Let Them Eat Cake...

This list wasn't a piece of cake to make, but at least my head is still intact! Here is a list of Philadelphia's best dessert destinations, whether you're celebrating your birthday or just cravings some carbs!

1. Ocean Prime - ten layer carrot cake

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10! The name of this dessert is not an exaggeration. On the contrary, it should be taken quite literally. If you count each layer of spice cake atop a layer of cream cheese, it adds up to ten. But you can't eat ten layers in one bite; I think I could only fit about five on my fork! It may cost more than a cheap dinner, but considering the fact this is the Mount Everest of cakes, and you can easily split it among a few people, it's worth the steep price tag. I give this cake a 10 out of 10. Just don't knock it over or you'll be yelling tiiiiimber!

2. Bud & Marilyn's - funfetti cake

How's the weather up there? This sky-high cake may only have about half as many layers as the carrot cake, but it has just as much flavor and personality! After all, size doesn't matter anyway. I can't decide if it reminds me more of a soft-serve vanilla cone with rainbow sprinkles or a sundae with strawberry glaze. One thing is certain though: rainbow sprinkles >>> chocolate sprinkles. I don't remember what my fortune cookie told me, but I predict after reading this article, you'll see this cake in your future. It's your lucky day!

3. Spice Finch - chocolate tahini cake

Ah, a cake that has its feet on the ground rather than its head in the clouds. Well, a piece of cake doesn't have either of those body parts, but this cake will have you tripping head over heels. Tahini, a Mediterranean condiment made of ground sesame seeds, may not be the first thing you'd imagine on a cake, but don't knock it till you try it! Presentation alone, this might be the most photogenic cake on this list, especially with the intricately designed plate, blood orange sorbet and beautiful food blogger taking a picture in the reflection of the spoon!

4. Mango Mango - mango crepe cake

Hmmm, any wild guesses what flavor this dessert shop specializes in? While I was at Mango Mango, a quirky cafe in Chinatown, I noticed the multiple crates of mangoes, and I wondered how many mangoes they use in a day. Of course they serve mango sticky rice and mango sorbet, but seeing as crepes are my favorite food, you didn't have to ask me twice what I wanted. A bunch of crepes stacked on top of each other? With mango glaze and diced mango on top? Pinch me, I'm dreaming. I thought the consistency of this "cake" might be too dense, but it was the opposite- soft and airy, like a marshmallow. Now, you're probably asking yourself, "You're telling me this dessert is a combination of crepes, cake and mousse, AND it's mango flavored?! Arguably one of the best fruits?!" Yes, and if you've made it to this point in the article and aren't already halfway there, what are you doing?

5. Devon Seafood Grill - carrot cake

One post, two carrot cakes. Although these carrot cakes couldn't be more different- namely, this one is a normal size- both were equally as yummy! Carrot cake may be tied with cheesecake as my favorite kind of cake because, oddly enough, I love cakes on the savory end of the spectrum (although red velvet is also at the top of my list). I think I've discovered the secret- seafood restaurants unexpectedly have the best carrot cake! But unlike Ocean Prime, Devon's rendition is topped with chopped pralines and accompanied by some kind of sauce (I forget what it is, but it was divine!)

6. Charthouse Grill - chocolate lava cake

"CHOCOLATE?!? DID HE SAY CHOCOLATE?!?" Yes, she did. For all of my chocolate lovers out there, here is a cake for you. This molten chocolate lava cake "erupts" with more chocolate, as a pool of vanilla ice cream flows down side. Unfortunately, Charthouse puts the calories on their menus, and (not surprisingly) this cake clocks in at approximately a whopping 1,000 calories. But here's a solution so you can enjoy this cake guilt-free: order it without even looking at the menu. Ignorance is bliss...

7. Cake Life Bake Shop - literally any of their cakes

You know the cake is going to be good when: A. It's in the title and B. The Queen B herself, Beyonce, got her birthday cake from here! I made it a priority to stop by this shop in Fishtown at 11 AM while I was roaming the neighborhood for a school project. Unbeknownst to me, a group of elementary schoolers were also on a school trip and had taken over most of the cafe. I was so determined to try their maple cake and maple latte, both of which were too adorably autumnal to pass up, that I sat through the noise. And I don't like kids, so that's saying something. Their slices are also ginormous, so you can easily split one with two people for dessert or be selfish and have a slice to yourself for brunch (like me).

8. James - double chocolate cake

I normally prefer vanilla over chocolate, especially when it comes to frosting, cupcakes, and low quality store bought cakes (which are my guilty pleasure), but a high quality double chocolate layer cake is my Achilles heel. This rich, decadent cake will put you in a chocolate coma; the only hint of healthy is the blackberries, which are just drizzled in more chocolate syrup. No matter, if God is real, then this is Heaven. My boyfriend's name is also James, which is ironic given I went here for a girls only brunch with my girlfriends.

9. Schlesinger's - Dutch apple cake and strawberry shortcake

Get ready to see Schlesinger's in almost every post, since it's cheap, fast, close, and everything on their menu- from breakfast, to lunch/dinner, to dessert- is perfection. Have you ever gone to a diner and drooled over all of the alluring desserts behind the glass case? You're tempted to cave and buy one, but they almost look too good to be true. Well, Schlesinger's desserts will seduce you the second you walk in the door, and despite how grossly full you are after eating one of their sandwiches, you have to order a slice of their famous Dutch apple or strawberry shortcake. The apple cake tastes just as good as it looks, whereas the strawberry shortcake tastes even BETTER than it looks. This picture doesn't do its size justice; it's bigger than the plate! My boyfriend tapped out, but I ate the rest of his half. In spite of its rough appearance, this may be my favorite cake off of this whole list...