I’ve never understood why dessert has to be attached to something as a reward. Why can’t we just enjoy it for what it is, no matter the occasion?
There’s always been this idea that you have to “earn” dessert to justify having it. But there have been so many times when I’ve had dessert simply because I wanted it. Dessert makes a bad day a little better. Sometimes you just want something sweet. I don’t think you need much more of a reason than just that.
With that being said, I’ve created my own unofficial sweet treat schedule: a dessert for every mood, occasion, or random craving.
Midnight Snack = Chocolate Chips
Whenever it’s late at night and I’m bored, or I just need something to make me happy, I already know what I’m reaching for.
My roommate and I are intense sweet treat lovers, and our cravings can get pretty serious. Something we almost always have on hand is chocolate chips. We’ll literally shovel down handfuls of them while debriefing our days to each other.
I don’t know why chocolate chips taste a million times better late at night. Maybe it’s because there’s no cleanup or because they’re quick and easy. It might just be that eating chocolate chips straight out of the bag feels more acceptable after midnight.
Either way, the best part about not having to make anything is that it costs us almost nothing to feel a little happier.
Survived an Exam = Cookies
I don’t know about you guys, but especially after exams, I feel like I’ve gotten hit by a bus.
Being a STEM major means that these chemistry exams have been kicking me to the ground, and one thing that always seems to restore a little peace is a simple chocolate chip cookie afterward.
Wanting a cookie after an exam is honestly an intense desire. Whether it’s a Suwannee cookie or a slightly stale Chips Ahoy that’s been sitting in my room, it always seems to make me feel at least a little better.
Bad Day = Ice Cream
When I’m having a bad day, I don’t necessarily want something exciting. I want something I already know I like.
When I was home, my bad-day routine usually involved curling up under my covers, getting my laptop, and putting on I Love LA or the Pretty Lonesome with Madeline Argy podcast while eating The Tonight Dough. Since coming to college, I haven’t quite recreated the whole ice-cream-in-bed routine, but the idea is still there.
I think that’s why ice cream works so well when I’m having a bad day. I know it’ll always be there when I need it. There’s something comforting about having something predictable when I’m feeling off.
And if I’m having a bad day because the Suwannee food isn’t exactly what I’m craving, I know I can always count on the soft serve.
Homesick = Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon rolls will always remind me of home. Growing up, I’ve always loved them, so they’re one of the first desserts I think about when I miss home. The night before I left for college, my dad even pulled out a tin of those easy-to-make Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. It’s such a small memory, but it’s stuck with me.
I know cinnamon rolls aren’t the fanciest dessert, but that’s kind of the point. They’re familiar, something I’ve had at home for years. When you’re already missing everything comfortable, sometimes you don’t want a fancy dessert you’ve never had before. You want the thing you already know.
For me, that’s a warm cinnamon roll with a heaping amount of icing.
Out With Friends = Frozen Yogurt
I love frozen yogurt. Coming from a place where I was always close to a Menchie’s, college has made me realize just how much I took frozen yogurt for granted. Seriously, why is there no frozen yogurt in Tallahassee?
For now, my friends and I have to make the trek to Pensacola Street to get the car and then drive fifteen minutes to Nuberri. But honestly, frozen yogurt is worth it.
The best part is getting to customize exactly what you want. My go-to is cheesecake frozen yogurt with Oreos and whatever other toppings I’m feeling that day.
I could probably spend an embarrassing amount of time deciding what toppings I want, but that’s part of the fun. Getting frozen yogurt with friends is less about the actual dessert and more about everyone standing around trying to decide what combination of toppings somehow makes sense or trying to figure out who’s going to be the heaviest.
Celebration = Pizookie
Celebrations typically call for cake. But I think that a new fan favorite deserves a spot at the table: the pizookie.
A giant warm cookie topped with ice cream is basically the perfect combination of two desserts, which makes it ideal for celebrating pretty much anything. A good grade? Pizookie. Making it through a particularly difficult week? Pizookie. Surviving college for another week? You guessed it, also a pizookie.
There’s also something about getting one with friends that makes it feel more celebratory. It’s warm, messy, and it’s definitely not something I want to eat alone. Could I eat a pizookie all by myself? Probably. But it wouldn’t be nearly as fun.
Fall Day = Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin bread is basically fall in dessert form.
There’s something about a warm slice of pumpkin bread that makes even 90-degree days feel slightly more like fall. Which is especially important when I’m walking around campus sweating and pretending that jeans are still a reasonable choice.
Even though it feels nothing like fall, I’m most definitely going to eat pumpkin bread like it is.
Heat Calls For Açaí BowlS
Technically, an açaí bowl might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “dessert,” but I think that it absolutely counts.
When it’s ridiculously hot outside and I’m craving something sweet, an açaí bowl from the Leach Center’s Shake Smart hits the spot. Or just simply after a workout. It’s cold, refreshing, and exactly what I want after spending the day walking around campus.
I think I’ve proved to myself that I can find a reason to eat dessert for basically anything. Bad day? Ice cream. Exam? Cookie. Missing home? Cinnamon roll. It’s 90 degrees in September? Açaí bowl. I saw a pizookie on TikTok? Suddenly I have a reason to celebrate.
I’m probably going to eat dessert whether I have a reason or not. You really don’t ever need an excuse.
Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest!