Desserts in Easley

The draw is the ice cream itself: more than 75 flavors of Hershey's, scooped to order in generous portions. It is a brand a lot of people around here say is hard to find elsewhere, and with that many options on the board, half the fun is standing at the case trying to narrow it down. What sets the stop apart is where it lives. The ice cream counter is tucked inside That's Karma, a roomy consignment and gift boutique of some 4,000 square feet, stocked with local artisan goods, toys, and imported finds, so a cone comes with a browse through the shelves. Reviewers tend to describe the shop as friendly and a little nostalgic, and the owner has been known to step out and chat with visitors. Past the scoops, the menu stretches to sundaes, milkshakes, ice cream flights, and made-to-order creations, along with fresh-squeezed lemonade and a candy counter, with dairy-free and gluten-free options that customers with sensitivities are quick to point out. It sits right on West Main Street in the middle of downtown Easley's shops and restaurants, an easy stop while you work your way down the block.

Pistachio Cakery is a cake and dessert shop in Easley, turning out cakes and sweets for everyday treats and the occasions worth marking. It keeps a short, focused week, open Wednesday through Saturday, so a visit is worth planning around those days. For anyone in the western Upstate after something made fresh rather than pulled off a grocery shelf, it is an easy local pick.

Hester Store & Co. is a general store and cafe out on Hester Store Road in Easley, the sort of country spot that shares its name with the road it sits on. Come in early for coffee, browse the general-store shelves, and stay for ice cream, confections, and dessert, all at country-store prices.

Joe's Ice Cream Parlor is an ice cream and dessert spot on East Main Street in Easley, in the western Upstate. Scoops are the draw, but it runs as more than a cone window: it also works as a dessert shop and confectionery with an American-style food side, so there's more on offer than a single sweet stop. It's a well-liked stop in Easley, open Monday through Saturday from late morning into the evening and closed on Sundays.