit Thani, Muroor Road (02 698 8888).
11. Black Forest Cake at Fifth Street Café
Step inside this downtown café for a cup of coffee and an indulgent piece of cake. The Black Forest cake has a moist crumb and layers of frosting that are dotted with plump cherries. Shards of chocolate garnish the top of this German classic that is very popular in Abu Dhabi.
Dhs25. Open daily 6am-1am. Fifth Street Café, Courtyard by Marriott Abu Dhabi, World Trade Center, Al Markaziya (02 698 2222).
12. Elegant Carrot Cake at Firin
Not only is it elegant, but this sweet treat is also gluten-free (if that’s what you’re after). Juicy shreds of carrot find their way into a dense sponge that is spiced with cinnamon and pumpkin. A squiggle of frosting over the top lures in regular customers.
Dhs15. Open Sat-Thu 8am-8pm. Firin, near Al Bateen Airport, Al Rawdht (02 447 1711).
13. Chocolate Molten Cake at Vienna Plaza 
Let’s face it, almost every restaurant has a version of the chocolate lava cake. But none of them come served with a tempered white chocolate tile that has the board of one of the most beloved board games printed on it, now do they? You won’t need to roll the dice to know that this dessert is a winner.
Dhs40. Open daily 7am-1am. Vienna Plaza, Hilton Abu Dhabi (02 692 4171).
14. Hazelnut Beetroot Muffin by ICONS Coffee Couture
Seven is this treat’s lucky number, as it is the amount of ingredients used to make this handcrafted goodie. The healthy muffin is gluten-free, sugar-free and paleo-friendly. You won’t find any refined sugars in this little guy. It is served with a scoop of the café’s famous date ice cream.
Dhs32. Open Sun-Thu 7.30am-11pm, Fri-Sat 7.30am-midnight. Icons Coffee Couture, Deerfields Mall, Al Shahama (02 564 6022).
15. Praline Éclair at L’Artisan Gourmand 
If all you are craving is a sweet little bite to end your meal, an éclair is what you should be after. This one from the shop’s classic collection is hazelnut-flavoured and has a piped filling of pastry cream. A chocolate coating is spread over the light choux biscuit and is garnished with caramelised hazelnuts.
Dhs20. L’Artisan Gourmand, Al Wahda Mall extension, Al Wahda (050 608 9399).
16. Sacher Cake at La Brioche 
The famous Viennese cake is given a tart-like twist. A rich chocolate cake is punctuated with strawberry jam, instead of the more traditional apricot flavour. You need to order in advance at the moment, but it will be available daily from September 15.
Dhs160 (whole cake). Open daily 8am-midnight. La Brioche, Dalma Mall, Mussafah (02 552 5486).
17. Nutella & Gelato Pizza at La Mamma
Gelato and pizza. Two Italian creations that have travelled the world (and probably whose authenticity has become a little diluted along the way). But at La Mamma you can expect true flavours from the boot-shaped country. And they bring these two champions together to make one cracking tag team. It is just as the name suggests, Nutella and ice cream smeared on a crunchy pizza casing.
Dhs38. Open daily noon-3.30pm, 6pm-11pm. La Mamma, Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Corniche Road (02 677 3333).
18. Pistachio Cake at Majlis Alfareej 
This new Emirati restaurant boasts some yummy desserts, but our particular favourite is this very moreish green pistachio cake. The moist crumb helps you cut through the wedge with absolute ease when slicing. The flavour of the cake isn’t overpowering, even when you dig into it with the creamy pistachio icing that drips over the sides.
Dhs26. Open daily 9am-midnight. Majlis Alfareej, Darwish Tower, Danet Al Muroor (02 665 3653).
19. Red Velvet at Todd English’s Olives
Celebrity chef Todd English has put his own little spin on the classic red velvet cake. He’s taken its humble origins up a few notches to make it a worthy inclusion on his restaurant’s menu. A duo of piped cream cheese logs are placed on top of a piece of red velvet cake and a quenelle of strawberry sorbet lies on one side should you need a refreshing palate cleanser. Strawberry caviar and fresh berries complete the picture.
Dhs40. Open daily 12.30pm-11pm. Todd English’s Olives, Venetian Village. The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi (02 404 1941).
20. Zaatar Chocolate Fudge Cake at Piano Lounge 
You know that you are well and truly living in the UAE when you find a smidgen of zaatar in your dessert. A fudgy chocolate cake, which is laced with the region’s famous herb mixture, is sliced into two halves to make room for a tranche of a rich date crème brulée. A final chocolate glaze goes over the top.
Dhs150 (whole cake). Open daily 24 hours. Piano Lounge, InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al Markaziyah (800 423 463).
21. Rice Pudding at Rice Creamery 
This will not taste like the pudding your nan used to make. But that’s because you can jazz up an ordinary bowl of rice pudding with a number of flavours and toppings. Red velvet, tiramisu, toffee, coconut – there are over 30 types to pick from. As for the toppings – there’s a variety of nuts and cookies, caramel, fruit or chocolate – have it as you please.
Dhs18 (small cup), Dhs23 (medium cup). Open Sat-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Fri 10am-midnight. Rice Creamery, Dalma Mall, Mussafah (050 220 4831).
22. Banana Wontons at Teatro 
Although Elvis may have loved his peanut butter, banana and meat sandwiches, most of us would probably find the combination revolting. But what his taste in sarnies does tell you is that the humble banana is actually quite versatile. In this dessert, wonton wrappers are filled with the fruit and fried until golden and crunchy. The little rolls come served alongside a pot of dulce de leche. We think Mr Presley would have liked this one.
Dhs50. Open daily 6pm-1am. Teatro, Park Rotana Abu Dhabi, Park Rotana Complex (02 657 3333).
23. Anything at The Cheesecake Factory
Our editor wouldn’t let us release this list unless we featured his one-stop-cake-shop. The portions here are ginormous, so if you have a sweet tooth we suggest going here specifically for a slice or two and skipping the main meals altogether – that way you can do true justice to your wedge. The key lime cheesecake is just as indulgent as its chocolate counterparts and will leave you with a refreshing taste in your mouth.
Open Sun-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 10am-midnight. The Cheesecake Factory, Yas Mall, Yas Island (02 492 6633).
24. Raspberry Decadence at The Foundry 
We hear the pastry chef at The Foundry drew inspiration from artist Pablo Picasso and his trailblazing ways. The chief element in this halo is a raspberry flavoured mousse, which is given a mirror-gel finish that produces a sparkly sheen. Cream cheese blobs, a raspberry-flavoured macaron, sorbet and a cream cheese mound that is sprayed with a raspberry and white chocolate emulsion, all combine to make the dessert as intriguing as the great artist’s paintings.
Dhs65. Open daily 6am-10.30am, noon-3pm, 7pm-11pm. The Foundry, Southern Sun Abu Dhabi (02 818 4888).
25. TLRC Trio of Cheesecakes at The Living Room Café 
Why settle for one cheesecake when you can have three? An obvious question you would ask yourself if you were dining at this neighbourhood café. First up is the white chocolate cheesecake – smooth and silky. Next is the rich Oreo cheesecake and the final wedge is of a lemon one, to balance all that sweet goodness. You could try and share this with friends, or you could just keep it all to yourself.
Dhs45. Open Sun-Thu 7.30am-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 8.30am-11.30pm. The Living Room Café, Khalidiya Village, Al Khalidiya (02 639 6654).
