Opinion: Goudy desserts ranked

Chocolate pudding in the lunch dessert bar on Feb. 9, 2026 at Goudy Commons. Photo by Sofie Szigeti.

Desserts are a unifying force for all across campus. A dessert is the perfect ending to a satisfying meal, the encore after the performance. Therefore, it is crucial to know which desserts served at Goudy are worthy of the long walk to the dessert bar after finishing a meal or precariously balancing a small dessert plate between a dinner plate and a drink to make it all in one trip. The dessert observation period for this article lasted about a week.

Don’t let me yuck anyone’s yum, but without further ado …

8. S’mores chocolate pudding

The s’mores pudding had too many textures and flavors colliding with each other that did not seem to go together. I know that s’mores are a classic flavor and that the components are supposed to go together, but they just didn’t somehow. The overall look of it was not very appealing, either, and made me feel like the kid in “Matilda” with a face full of chocolate.

7. Chocolate Oreo pudding

I know, I know. Another pudding? Really? Yes, really. But this one actually tasted quite good, and I would recommend it to those who like pudding. The flavors complemented each other, the Oreo bits added a nice texture, and it tasted like a normal chocolate pudding with a bit of a twist. It’s a good addition to the lineup of desserts that deserves a place at the bar. 

6. Strawberry cupcake with soy whipped frosting

Though not the highlight of the cupcakes that Goudy provides, it was an interesting change that I was intrigued by. The cake was pillowy, the frosting had a nice taste and feel, and the freeze-dried strawberries were a superb garnish. Sadly, the cupcake had little to no flavor outside of the strawberries on top, but the effort was appreciated.

5. Cherry chocolate cake with soy whipped topping

Goudy consistently shines in terms of the fluffiness of its cakes. This was no exception. The cake itself was wonderful and had a slightly honeyed flavor to it. Where the ball was dropped was the flavor of the frosting. At first, the frosting tasted good, if a bit sour. After a few seconds, however, it morphed into a sickly sweet medicinal taste that many cherry-flavored treats unfortunately fall prey to. It was reminiscent of the experience of choking down disgustingly sweet cough syrup as a child. Overall, this was a good cake that was taken down a few notches by its frosting.

4. Raspberry chocolate vanilla cake

As per usual, the cake was airy and had a satisfying vanilla flavor that didn’t overpower the raspberry frosting. The frosting itself did not have much of a taste in the way that La Croix tastes like the memory of a flavor, but that was okay for this cake, as it accented an already good taste. Chocolate shavings and raspberries were an appreciated detail.

3. Chocolate chunk cookies

A true classic from Goudy. The chocolate chunk cookies are something to rely on and provide an enjoyable hit of chocolate for my fellow chocolate lovers. A soft, doughy texture, large chunks of chocolate and edges with a bit of crunch made this a wonderful dessert option. Were they better than the typical chocolate chip cookie? Not necessarily, but they were good if one wanted a sweet treat for no cost.

2. Marionberry crisp

Easily the best crisp offered at Goudy. The marionberries provided a wonderfully bittersweet taste unlike any other berry, although I may be biased as an Oregon native. The superiority of the marionberry is not the main point. The main point is that Goudy knows how to prepare some awfully delicious preserves, and the crisp provided just the right contrast to the berry to create an outstanding dessert.

1. Chocolate chip blondies

Better than any cookie, the blondie combines the texture of the brownie with the luscious taste of a chocolate chip cookie, creating the single best dessert that Goudy serves. The perfect time to get them is when the chocolate is visibly oozing from the fresh blondie. That’s when the chocolate gives you a “Ratatouille”-worthy flashback to childhood. There’s not much to say other than chocolate chip blondies are downright delicious, and there is not one person who could convince me otherwise. Chocolate chip blondies at every meal is a movement that I could get behind. After all, there can never be too much of a good thing.