I was thinking recently about how expensive desserts are these days, often out of proportion to the rest of the meal. Sad to say, $8 is pretty much the norm in nice restaurants.

Anyway, I thought I would do a Top 10 Tuesday of expensive desserts that are worth the cost. Of course, there are plenty of fine local restaurants that might have even better desserts than these, but I haven't been to them lately. For those, I had to rely on readers of my blog at baltimoresun.com/diningatlarge to tell me.

Here's my list in alphabetical order:

1

The pretty tiramisu with a demitasse cup of bittersweet homemade hot chocolate sauce at Alizee near the Johns Hopkins University.

2

The chocolate-studded bread pudding with black pepper ice cream at B&O; American Brasserie downtown.

3

A warm chocolate pudding/souffle that comes with vanilla gelato at Bistro Blanc in Glenelg.

4

The chocolate silk pie with a chocolate cookie crumb crust. It's so dense the softly whipped cream actually cuts the richness. At Blue Hill Tavern in Brewers Hill.

5

The "strawberry shortcake" at Marie Louise Bistro in Mount Vernon. A fabulous combination of spongecake, cream and fruit with fondant on top.

6

A simple but delicious tres leche cake at Pairings Bistro in Bel Air.

7

The bread pudding, warm, moist and bourbon-scented, at the Prime Rib downtown.

8

One of the best Key lime pies I've had with the texture of a chiffon pie at Real Seafood Co. in Annapolis.

9

Busby's Orange Cake, actually two small sponge cakes, or babas, soaked in orange syrup rather than rum at Restaurant Sabor in Lutherville.

10

A "banana split," at Volt in Frederick, with a ribbon of banana and white chocolate ganache and three little ovals of house-made ice cream.

Readers talk back

The best restaurant dessert I've had this year was the coconut cake at Clementine's.

Posted by: Leonora

The Belgian Chocolate Pots de Creme from Peter's ... was decadent.

Posted by: Odie B

I'm surprised nothing from Ze Mean Bean made this Top Ten. They have some of the best desserts hands down! ... I believe all desserts are made in-house.

Posted by: BaltBabs

My favorite restaurant dessert ... the vanilla panna cotta with salted caramel at Cinghiale - their pastry chef is a genius!

Posted by: boogadog