New York is undoubtedly known for having some of the best food in the world. Yes, we do have some excellent pizza and bagels (arguably the best in the world), but the good stuff in NYC is not just limited to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. New York has top notch, incredibly edgy, delicious dessert joints. Whether you’re a tourist or you’ve lived in New York your whole life, here are 25 epic desserts to add to your food bucket list, in no particular order.
1. Cronut From Dominique Ansel Bakery
You most likely know that consuming the famous cronut comes with waiting in looong lines. And although basic, it’s a must.
2. Brioche Bun Ice Cream Sandwich From OddFellows Ice Cream
A warm brioche bun and a cold scoop of unique-flavored ice cream makes for one sophisticated ice cream sandwich that can’t be missed.
3. Chocolate Babka From Bread’s Bakery
Saying it’s better than your Bubbe’s recipe would be an understatement.
4. Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie From Levain Bakery
The common saying “the bigger the better” definitely holds true for Levain’s massive chocolate chip cookie which has several awards to support it.
5. Anything From Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream
Even though the parlor is known for their black ash coconut flavor, literally everything is amazing at Morgenstern’s. My personal favorites are salted caramel pretzel and burnt honey vanilla.
6. The Everything Donut From The Donut Project
The everything bagel donut was one of the most Instagrammed desserts of 2016 and rightfully so. This treat is a cross between two of New York’s most beloved foods: donuts and bagels.
7. Mille Crepe Cake From Lady M Confection
Although these cakes are on the pricier side, it’s pretty understandable because they feature over 20 paper thin layers of crepes with pastry creme in between. Additionally, here is a significantly less expensive way to experience the magic.
8. Banana Pudding From Magnolia Bakery
Ignore Magnolia’s glass case of perfectly decorated cupcakes and swear by their heavenly banana pudding. Even though Magnolia Bakery isn’t unique to NYC, their banana pudding is the best pudding ever and deserves to be on this bucket list.
9. Hot Chocolate From City Bakery
City Bakery’s hot chocolate is exactly what you’d always dreamed of in a hot chocolate. Rich, but not too overpowering, and topped with a homemade—not to mention, incredibly aesthetically pleasing—marshmallow. Hot weather or cold, it’s a treat not to be missed.
10. Decorated Face Cookies From Cupcake Market
Although I usually wouldn’t advise people to buy cookies at a bakery containing the word cupcake in its title, the decorated face cookies at Cupcake Market are ridiculous. Munch on cookies that look nearly identical to your favorite celebrities such as Drake, Kim Kardashian, and more.
11. Matcha Cream Puff From Bibble and Sip
While matcha is an acquired taste, if you love it like I do, you won’t be disappointed by Bibble and Sip’s matcha cream puff. I mean, how much more beautiful can a dessert get?
12. Any Cereal Ice Cream From Kith Treats
Come to Kith Treats for no other reason than to somewhat acceptably eat ice cream for breakfast. Seriously, why just have plain cereal for the most important meal of the day when you can blend your favorite brand into vanilla soft serve?
13. Cremé Brulee Donut From The Donut Plant
NYC, you’ve done it again; you have successfully (like always) created a mash-up of two widely adored foods: donuts and créme brulee. Unlike the overrated ramen burger, you don’t want to miss this one.
14. Crack Pie (or really anything) From Momofuku Milk Bar
I could not name one ingredient in Momofuku’s crack pie, but that statement encapsulates the epic dessert itself very well, and that’s because it’s truly indescribable.
#SpoonTip: If you don’t live in NYC, Momofuku ships their products nationwide, and for a cheaper deal, check out these momofuku recipe dupes
15. Fish Waffle Ice Cream From Taiyaki
Taiyaki is an ice cream shop in Lower Manhattan selling popular Japanese street food. More specifically, they sell fish-shaped waffles filled with creamy soft serve ice cream covered in the toppings of your choice. The winter weather should not stop you from enjoying this delicacy.
16. Carrot Cake From Lloyd’s Carrot Cake
Lloyd’s, located in Riverdale, New York, right outside of Manhattan, has been making homemade carrot cake since 1987, and they truly nail it. I can definitively say that Lloyd’s serves the best carrot cake I have had in my life. Must I say more?
17. Any Croissant From Union Fare
A modern food hall selling traditionally flaky, yet innovative croissants—what more could you want? Don’t miss out their birthday cake, Oreo, red velvet, or green tea flavors.
18. Gelato From Il Laboratorio Del Gelato
The shop’s philosophy is being a custom gelato “lab” catering to individual experience, hence the name Il Laboratorio Del Gelato. They serve over 275 gelato varieties, including toasted white sesame, honey lavender, and Mexican cinnamon.
19. The Cookie Shot From Dominique Ansel Bakery
I’m sure you have seen a million pictures of the cookie shot on social media, maybe almost as many as the Dominique Ansel’s Cronut, so why not try it? Or, make it for yourself at home for a version that doesn’t break the bank.
20. Anything From Big Gay Ice Cream
Big Gay is known for putting an edgy spin on the classic Mr. Softee soft serve ice cream. While the ice creams may look familiar, each menu item has a surprise—like a dulce de leche-lined cone.
21. The Rainbow Bagel From The Bagel Store
Although not technically a dessert, the sweetness of the funfetti cream cheese makes it taste like one. You will have to travel across the bridge to get this epic “dessert,” but you won’t regret it.
22. Anything From Dough Doughnuts
With idiosyncratic flavors like hibiscus to a more traditional cinnamon and sugar, Dough nails every single flavor, every single time.
23. S’mores Sandwich From Ice and Vice
Ice and Vice is known as NYC’s craziest ice cream shop, and for good reason—they serve flavors entitled “bath salts” and “milk money,” and they churn out this incredibly delicious, insanely photogenic s’mores sandwich.
24. Egg Waffle Ice Cream Cone From Eggloo
Ice cream wrapped in a warm, flavored egg waffle makes for the most Instagrammable, colorful, and all around epic dessert.
25. Shaved Cream From Snowdays NYC
Shaved cream—not shaving cream—is basically snow ice cream, a Korean-Taiwanese dessert served with insane toppings such as condensed milk, pocky, Oreos, and more. Only in NY, seriously.