10x sweet in New York
In New York, everything is bigger, better and above all much more delicious. That also applies to all the sweet treats. Think you’re not a sweet tooth? Think again. Once you’re in the city, you’ll want to get a donut, cake or cookie after every meal. We’ve listed the best sweet treats for you.
Donuts
New York = donuts, donuts = New York. On every street corner you’ll find a Dunkin’ Donuts or a street cart where you can get this round, fried snack. They’re already delicious, but for the best ones, head to a specialty shop. At The Doughnut Project, order the everything donut topped with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, garlic powder and salt. Sounds strange, but it’s incredibly delicious. Or go to Underwest Donuts, where the sugared donuts only go into the fryer once you order them. Fun detail: it’s located in a car wash.
Near Brooklyn? Then head to Pies & Thighs (hello, best name ever). Alongside plenty of fried chicken, they serve amazing sourdough donuts that you absolutely have to try. You may have to stand in line for a while. If you don’t feel like doing that, walk a little farther and get a red velvet donut at Peter Pan. Just as delicious.
Milk Bar
We can’t leave it out. Ever since Chef’s Table Pastry devoted an episode to Christina Tosi, everyone knows about Milk Bar. The crack pie and cereal milk ice cream are just as delicious as you’d expect. Our favorites are definitely the super-gooey corn cookies and the carrot cake.
Have you tried makrout yet? You’ll want to eat these semolina cookies filled with dates right now.
Pie at Four & Twenty Blackbirds
For a true all American pie, head to Four & Twenty Blackbirds. The pies here are true works of art and come in classic flavors such as blueberry and chocolate pecan, but also in more exciting flavors like black sesame and coffee custard. You absolutely have to try the latter.
Chocolate chip cookies at Levain Bakery
This place doesn’t look very impressive, but inside awaits the best chocolate chip cookie you’ll ever eat. The cookie is towering, soft on the inside and filled with melting chocolate. I’d kill for this recipe.
Black & white cookies
In New York, you’ll find Jewish bakeries everywhere, each selling black & white cookies. Simple, slightly cherry-flavored cookies with icing: half black, half white. The best ones can be found at Russ & Daughters or William Greenberg.
Babka
Another delicious Jewish sweet treat: babka. Sweet, sticky dough braided with cinnamon or chocolate. A kind of sugar bread, so you can really keep eating it. You can also go to Russ & Daughters, where you just picked up a cookie, but preferably visit Oneg Heimishe Bakery. Extra chocolate layers and extra gooey—don’t buy a slice; just get a whole loaf right away.
Supermoon Bakehouse
By far the most Instagrammable spot on this list. We’ve written before about their flashy croissants filled with matcha, custard and caramel. They’re now also offering a croissant butter soft serve, with soft serve made from croissant butter. I don’t know exactly what that means, but it sounds fucking delicious.
Ice cream in Chinatown
Even more ice cream! The best ice cream in New York isn’t found in Little Italy, but unexpectedly in Chinatown at The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. The best flavors have an Asian twist: black sesame, pandan, ginger and Thai iced tea. If you can only manage one scoop, go for don tot: Chinese custard. You’ve never tasted anything so creamy.
Sponge cake
Since you’re in Chinatown anyway, stop by Kam Hing Coffee Shop. The sponge cake here is unbelievably delicious and so light. You can choose from different flavors (green tea, cinnamon and chocolate chip, for example), but I think the classic version is by far the best. Go in the morning, though—they’re often sold out after lunch. If you’re lucky, they’ll still be warm.
Dominique Ansel
Everyone queues here to get their hands on a coveted cronut before they sell out, but we thought the kouign amann was much more worth the wait. The pastry consists of layers of flaky, buttery puff pastry and a whole lot of sugar.
