Who doesn’t adore the decadent taste of a moist chocolate cake or fresh brioche buns? With an abundance of trendy and novel desserts to indulge in throughout New York City, it’s natural to question which spots truly offer the ultimate experience, as some may fall short of expectations.
We have compiled a list of all-time favorites here, and left off the ones that simply did not impress.
While looking for the best desserts in New York City we explored all the possibilities. We waded through brown sugar and fried dough, sampled almond paste, frozen yogurt, and rock candy. We munched on cookie dough and chocolate babka and trekked through mountains of powdered sugar to bring you the absolute best options in New York City to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Doughnut Plant
We cannot make a “best dessert in New York City” list without bringing homage to doughnuts, and it would be impossible to speak about doughnuts without mentioning Doughnut Plant. It’s a tiny Lower East Side bakery where the founder used to make doughnuts through the night and deliver them on a bicycle in the late 1990s.
Today this doughnut shop is the one that invented the Crème Brûlée doughnut and also the first shop to use seasonal fresh fruit and nuts to make their doughnut glazes.
While all their doughnuts are phenomenal, the Brooklyn Blackout, Triple Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, and Coconut Creme are particularly good. Because the doughnuts are handmade with the best and freshest ingredients they are also preservative, trans fat, and egg free.
If you plan a trip there be sure to go early in the morning as their more popular options tend to sell out fast.
Eileen’s Special Cheesecake
Doughnuts are one thing, but cheesecake and New York City just fit differently, and Eileen’s is the best place in New York City to find cheesecake. These cheesecakes are the ideal balance between dense and fluffy. Only some of their fantastic choices include strawberry shortcake, cookies and cream, salted caramel, and chocolate marble. This is also one of the few dessert shops on our list that deliver.
Boqueria
Unlike so many dessert shops on our list, this one is actually a tapas bar that serves classic Spanish tapas, which naturally includes some savory options. Their menu is full of the best seasonal flavors.
Some of the savory options that stand out are a seared octopus with fennel, meat skewers with pickled shallots, and dates wrapped in bacon, stuffed with almonds and blue cheese. Some of their best desserts include churro ice cream sandwiches, Nutella churros, classic churros with chocolate, and churro S’mores. Thie balance of sweet and salty options makes this one of the best dessert shops in New York City.
Bibble & Sip
If you ever go into dessert shops hoping for the perfect cream puffs then Bibble & Sip will not disappoint. Their most popular item on the menu is their matcha cream puff with white chocolate filling.
These cream puffs are not only huge, but they are extremely generous with their filling. Despite the generous filling that is soft and velvety, the cream puff is not too sweet. They also have a selection of lattes on offer including Lavender and Matcha Jasmine. If coffee isn’t your thing, choose from their infused syrups for your tea.
Breads Bakery
Breads bakery is best known for its cheesecake and Chocolate Babka. If you’re looking for something savory then their cheese straw is to die for. Unlike some other bakeries on our list, they bake small batches throughout the day, meaning that whenever you come their products are as fresh as can be.
Levain Bakery
Despite being part of a chain, this place is still the cozy little neighborhood bakery that we all love. You can choose from the classic range of rustic bread to the famous chocolate chip walnut cookie. Now this is not just any old chocolate chip cookie; no, this one weighs six ounces and is baked fresh on-site every day.
Some other all-time favorites on the Levain Bakery menu, in addition to the chocolate chip walnut, are the dark chocolate chip, dark chocolate peanut butter chip, oatmeal raisin, and the classic chocolate chip cookie.
Chip NYC
When it comes to chocolate chip cookies many people struggle to decide which is better: Levain Bakery or Chip NYC. Because the cookies are so large they share some textural elements with scones, but this only serves to give you the best of both worlds.
At Chip NYC most customers prefer the regular chocolate chip cookie, although the menu does get quite creative if regular is not your thing. If you are feeling a little more adventurous feel free to try the blueberry cheesecake, apple pie, or even butterscotch toffee cookies instead.
Dominique Ansel bakery
Dominique Ansel Bakery is owned by an award-winning pastry chef and therefore provides patrons with some of the most innovative desserts to be found in New York City. It is also home to the famous Cronut (half doughnut, half croissant) and the DKA (a croissant-like pastry). If you’re looking to savor one of their famous cronuts make sure you visit early as stocks are limited. However, if you are feeling a bit peckish later in the day, stop by for a cookie shot glass instead.
Eggloo
This is the American home of the viral Hong Kong dessert from 2017. What makes this particular establishment unique is that you essentially build your own Eggloo. In essence you combine the egg waffle that we all know and love with your favorite flavor of ice cream.
Their serving sizes are great to share and the portability definitely makes it all worthwhile.
Lady M. Cake Boutique
Lady M is known for its beautifully crafted cakes that not only look great, but taste amazing too. The most popular menu item is their Green Tea Mille Crepe Cake filled with light pastry cream. Many of the local restaurants in the area even buy this cake and will serve it to you at a higher price.
Magnolia Bakery
Magnolia Bakery is probably world famous by now, and if cakes are not your thing, try their Banana Bread Pudding. Anything from a classic chocolate cake layered with delectable chocolate buttercream icing, or the ever-popular red velvet cake, to something a little more adventurous, including their limited edition cakes. There seems to be a clear reason why Magnolia bakery is one of the best dessert places in New York City.
Spot Dessert Bar
If you’re looking for a unique and creative approach to a dessert menu, Spot Dessert Bar NYC is a great place to start. Some favorites on the menu include the Matcha Molten Lava Cake and the Harvest. This dessert looks like a potted plant, but hidden within are nine different layers including the Oreo crumb, cheesecake, several berry elements, whipped cream, chiffon cake, etc. It is also served with a Parsley sprig and a milky rose tea which you can use to “water your plant”.
They also have some classic delicious desserts on the menu that leave a wonderful feeling of nostalgia; feel free to try out their Sesame Cookies which have rave reviews. Also, try their Golden Toast and Chestnut Butterscotch.
Soft Swerve
Soft Swerve tends to rotate its menu which creates a sense of excitement, there is always something new to try, and your favorites tend to come back around at some point. This lively and colorful addition to Chinatown serves Asian-inspired soft serve ice cream.
They are famous for their Ube Ice Cream and occasionally will include a Black Sesame Ice Cream flavor as well. While you are deciding which flavor you would like to try today, remember to also select one or two of their delectable ice cream toppings.
Taiyaki NYC
When it comes to ice cream in New York City you have probably seen Taiyaki’s fish ice cream cone coming across your social media at some point. These unique cones can be stacked high with some exciting soft serve flavors like black sesame and matcha. In addition to your colorful soft serve ice cream flavors you can also choose between custard or red bean paste fillings for your crispy waffle cone, and some toppings for your ice cream to add some more texture to this experience.
In addition to their variety of soft serve ice cream you can also tuck into a Souffle Pancake over the weekend (but only early in the mornings).
Let’s face it, some of us are just tired of the age-old plain vanilla ice cream and classic banana pudding. We crave the excitement behind flavors like a blueberry milk chocolate or cereal milk soft serve. We want to know what burnt honey vanilla ice cream tastes like, what is a buttery crack pie and can we put candied peanuts on it? Where can I try dulce de leche frozen yogurt in New York City? What about Birthday cake truffles or black coconut ash soft serve ice cream?
New York City has something for everyone, and that is no different when it comes to some of the best desserts in the US. Keep a lookout for seasonal flavors and ever-changing menus at some of the places on our list, or enjoy an absolutely perfect set menu where you can be sure to always catch your favorite flavors – while stocks last!
