Coffee & Treats in Round Rock

Edible Arrangements' chocolate-covered strawberry box merges the rich flavors of chocolate with the succulent decadence of fresh strawberries. The primly packaged red box contains 12 ripe strawberries, each of which was picked at its peak freshness before being hand-dipped in a semi-sweet chocolate blend. As students trudge back to school in the coming weeks, teacher's pets seeking domestication can gift their eminent educator with something other than the traditional red apple or slab of shark meat by arriving on the first day with a box of chocolate-covered strawberries.

This family-owned-and-operated bakery specializes in bundt cakes but helps customers find just the right sweet for their soiree by also offering cupcakes ($2.50 each), cookies ($1.50–$1.85 each), and dessert bars ($2.85 each) in a variety of classic, creative, and seasonal flavors. Pick up a mini bundt cake in one of madCakes' everyday flavors, including cinnamon swirl, double chocolate chip, Italian cream, red velvet, white chocolate, and zesty lemon, for an easy and elegant dessert to share with a doppelganger ($5–$5.50; serves one to two people). Or, if you're throwing a belated summer block party with an autumn theme, pick up a large ($35–$39; serves 16–22 people) seasonal specialty in longhorn orange (September and October) or pumpkin (October and November). To taste test a variety of treats, have a selection of cakes artistically tiered ($4–$8), or pick up a combination tray of cookies and decadent dessert bars ($31 for 12" tray) sporting enticing flavor nametags such as pecan bourbon, raspberry crumble, chocolate toffee, and strawberry cheesecake.

Apothecary is a delicious lunch spot, a cozy coffee house, and a wine bar in one humble package. Apothecary offers locally brewed and homegrown coffee and espresso, as well as green, black, and herbal teas to soothe a dry throat. The all-day menu offers a bevy of nibbling options, including prosciutto macaroni and cheese with goat cheese and truffle oil ($9) and a monthly-rotating Antonelli's artisanal cheese plate ($15) side-kicked with cheeses, olives, crackers, honey, and fruit. Snack on french bread and olive oil ($3), served with black pepper and a dash of truffle oil, or delve into the delectable delicacy of peanut butter and Nutella ($6).

It was a fateful night in January 1999 when the bellies of college sophomores Leon and Tiffany started to rumble. The two UT Austin students convened at Leon’s apartment, where they whipped up a batch of chocolate-chip cookies in his oven. As they chewed on the warm, gooey fruits of their labor, the pair was struck by the idea to sell these freshly baked cookies to their fellow students. They began delivering treats to their peers during evening study breaks before expanding their customer base to include parents and Austin residents, all the while renting the back kitchen of a local restaurant to accommodate the growing demand. Thirteen years later, the indulgent lure of Tiff’s Treats has helped Leon and Tiffany open 11 locations throughout Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Within these bakeries, kitchen crews sculpt fresh dough into 10 types of cookies, supplementing the gooey morsels with decadent brownies and signature Tiffwiches—vanilla Blue Bell ice cream sandwiched between two warm cookies. Bakers hand-deliver batches every day, pulling them fresh from the oven instead of the overheated engine block of the delivery car.

It’s Tuesday morning, which means the members of The Yogurt Experience’s staff are loading up the trailer with cups, waffle cones, drinks, and frozen yogurt for another day of cooling off the city. Once the trailer is stocked, it accelerates toward the North Austin Trailer Yard to nab a parking spot amid the 10,000-square-foot traffic jam of food trucks. Typically, the staff selects a few frozen-yogurt flavors to highlight each day, from thin-mint cookies to blueberry-acai tart to cheesecake made with no added sugars. They repeat this process every day except for Monday, returning their non-fat, low-fat, and sorbet treats to the storefront each night so no kiddie cones get arrested for breaking curfew.

Cake balls combine the airy, familiar texture of cake with the appearance of a large truffle, just like a PBR can stuffed inside a pheasant. The lineup of deadly good delectables includes red velvet with sweet-cream buttermilk and Valrhona cocoa, an Italian crème shaggy with coconut and diced pecans, and Montmorency cherry almond. The availability of some flavors may vary based on demand.