Seventh place: The Gallery at Snyder/Phillips Hall — Honeybun Coffee Cake

This dish was sweet and fluffy, with a nutty filling. For my first time trying coffee cake, I was satiated with this! It was the least memorable or extraordinary dish of the list. I usually find honeybuns to be too sweet, but I felt the coffee cake balanced out the sweetness enough for it to not be too overwhelming. Overall, a 6.5 out of 10 for The Gallery.

Sixth place: The Edge at Akers Hall — Extreme Salted Caramel Cupcake

The dessert was tasty; a vanilla cupcake with a dollop of caramel on the top. I have never disliked a cupcake I have eaten, however I was angered greatly at the title for this dessert! I took a bite expecting extreme saltiness, only to be met with the comforting — albeit familiar — sweetness of a normal cupcake. I do wonder if an extremely salty cupcake would have put The Edge at the bottom of the ranking, but I guess we’ll never know. Seven out of 10.

Fifth place: South Pointe at Case Hall — Mint Chocolate Chip Pie

South Pointe gets extra points for being the most unique of the desserts I came across this week. I am a fervent defender of mint chocolate chip as a flavor. To all those who claim it tastes like toothpaste, you should brush your teeth more often. This was a creamy, refreshing dish and I was delighted at the surprise chocolate chips inside. South Pointe gets an 8 out of 10!

Fourth place: The Vista at Shaw Hall — Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

I was very happy with this dessert! The crust was buttery and flaky, a mark of a good pie. I am also a sucker for chocolate chip cookies in general, and this slice was basically just a big chocolate chip cookie. I shouldn’t be surprised, it’s in the name. The Vista comes in fourth with an 8.5 out of 10.

Now, on to the podium.

Bronze: Heritage Commons at Landon Hall — Caramel Covered Cheesecake

Cheesecake is by far my favorite dessert, so Heritage Commons definitely had an advantage going in. The consistency was perfectly thick, with a sweet but rich taste made even better by the caramel. This dessert gets a 9 out of 10.

Silver: Thrive at Owen Hall — Pomegranate and Orange Dole Whip

Thrive, being an allergen friendly dining hall, has the ultimate trump card when it comes to tasty summer desserts. I couldn’t decide between the pomegranate and the orange flavors during my visit, so I got both in a swirl! The bowl was fresh, fruity and delectable — I expect nothing less from Dole Whip. Thrive is certainly underrated in my eyes, and earns a 9.5 out of 10!

Gold: Brody Square at Brody Hall — Vegan Chocolate Cake

I went to Brody Square with a friend of mine who cannot consume dairy, so imagine my happiness when we were able to share this slice! This cake was incredibly rich. I was in awe at the strength of the chocolate flavor through every bite. I would have expected a vegan cake to be less flavorful due to the substituted ingredients, but I was wrong! I’ve seen this dessert at other dining halls in the past, so I cannot recommend it more if you see it. Chocolate cake has my heart. An enthusiastic 10 out of 10!

From one foodie to another, take advantage of your dining plan and peruse the desserts at your local dining hall. You may find yourself lying awake at night a decade from now, blindly reaching for the cookies at Shaw Hall.