I made the mistake of Googling “Dragon’s Breath” just before a planned visit to try out the liquid nitrogen-infused treat. I wanted to find a video clip to show the kids what it looked like. Instead, up popped the FDA warning about severe damage to skin and internal organs, difficulty breathing and life-threatening injuries. Yikes.     Let’s be clear, ParentMap does not endorse eating Dragon’s Breath in any way. It’s completely your call if you let your kids try it. I tend to err on the side of treats, so I headed to Cloud Nine Creamery at Westfield Southcenter with three expert tasters. Dragon’s Breath is basically some crackers swirled around in liquid nitrogen so it gets really, really cold. When you eat it, the warmth of your mouth makes condensation billow out of your mouth and nose. “We have wanted to serve it since we opened, but we first had to do extensive research and development to make sure we served it as safely as possible,” wrote Cloud Nine co-owner Andrew Hagee in an e-mail. He added that the product they use is made specifically for Cloud Nine, and it’s lighter and less dense so it doesn’t hold the liquid nitrogen inside.   Store manager Drake Dixon ran through the ground rules for us: Use the spoon, not your fingers. Hot-potato it into your mouth. And breathe out. That wasn’t 100 percent reassuring, but all around us, people were ordering Dragon’s Breath with camera phones ready to document the results. So we dug in.   From the judges: Philippa, age 7: “It was sorta weird.” The kids ate it, but they were confused. This was supposed to be a treat, right? Joseph, age 7½: “It didn’t even taste like ice cream.” Dragon’s Breath is all about the smoke effect, and my sweet tooth panelist wasn’t impressed. It tasted like really, really cold cereal. Paul, age 3: “It was yummy, because it had a lot of colors.” The cereal balls come in pink, green and yellow, and my 3-year-old loves anything in pretty candy colors. The funny thing is, later that same day, we happened to be shopping at the Asian grocery store and wandered past a display of Korean crackers that looked EXACTLY like the Dragon’s Breath balls. It was $6.99 for a bag almost as big as a toddler, so we bought it. He decided he liked the regular, room-temperature version better. To be fair, Cloud Nine Creamery ice cream is decadent and delicious. They make everything to order, and it’s fun to watch the process where liquid nitrogen smoke billows out of the KitchenAid mixing bowl (not your mouth). Dragon’s Breath is better suited for older kids who would get a kick out the smoke effect. For now, my kids would rather have something yummy than something that looks cool.   If you go: Cloud Nine Creamery, Westfield Southcenter, 191 Southcenter Mall, Tukwila, WA 98188 (206) 466-4989, Cost: $6.50 per serving of Dragon’s Breath. More unusual desserts to try: At the Hi-Life in Ballard, kids can design their own cookie ($2.50) and the kitchen will bake it up for dessert. Start with a disc of egg-free cookie dough, add sprinkles and chocolate chips, and voilà! A culinary masterpiece that requires zero skill (and no mess in your kitchen). Btw, this restaurant is located in a renovated 1911 firehouse – you still see the original firefighter’s post. How cool is that? Kids love Blank Space Café! A classic bubble waffle ($7.75) gets you a fresh-off-the-griddle bubble waffle hugging a scoop of ice cream. We found the service indifferent, but that combination of warm and melty just right. Look for Asian-inspired flavors like matcha and green tea, and Pocky garnishes. Locations in Bellevue, Belltown and Greenlake. Note: the Greenlake store is just two blocks from the paddle boat rental house and the fabulous playground outside the community center. It smells like old gym socks and is banned on all public transportation in Singapore. Perfect for dessert, right? Durian is a large, spiny fruit native to Malaysia known for its putrid stench. One of the few places you can taste it in pastry form is at Reunion Malaysian Café in Kirkland, where the durian cake ($11/slice) is made of 20 precisely layered crepes. This West Seattle gem of a sushi bar is famous for its sustainable seafood, but stick around for the dessert menu. The deep-fried brownie with green tea ice cream ($11) will make you throw your New Year’s resolutions out the window. We highly recommend making a reservation at Mashiko Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar, and snagging a seat at the bar so you can watch the chefs at work. And Portland cult favorite Salt & Straw is known for making really wacky ice cream flavors. For Halloween, they did mealworm and pig blood flavors, and for Thanksgiving, a savory turkey ice cream. Imagine what they’ll come up with for President’s Day… .  Scoop shops in Capitol Hill and Ballard ($4.95/scoop).