The best dessert of the month clubs for a sweet surprise

In our search for the best dessert of the month club, we discovered so many dessert subscriptions. Needless to say, choosing our favorite wasn’t easy! That said, we were blown away by this cupcake subscription. Wicked Good Cupcakes creates their cupcakes parfait-style. Each one comes in a reusable glass jar with visible layers of cake, frosting and mix-ins like sprinkles, caramel, you name it. Not only are they delicious, but each one is visually stunning, making the subscription a great gift.

My first month’s box arrived with two flavors: carrot cake and red velvet. Both were delicious, moist and not too sweet. The carrot cake’s walnuts and chocolate chips added a nice texture and richness to the treat. I also enjoyed the red velvet cupcake’s cream cheese frosting. Month two arrived with a seasonally appropriate chocolate cupcake that featured a cute bunny motif on top, along with a coconut cupcake. This was probably my favorite month—the bunny was adorable for Easter!

The next month offered a flavor called “The Wicked Good Cupcake.” This namesake treat comprises of chocolate chip peanut butter cake layered with peanut butter frosting and chocolate ganache. Mocha cupcake was the next flavor. It was decadent and made with chocolate cake, espresso frosting, crushed chocolate sandwich cookie and chocolate marshmallow fluff. The cupcakes all arrived in perfect condition thanks to secure packaging.

While you can only purchase a three-month subscription at this time, you can resubscribe as often as you’d like. Choose from two, four or six cupcakes per box. Choosing more cupcakes offers more savings, though at just under $25 per month for the two-pack—or up to $30 per month for the six-pack—it’s a super affordable option either way. After testing for three months, my husband and I both agreed that we’d miss our monthly cupcake delivery!

Best Variety

Harry & David Dessert Club

$129.99 at Harry & David

Given our love for Harry & David, it’s no surprise they also offer one of the best dessert of the month clubs. This sweets subscription box comes in 3-, 6-, and 12-month subscriptions, rather than a classic month-to-month plan. And the contents of each monthly delivery? Delicious. Tester Barbara Zito received a decorative tin which contained four bags bursting with assorted Moose Munch: Classic caramel, milk chocolate, dark chocolate and milk chocolate s’mores.

“MOOSE MUNCH! The snack, the myth, the legend,” raves Barbara. “I’ve only been on the sending side of Harry & David boxes, so to say that I was excited to see my tin of Moose Munch would be an understatement. The popcorn itself is delicious—nice, fat kernels — and the chocolate bits added in really make it special. My favorite was the classic caramel. It was like a high-end Cracker Jacks. The milk chocolate (my fave chocolate) is smooth and delicious. I’m forever ruined from candy aisle chocolate now!”

In addition to Moose Munch, as Barbara received, some months offer chocolates, others offer cookies, and some even feature cheesecake. Yum! While we haven’t tried all the available options, we’ve sampled many of these desserts during our Harry & David review tests. Our verdict? We have yet to be disappointed, which is a good thing given the $45 per month price point.

While some months lean more “snack” than “dessert” (like Barbara’s Moose Munch box), the snacks are still sweet enough to count. And if you’re looking for a club with more cookies (trust us, we get it), you can always take a peek at our favorite cookie-focused club featured later in the list. Since it’s Harry & David, the shipping is pretty pricey at $9 and up. However, if you spend $20 on a Celebrations passport, you enjoy free shipping from the Harry & David’s family of brands for a full year. For folks who send a lot of gifts, it’s worth the splurge.

Best for Cookies

Goldbelly Monthly Cookie Subscription

Shop on Goldbelly

A cookie of the month club is probably the most classic dessert of the month club there is. After all, everyone loves cookies! Goldbelly subscriptions are some of the best food subscriptions we’ve tried, so it’s no surprise the service’s sweet subscriptions deliver on deliciousness. I tested four boxes, all of which came from fancy bakeries across the country.

My boxes included the famous black and white cookies from William Greenberg Desserts, a tin of Brooklyn Blackout Cookies, a box of Chip City cookies and two boxes of Jacques Torres chocolate chip cookies. Each box offered enough goodies for six-eight people, though some (like the gigantic Chip City Cookies) easily feed more.

Overall, I was impressed not only with the flavor and freshness of the cookies, but also the fact that each offers a regional component. Although I’ve never been to New York, the black-and-white and Brooklyn Blackout cookies and William Greenberg black and white cookies offered a freshly baked flavor. I felt like I had just walked away from NYC with a haul of goodies!

While the subscription is a bit pricey at $50 per month, the desserts you receive are often worth more than each monthly charge. Folks who place frequent Goldbelly dessert orders actually end up saving a bit of money by subscribing. Plus, each monthly shipment is totally free, so there’s no hidden costs. Canceling is also simple—just shoot an email over to the team at [email protected]. They can also assist in skipping a month or updating addresses.

Best Chocolates

Compartes Chocolate Club

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It’s no surprise to us that our best chocolate box winner also brings us the best chocolate subscription box. Each month, indulge in a selection of some of the finest chocolates in decadent, gourmet flavors. We tested the Compartés Chocolate of the Month Club box in February—and it wowed us from the moment it arrived.

“February’s box included two chocolate bars: California Berries, a vegan dark chocolate full of dried berries, and Strawberry Shortcake, a white chocolate bar packed with strawberries and airy, crunchy shortcake pieces,” says tester Mary Henn. “The California Berries bar is tart, slightly crunchy and not overly sweet. The Strawberry Shortcake was a pleasant surprise, even for someone who doesn’t typically enjoy white chocolate.”

In addition to chocolate bars, Mary also received an I Love You Chocolates Heart Box, a delightful limited-edition Valentine’s gift. When opened, you’re greeted with chocolates that spell out “I LOVE YOU,” making it as charming as it is tasty. Outside of a subscription, each bar retails for $9.95, bringing the total value of the subscription box to nearly $95 with the heart box factored in. That’s a great value when compared to the $75 subscription price.

While only available as 3, 6 and 12-month subscriptions rather than a traditional month-to-month club, we just know that you’ll enjoy each and every delivery. They also make great gifts for special occasions like birthdays and Mother’s Day. With this subscription, recipients enjoy a great variety in addition to high quality. That’s a rare find!

Best Ice Cream

Jeni's Pint Club

$389 at Jeni's

Enjoy ice cream as much as we do? Try a subscription to Jeni’s Ice Creams. For 3, 6 or 12 months, subscribers enjoy a box of four assorted Jeni’s ice cream pints at their doorstep. While the flavors rotate, subscribers oftentimes enjoy new flavors before they’re released to the public. Tester Katie Bandurski tried one month to get the full scoop on this ice cream subscription.

While shipping ice cream is tricky business, these pints arrive perfectly packaged to prevent melting. In fact, they’re usually rock solid upon arrival and require two hours in the freezer to soften. Katie received four pints in her box, spanning several flavor profiles. Her box contained Blackout Chocolate Cake, Salty Caramel, Brambleberry Crisp and Maple-Soaked Pancakes. Talk about an assortment!

“The mix had a little bit of everything—chocolaty, fruity, salty and even savory. Plus, many of these were flavors I would not have picked out myself. Talk about a great way to widen your ice cream palate,” says Katie. “There’s no denying that at roughly $16 a pint, this club is expensive. However, it’s a sweet gift for ice cream lovers and flavor fanatics. As a one-time treat, it’s absolutely worth the splurge, especially for serious Jeni’s fans who want to score access to new flavors.”

Best for Pies

Goldbelly Pie Club

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Yes, you read that right—another Goldbelly Club made our list. Unlike the Goldbelly cookie subscription, the service’s pie subscription ships out a new pie—or several—each month. Take a trip to some of America’s best bakeries—no plane ticket required! Tester Katie tried the club for three months and enjoyed most of the offerings. Like the Goldbelly cookie club, this pie subscription box comes in three, six or 12-month subscriptions. Or, you can opt to pay month-to-month.

Our inaugural pie arrived in perfect condition. It was wrapped in plastic and placed atop a still-frozen ice pack—plenty of protection to keep it intact, with nary a crumb out of place. Apart from the Sour Cream Apple Walnut Pie, the package also came with a booklet about Little Pie Company, a packing slip and care instructions.

“I LOVED the apples,” raves Katie. “They were tart and super thinly sliced. I was amazed that they weren’t soggy but still had a nice bite. The sour cream added a creaminess I can’t say I’ve tried before. This pie was very good and tasted homemade. A little too sweet for my taste, but exceptional packaging and quality.”

The second month contained hand pies from Hubig’s bakery in New Orleans, though Katie wasn’t a huge fan of these processed pies. That said, she still found them a good value, and folks who don’t care too much about premium ingredients will likely enjoy them. Her third month was another winner, with two desserts from Kern’s Kitchen in Louisville, Kentucky. At around $64.95 per month, this is definitely not a budget subscription. However,  most months meet or exceed this price point, making it a great value for foodies with a sweet tooth.

On Sale

Lowest Price in 30 days Best for Candy

Lollies by Leah LollyBox

24.999% OFF$22.50 at Crate Joy

Know a bonafide sweet tooth? Lollies by Leah combines a monthly theme—in my case, Zodiac—with an assortment of uncommon candy flavors. While the box itself is rather small, don’t let the compact size fool you. Each boasts 14 gourmet, handmade lollypops, which is more than enough to satisfy anyone’s sugar cravings.

The lollipops also aren’t your typical kiddie flavors. Possible options include traditional flavors like salted maple pecan and lemonade, but also fun flavor combos like blue raspberry creamsicle and cherry blossom honeydew. There are also the occasional surprising spicy inclusion like passionfruit chili chamoy and even a few herbal offerings.

Leah has been selling lollies since 2014—that’s over 10 years of experience that goes into each box! Each monthly theme is thoughtful and the hand-poured lollies look as pretty as they are yummy. At around $25 per box, it’s an affordable option for folks who want a little treat, but don’t want to splurge.

What To Look for When Shopping for a Dessert Club

Finding the best dessert of the month club can be tricky, since there are so many options. As an added challenge, everyone likes different things, so it’s important to first do a little research into what makes a good dessert subscription in general. We turned to dessert expert and author of the Cookie Science Cookbook Dikla (Dee) Levy Frances to get the inside scoop on what to look for.

“As a baker with a very sweet tooth, the first thing I look at is quality,” explains Dee. “I would rather receive four amazing cookies than 12 forgettable ones. Pay attention to the ingredients, shipping practices and whether the company specializes in the products they are sending. Freshness and packaging matter more than people realize because even the best dessert won’t survive poor shipping.”

According to Dee, a good dessert club introduces you to new flavors, seasonal treats, and bakeries you might not otherwise discover. They also make fantastic gifts because the fun does not end after one box. However, she explains that, while variety is important, it should not come at the expense of quality.

“At the end of the day, the best dessert club is the one that makes you and your loved ones excited when the delivery shows up at your door.”

How We Found the Best Dessert Clubs

We found the best dessert clubs by—how else?—testing them out ourselves. Over the years, we’ve tested more than 100 gift clubs, with a large portion of those being dessert clubs. For this piece, we first considered the top options we’ve already enjoyed from our search for the best cookie, baking box and chocolate clubs. Then, we went on a search for other highly-rated options that don’t quite fit into our other lists.

Our editors vetted each potential inclusion for quality, quantity, cost and packaging among other criteria. In total, we tested over 10 different dessert subscription boxes, including options offering ice cream, pies and even cupcakes. After enjoying and comparing more than 30 desserts, we feel confident recommending the above picks.

Others We Tested

• David’s Dessert Club: Editor Mary Henn, who tested David’s Cookies Dessert of the Month Club for three months, enjoyed her first and second month surprises of a cookie cake and triple chocolate cheesecake. However, instead of the carrot cake she was advertised for her third month, she received a second cheesecake. Because of this slightly underwhelming inconsistency, we opted to keep this one off our list.
• Wolferman’s Bakery Club: We wanted so badly to love this charming breakfast pastry club. Unfortunately, our tester was unimpressed with the flavor and texture of her doughy scones. “I had heard such great things about Wolferman’s baked goods, and this did not live up to the hype,” says tester Anna Lane. “I don’t know if other items in the subscription are better, but having tried this one baked good I would be hesitant to give this gift and/or try other items.”

FAQ

What is a dessert of the month club?

A dessert of the month clubs (also called a dessert subscription) is a monthly delivery of desserts that arrive right to your doorstep. There are tons of options available, spanning monthly surprises to dedicated subscriptions for pies, cakes and even lollypops!

Why Trust Us

I’ve tested dozens of foods and drinks for Taste of Home, informing pieces like the best coffee concentrates, puzzle subscriptions and candle of the month clubs. Not only am I Taste of Home’s resident food and drinks expert, but I’m also a big fan of food clubs. I’ve personally tested more than 30 different food clubs during my time at Taste. I also enlisted the assistance of my fellow editors and product testers on the Taste of Home team. Over the past few years, we’ve tried well over 100 different gift of the month clubs!

For this piece, we also spoke to dessert expert and author of the Cookie Science Cookbook Dikla (Dee) Levy Frances to collect information about what makes a good dessert club.