Stop the Sleigh: The Dessertery, Raleigh’s Holiday Themed Dessert Cafe is Back

This one’s going to be short and sweet, as I don’t want you to be late to Downtown Raleigh’s largest hot cocoa bar and all-you-can eat dessert café.

This annual Raleigh holiday experience held on select days between Nov 22 – Dec 23, 2024, will be long on sweetness through!

If an all-you-can-eat dessert bar with pastries, multiple forms of cake including cheesecakes, cupcakes, assorted holiday cookies, gingerbread pudding, and 51 hot cocoa toppings gets your taste buds zinging, you’ll want to buy your tickets ASAP.

You may wish to bring a seat belt to strap your child in as they’ll be zinging all over the room from one sweet station to another. 

I did my best to keep an eye on mine at the preview showing, but I lost count after the second plate of tiramisu. 

All the sweets have been hand-crafted by Martin Marietta Center or the Performing Art’s own pastry chef. 

While limited in selection, there are choices for those who are gluten free and vegan. 

As I’m not a sweet tooth person myself, and I was busy chatting to fellow media friends and my kids, I didn’t seek high and low for them, but the girls led me to a deliciously creamy gluten-free chocolate that paired perfectly with a smooth glass of Chilean red wine.

There is a cash bar at the Dessertery if hot chocolate is not enough for the adults in your group.

There will be a range of holiday-themed cocktails the bartender can make for you – think a reindeer cocktail made with prosecco and cranberry juice. I was very happy to see non-Californian red wine. A nice Cab Sav from Chile and a Merlot from Washington State. 

Where is the Dessertery Cafe?

The Dessertery Cafe is located in a small rehearsal room of the Kennedy Theater at the back of the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing arts. Get your tickets here.

All of which is beautifully decorated to keep you in the festive spirit. There are 11 Christmas trees, 215 hanging elements – including Santa and his sleigh riding high above across the room – and 400 sq feet of snow. 

Last year they had fun photo booths as well to capture Christmas themed photos with your loved ones.

Video of the Dessertery

What desserts will be available?

Remember, it’s all unlimited! The 2024 list has not been released yet, but here’s what we indulged on last year at the Dessertery in Raleigh.

• Cupcakes: Chocolate peppermint, red Velvet, peanut Butter Cup
• Cake Bites: NY Style Cheesecake with peppermint bark, flourless chocolate cake, eggnog cheesecake, carrot cake, tiramisu
• Bars: Lemon crumb, Toffee crunch blondie, express chocolate brownie
• Petit Fours: Opera cake bites, profiteroles with caramel cream, coconut financiers with mango, passionfruit compote
• Verrines: Vanilla & Raspberry, lemon meringue, chocolate mousse
• Vegan treats: strawberry cake, flourless chocolate cake, chocolate pudding cake, truffle assortment
• Assorted: Holiday cookies, seasonal bread pudding, areas largest hot chocolate bar with over 100 toppings

If you are gluten free, there will be a few gluten free items. Previously has been chocolate torte, macarons, and the full hot cocoa bar. I don’t think it’s worth it if you are gluten free as options are limited for the price you pay.

2024 Dessertery’s Baker of the Week

This year for 2024 at the Dessertery in Raleigh, a local bakery will be featured as the Baker of the Week, adding to the delicious treats you can eat.

Raleigh Bakers of the Week

• Slice Pie Company Nov 22 & 23 (her pies are yum!)
• Sweet Jane’s Bakery Nov 24 – 30
• Paige Patisserie Dec 1- 7
• Sugar Euphoria Dec 8 – 14
• Edible Art Bakery Dec 15 – 21 (love their gluten free cupcakes. They’re in North Hills)
• Ms B’s Bake Shop Dec 22 -23

Special Events

Throughout the Dessertery’s holiday season, there will be special events and programming. Santa will be one of them! We got to have our photo taken with Santa – our teen and tween are somehow too cool for that now, but Craig and I aren’t!

Although Savannah did enjoy her conversation with Santa at the hot chocolate station, “We spoke about life. Like what I want to do when I’m older. It was a cool conversation actually.”

This year in 2024 at the Dessertery, Santa is scheduled in for:

• Dec 7: 11:30am – 3:30pm
• Dec 13: 5:30pm – 9:30pm
• Dec 21: 5:30pm – 9:30pm

How much is the Dessertery?

Cost: $29 for those 7 & above $15 for ages 2-6, Children under two are free but must be registered as space is limited.

🎄 Tickets: in person at the box office (M-F 10am- 2pm or online.

Is the Dessertery worth it?

Many people want to know if the Dessertery is worth it and that answer will totally depend on a person’s sweet tooth and budget. I thnk the best way to find that out is to compare it to what it will cost you to eat desert at a restaurant or ice cream shop. There you’re looking at around $7 – $12 on average. Pair that with a hot chocolate, it’s probably ranges from $10 – $20 in total.

So now consider, how many sweets do you want to eat? If you want a pure treat experience and are happy to overindulge on a wide variety of treats (I mean it is hard to choose just one in a restaurant) then you may find the Dessertery good value.

Also, factor in that it does have a Christmasy vibe, so it could be worth it, especially with younger kids, and on one of the Santa days.

For me, because I don’t have a sweet tooth, and I’m gluten free so minimal options, I wouldn’t find the Dessertery worth it. My kids have a totally different perspective and LOVE it!

Tell me in the comments what you think!

What are the opening hours for the Dessertery?

You’ll want to plan well as the Dessertery is only opened for select days during the Holiday Season, and with America’s love for sugar, I expect it to be busy.

Select days between Nov 22 – Dec 23, 2024

• Fridays: 5:30-9pm
• Saturdays: 11:30-3:30pm & 5:30 – 9:30pm
• Sundays: 11:30-3:30pm & 5:30 – 8pm
• Sun Dec 15 & 22: 11:30 – 3:30pm & 5:30 – 9:30pm
• Tuesday Dec 17: 4:00 – 6:30pm
• Thurs Dec 19: 2:30 – 3:30pm & 5:30 – 9:30 pm
• Fri Dec 20: 2:30 – 3:30pm & 5:30 – 9:30 pm
• Sat Dec 21: 11:30 – 3:30pm & 5:30 – 9:30 pm
• Sun Dec 22: 11:30 – 3:30pm & 5:30 – 9:30 pm
• Mon Dec 23: 11:30 – 3:30pm & 5:30 – 9:30 pm

Keep the Holiday Fun Going

Don’t just end the Christmas cheer with your spoon down. This year there are an incredible amount of Holiday experiences in Raleigh – all of which are the perfect accompaniment to the Dessertery. 

Here are a few ideas:

• Nothing goes better with dessert than a live performance. As the Dessertery is in the Martin Marietta Center, pairing a Holiday show like the Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker or Christmas Carol by Theater in the Park is a wonderful idea. See our November events guide for more ideas and our best things to do in Raleigh in December guide.
• Why not overindulge in sweets, and then skate it off at The Rink in Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater? Book tickets here
• Walk the streets of Downtown Raleigh enjoying Illuminate Art Walk and include the Dessertery as a stop. Some of our favorite installations are outside Martin Marietta Center. 
• You might want to head to Historic Oakwood Candlelight tour before or after your indulging! (fun way to walk it off)
• Shop for your Holiday gifts at the local stores in Downtown Raleigh and then take a break at the dessert café. Here is a list of places to go Christmas shopping in Raleigh.

We have a holiday bucket list with many more ideas for ways to enjoy the festive season in Raleigh. It’s available to all members of our email community. It’s free and I regularly share free checklists, guides, insider tips, personal stories, fun finds and the best events in Raleigh you don’t want to miss. Join below 👇

Other Christmas Posts

• Best Things to do in Raleigh for the Holiday season
• 12 Amazing North Carolina Holiday Experiences not to miss
• Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour
• What’s happening in Raleigh in November
• See these Christmas Light Displays in the Triangle
• Where to see Santa in the Triangle
• The top festive bars and Christmas pop ups in Raleigh and nearby