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Best Places For Autumn Desserts In Orange County

nirvana grille figs
(Photo credit: Nirvana Grille)

One of the great things about fall is dessert, a whole slew of fall-themed heaven in a dish sure to perk you up when the weather gets you down. Don't miss out on everything from uber-indulgent pumpkin pie to healthy figs ... well, they'd be healthy if they weren't in a delicious sticky toffee pudding from The Playground. Dieting is for after the holidays. Dig in guilt free while you can.

Bonert's apple pie
(credit: Bonert's Pies)

Bonert's Slice of Pie
2727 South Susan St.
Santa Ana, CA 92704
(714) 540-3535
www.bonertspies.com

If it's autumn dessert you're looking for, go to the place that specializes in pie. Bonert's knows what it's doing -- it has garnered 59 awards from the American Pie Council. For your autumn dessert fix, it offers both pecan pie and pumpkin pie. What's more, both pies are available with no sugar added, so you can indulge without getting all the sugar.

seasons 52 dessert
(Photo Credit: Season's 52)

Seasons 52
3333 Bristol St. Suite 2802
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 437-5252
www.seasons52.com

You won't find huge desserts on the Seasons 52 menu. Instead, the restaurant serves mini-indulgences, with the idea that small portions allow you to get your dessert without feeling you've overindulged. This fits into the Seasons 52's overall health-forward policy: No item is more than 475 calories. In the fall, Seasons 52 not only carries the standard pumpkin pie (smaller, of course), but also offers a gingersnap dessert. Seasons 52 goes easy on the calories and on the cost.

playground
(Photo Credit: The Playground DTSA)

The Playground DTSA
220 E. 4th St.
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 560-4444
www.playgrounddtsa.com

One of the great things about fall is that figs, truly one of the best ways to give yourself a healthy treat, are in season. The Playground does autumn desserts up right, even though it's not as healthy when served in a sticky toffee pudding. A sticky toffee pudding made with black mission figs definitely deserves to be in your dessert line up this season. This dessert that sounds too good to be true is also very reasonably priced.

Related: Best Hot Drinks In Orange County

free soul caffe
(Photo Credit: Free Soul Caffe)

Free Soul Caffe
191 E. Main St. Suite 1B
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 371-0976
www.freesoulcaffe.com

Maybe a vegan restaurant isn't the first place that comes to mind when you think of dessert. If that's the case, you'd be missing out on a good one. In fact, if you wanted to do such a thing, you could make an entire seasonal meal at this place. Start with a pumpkin Belgian waffle, a pumpkin muffin and finish it all off with a pumpkin cheesecake. An entire pumpkin cheesecake costs only $5.93.

Gary Schwind is a freelance writer covering all things Orange County. His work can be found on Examiner.com.

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