What one thing will always kick dessert up a notch? You got it: an alluring liquid centre. Serving everything from deep-fried treats filled with silken custard to molten pots with cocoa-rich interiors, these five Johannesburg spots are showing off their decadent side.

Café Patisse (Emmarentia)

This popular patisserie keeps pleasing customers with its beautiful and inventive pastries. The newest creation is inspired by the doughnut-shaped ciambella di Nutella. This version, however, has been cleverly transformed into a hybrid dessert using koeksister-doughnut dough. The pastry is filled with glossy Nutella and then deep fried for that extra indulgence. These beauties will set you back R25 each.

Cafe Patisse’s ciambella di Nutella, or Nutella koeksister. Photo supplied.

Craft (Parkhurst)

Alongside OTT milkshakes, indulgent freakwaffles, and gourmet hot chocolates, this popular eatery is also responsible for bringing the ‘panookie’ to the Joburg foodie scene. These glorious no-share desserts are basically your own personal cookie, baked into a mini pan and topped with ice cream, sauce, and all the trimmings. Flavours available include oozing lemon meringue with a lemon curd centre and topping of citrus meringue; apple and ginger; beetroot and chocolate with chocolate ganache; and Mzansi-inspired malva with Kahlúa cream (R105).

A post shared by CRAFT Restaurant (@craftrestaurant) on May 4, 2017 at 6:32am PDT

Café Del Sol Botanico (Bryanston)

The hot pot of pure molten chocolate here is your bet for the ooziest end to a meal. The 15-minute preparation time is totally worth it when your chocolate fondant – or fondente al cioccolato – arrives, complete with a scoop of slightly salty peanut-butter ice cream (R60).

Cafe del Sol Botanico’s oozing chocolate fondant. Photo supplied.

The National Eatery and Speakeasy (Parktown North)

Desserts here are always sinful. The changing menu might feature the likes of deep-fried Snickers bars and freshly fried doughnuts served with oozy dark or white chocolate sauce to dunk. You might even get to spoon your way through an oozing chocolate brownie, choc-chip s’more pie, or a toffee-filled cylinder with white chocolate ganache, peanut butter and roasted marshmallow.

A post shared by Karla Janse van Vuuren (@karla_janse_vanvuuren) on Mar 15, 2017 at 5:11am PDT

XO Patisserie (27 Boxes, Melville)

When it comes to oozy desserts, something golden and deep-fried with a creamy filling is exactly what to look for. At this patisserie you’ll find crispy croissant-like doughnuts, filled with luscious creams and coated with flavoured sugars, and topped with more treats. There’s salted caramel with passion fruit, chocolate-hazelnut, milk tart Peppermint Crisp, and Oreo and cream. Pro tip: Order yours on top of a milkshake to go all out.

 

A post shared by X&O Patisserie (@xo_patisserie) on Jun 9, 2017 at 1:10am PDT