Coffee & Treats in Garland

In Mexico, life’s milestones are inextricably linked to chocolate. And Andrea Pedraza will never forget sipping her first mug of delicious hot chocolate on the morning of her first communion.

Her early memories of chocolate blossomed into a lifelong obsession. Now, at Cocoandré Chocolatier, Ms. Pedraza strives to match the purity of that first mug. She imports 100% natural, cocoa-butter-based raw chocolate from Belgium and Mexico to craft her European-style truffles, flavors them with exotic spices, and covers them with ganache made with butter and heavy whipping cream.

Her confections have earned a slew of positive press, including a spot on Good Morning Texas, which showcases her inventive chocolate molds in holiday-appropriate shapes. Her team can also create custom molds, allowing patrons to fulfill a lifelong dream of eating Rodin’s The Thinker.:m]]

Unlike many sweets, the frosty confections at Velvet Spoon Frozen Yogurt are low in fat, kosher certified, and rich in probiotics. Visitors help themselves at self-serve dispensers, which rotate flavors daily, ranging from nonfat blueberry tart to low-fat red-velvet cake. More than 40 diverse toppings, such as fruit, cereal, and candy, wait to be sprinkled upon the delectable creations. The frozen-yogurt shop reflects the whimsical nature of these treats in its atmosphere, with pink, green, and purple hues covering the walls and a crown of little plastic spoons resting on the head of each employee.

Founded in 1996 at a lone store in Carrollton, Texas, Smoothie Factory began its journey simply by selling smoothies and nutritional supplements. The menu has since expanded to include frozen yogurt, juices, and healthy meals, but the franchise—which operates out of nine states and four countries—still focuses on its original mission: meeting the dietary needs of health-conscious customers with real fruit, nutritional supplements, and nonfat yogurt.

Each store mixes more than 30 flavor combinations, including Just Peachy, Very Berry, and Island Delight, a tropical blend of pineapple, banana, orange, and honey. Nutritional boosts such as caffeine, multivitamins, and fiber spin into chilled beverages to enhance weight loss and energy or give drinkers the cognitive ability to name all the stars in the universe.