If Utah County has an official first date, it is dessert. Ice cream, cookies, and dirty soda make for a short, affordable, relaxed way to meet someone new. Utah is also where several national cookie and soda chains got their start, so you will never run out of options.
Here is how to plan a great dessert date in Utah County.
Ice cream
BYU Creamery on Ninth
A Provo classic. The vibe is casual and familiar, and it is close to campus walks and Kiwanis Park.
Local ice cream shops
Provo and Orem have a growing number of independent ice cream shops with creative flavors. Pick one near a park so you can walk while you eat.
Made-to-order ice cream
Rolled and liquid-nitrogen ice cream shops are fun to watch and give you something to react to together.
Cookies and bakeries
Weekly cookie run
Utah is famous for its gourmet cookie shops, and several of the biggest chains started here. Pick up the weekly flavors, split each one in half, and rank them.
Neighborhood bakery
Find a local bakery for pastries, cinnamon rolls, or pie by the slice. Weekend mornings make a great daytime date.
Waffles and crepes
Waffle Love started as a Utah County food truck, and plenty of waffle, crepe, and dessert-truck options pop up around the valley.
Soda shops
Dirty soda, meaning soda mixed with flavored syrups, cream, or fruit, is a Utah staple, and Utah County has a drive-thru soda shop on seemingly every corner. Grab drinks, then go somewhere scenic, like a park or a sunset spot.
A soda run is the easiest first date there is: about 30 minutes, inexpensive, and simple to extend into a walk if it is going well.
Make it more than "just dessert"
Dessert crawl
Hit two or three spots in one evening: cookies, then ice cream, then a soda. Split everything and vote on a winner.
Dessert plus a walk
Take dessert to go and walk the Provo River Parkway, Kiwanis Park, or downtown Center Street.
Dessert plus a view
Bring dessert to Utah Lake State Park or a foothill pullout at sunset.
Bake it yourself
Make cookies or a pie together, then drop some off for a friend. Sweet date, sweet gesture.
Dessert date etiquette
If you asked, plan to pay, or say up front if you are splitting. Pick a place with somewhere to sit or walk, since eating in a car can feel awkward on a first date. And if you are trying a new spot, check the hours. Plenty of dessert shops close earlier than you would expect on Sundays.
Why dessert dates work
Dessert dates are short, inexpensive, and public, which makes them easy to say yes to. They are also flexible. If you are hitting it off, add a walk. If not, it is easy to wrap up politely after 45 minutes.
The key is still to be specific. "Want to get ice cream sometime?" is vague. "BYU Creamery and a walk around campus, Tuesday at 7:30" is a plan.
Post or request a plan like this on Rove
On Rove, every date starts as a specific plan. Here are a few plans inspired by this page. Men can post one like it, and women can browse and request the ones that sound fun.
- “Cookie run, then a walk at Kiwanis Park. Thursday at 8.”
- “Dessert crawl: ice cream, cookies, and soda. Friday at 7. Loser picks the next date.”
- “BYU Creamery and a sunset drive. Wednesday at 7:15.”
Frequently asked questions
Why are dessert dates so popular in Utah County?
They are short, affordable, public, and alcohol-free, which fits local dating culture well. Utah County also has a huge number of ice cream, cookie, and soda shops.
What is the best dessert first date in Provo?
Ice cream at the BYU Creamery followed by a walk around campus or along the Provo River Parkway is a classic, easy first date.
How do I make a dessert date more memorable?
Turn it into a dessert crawl, take it somewhere scenic like a sunset spot, or bake something together.
