When contemplating a trip to Vienna, images of scrumptious sweets inevitably spring to mind and this article is your guide to discovering – and sampling – the best desserts in Vienna.
From the world-renowned Sachertorte to the fluffiest Strudels to the Austrian takes on pancakes and crepes, Vienna has no shortage of delicious desserts to keep your sweet tooth satisfied during your next trip to Central Europe.
But before we dive into this list of the best desserts in Vienna, let’s have a look at the Austrian capital’s coffee house culture, one of the city’s defining features.
Vienna’s Coffee House Culture
The history of Vienna is so intertwined with its coffee house culture that the latter was inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2011. The Viennese were introduced to coffee after the end of the Ottomans’ Siege of Vienna in 1683. Since then, hundreds of coffee houses opened in the city.
Apart from simply serving coffee, Vienna’s coffee houses soon became cultural hubs and meeting spots for writers, poets, and intellectuals who sought refuge within the walls of the elegant coffee houses to write their masterpieces, always by the sound of classical music.
Some of Vienna’s oldest coffee houses didn’t survive the relentless passing of time, but those that did still stand as a testament to Vienna’s past grandeur. Among them, Café Demel, Café Central, Café Landtmann, Café Hawelka, and Café Sperl stand out.
Alongside those, modern cafés address younger or alternative crowds. No matter which coffee houses you visit during your trip to Vienna, they’re all the perfect places to try some of the best Viennese desserts, paired with a cup of delicious Viennese hot chocolate.
10 Best Desserts in Vienna To Try on Your Next Austria Trip
1. Sachertorte
Sachertorte is the indisputable queen of Viennese desserts. It’s a dense chocolate cake with thin layers of apricot jam inside, topped with dark chocolate and often served with unsweetened whipped cream on the side.
This decadent cake was named after Franz Sacher, the apprentice chef who came up with the original recipe for Sachertorte when he was only 16 years old. He did so to impress Prince Metternich and he was successful. You can try the original Sachertorte at the historic Café Sacher in the heart of Vienna, which has been serving the original cake for centuries.
Of course, there are several other Sachertorte variations to try across the city. One of the best is the equally famous Eduard Sachertorte served at Café Demel with a pinch of an intriguing backstory that involves lawsuits between Hotel Sacher and Café Demel as to which coffee shop serves the original version.
2. Apfelstrudel
A true symbol of Austrian culinary expertise, Apfelstrudel – or Apple Strudel – is probably the most popular among the best desserts in Vienna on our list. Austrians love Strudel so much that it’s considered one of the country’s national dishes.
Apple Strudel consists of thin layers of dough filled with a delicious apple-based filling with a delicate sweet cinnamon flavor.
You can try Apple Strudel anywhere in Vienna: from historic coffee houses to modern cafés to bakeries scattered across the city. If you can handle more sweetness – who can’t? – you can order your Strudel served with vanilla ice cream, vanilla sauce, or whipped cream.
3. Topfenstrudel
Since we’re on the subject of Strudel, another popular variation is Topfenstrudel or Cream Cheese Strudel. The latter consists of thin and flaky pastry layers filled with rich cheese custard cream.
Although this Strudel has its origins in Hungary, it’s a favorite among Austrians who love it as much as the aforementioned Apple Strudel.
You can try Topfenstrudel in any café or bakery in Vienna. Similar to Apple Strudel, sometimes Topfenstrudel is served with vanilla ice cream or vanilla sauce.
4. Kaiserschmarren
Loosely translated into The Emperor’s Mess, there’s nothing messy about Kaiserschmarren, a divine dessert that you just can’t miss when in Vienna.
Kaiserschmarren is a type of scrambled caramelized pancakes topped with icing sugar and served alongside a sweet thick sauce made of apples or other fruit. It may not sound much, but it’s absolutely delicious.
Café Demel is one of the best places to try Kaiserschmarren in Vienna. While there, apart from sampling this delectable dessert, you can also see the pastry chefs in action as they prepare Kaiserschmarren before your very eyes.
5. Punschkrapfen
The bijou and all-pink Punschkrapfen is probably the most photogenic among the best desserts in Vienna. But don’t be tricked by its tiny size. Punschkrapfen is loaded with sweetness.
This luscious dessert consists of a sponge cake soaked in rum and covered in thick rum and sugar icing. Its origins are lost in history. Some say it dates back to the Middle Ages, others attribute it to the Ottoman Empire, while there’s also a theory that it was invented by the pastry chef of an imperial court.
No matter how Punschkrapfen came to be, one thing’s for sure: you have to try it. Any Aida Café of several that dot Vienna’s streets is the best place to try Punschkrapfen.
6. Marillenknodel
Speaking of bite-sized sweet treats, Marillenknodel is yet another of the best desserts in Vienna that may not impress you with its size at first glance. Marillenknodel consists of dumplings made of cheese-based dough and filled with cored apricots.
Beloved by common people and emperors alike, Marillenknodel was a favorite of Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria. It’s said that he requested Marillenknodel even when apricots were out of season. To the dismay of his cooks, he would insist: I am the Emperor, and I want dumplings!
Nowadays, his problem would be solved as Marillenknodel is even available in the frozen food sections of Austrian supermarkets.
7. Vanillekipferl
If you’re planning to visit Vienna for your Christmas break – which you definitely should as the Austrian capital boasts some of the best Christmas markets in Europe – you must try Vanillekipferl. These crescent-shaped cookies are among the most beloved Christmas cookies in Europe.
The dough is made of ground almonds (or walnuts) and flavored with vanilla. After the cookies are baked, they’re covered in icing sugar. The shape of Vanillekipferl is said to have been chosen to commemorate the Austrians’ victory over the Ottomans during the 1683 Battle of Vienna – the crescent cookies symbolize the half moon of the Turkish flag.
You can try Vanillekipferl at coffee houses and bakeries. During Advent and Christmas, the cookies are omnipresent throughout Vienna.
8. Palatschinken
Palatschinken is the Austrian – and German – take on French crepes and one of Vienna’s traditional desserts.
Eggs, flour, and milk are mixed to produce a delicious batter that will be turned into super thin layers filled with fruit jam, most often apricot or plum jam, then rolled and sprinkled with icing sugar.
You can try Palatschinken at any café across Vienna, no matter if it’s one of the fancy historic ones or the more laid-back establishments, mostly frequented by locals.
9. Krapfen
Since we’re talking about the Viennese takes on desserts that are popular throughout (Central) Europe, now’s the best time to introduce you to Krapfen. The latter is the Austrian version of fried doughnuts filled with apricot jam or cream – either vanilla or chocolate.
You can try Krapfen at any bakery in Vienna any time of the year. However, Austrian doughnuts are at their best – and most varied – in February, as it’s customary for locals to eat Krapfen during the Carnival season that precedes Lent, leading up to Easter.
So, if you happen to be in Vienna for the Carnival celebrations, you might want to indulge in one or three of these fried masterpieces.
10. Dobostorte
Our last recommendation on this list of the best desserts in Vienna isn’t actually an Austrian creation. Dobostorte is a typical Hungarian sponge cake layered with chocolate buttercream and topped with caramel.
The cake was invented in the late 1800s by a Hungarian chef and it soon became a favorite of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
Thanks to the cake’s durability through shipping, Dobostorte became a popular dessert throughout Central Europe. In Vienna, you can try Dobostorte at the finest coffee houses and pastry shops.
Taste Vienna’s Best Desserts With JayWay
On your quest to sample the most celebrated Austrian desserts, you’re not alone. Our local teams in Central Europe are the perfect people to recommend their favorite cake shops, coffee houses, and other places to try some of the best desserts in Vienna.
So, whether you set out on an Austrian adventure or a journey to uncover the charms of Central Europe’s magic three – Vienna, Prague, and Budapest – rest assured that your trip will be sprinkled with enough sugar to create the sweetest memories of Europe.
Born and raised in Athens, Maria’s passionate about travel and storytelling, a combination that makes her ideal for her role as our content manager.