These are the best desserts in New York City!

Dovetailing off my brunch post and the fun I had curating it (think pancakes and Bloody Mary’s), I decided I would focus on my sweet tooth and try the best desserts in New York City!

The past couple of months I have done some very serious research for you: the people, and tried all the best places to satisfy a sweet tooth in this city…and don’t worry about it: you’re welcome!  

Now when you’re out and about and looking for that extra gooey cookie or want to grab a fluffy and sweet cupcake for your friend’s birthday, you’ll know exactly where to go!

Best Desserts in the Flatiron District:

City Bakery (Birdbath)

City Bakery is an institution around New York City.  

There are a few locations that also operate under the name Birdbath Bakery (this location in in Soho) and you can grab anything from a salad, to a croissant and coffee to a delicious hot chocolate.  

My favorite item there is undoubtedly their chocolate chip cookies–they are seriously scrumptious (photographed above).  

For one: they are most likely bigger than your face, which may deter you from getting one, but don’t let it.

 Secondly, they have this kind of crispy crunch to them that makes them very rich.  The crunchiness mixed with a soft interior makes them the perfect sweet snack.

 City Bakery is also known for its homemade marshmallows which you can see is topping off my coffee below.  

Most people top off their hot chocolate with the marshmallows but my coffee hack is that I insist on topping off a red-eye coffee (regular coffee with a shot of espresso).  

The marshmallows sugars will melt into the coffee and you’ll have the perfect coffee blend.

Best Desserts in the West Village:

Magnolia Bakery

Yes this is the cupcake shop made famous by none other than Sex in the City, which essentially heralded New York City and many of its haunts as regular characters on the show.  

So of course, once Carrie and Miranda hit up this adorable shop in Manhattan’s West Village, there was no turning back.  

Is there a line at Magnolia Bakery?

Usually yes: but depending on the day, hour and the weather – it can not be terrible.

The bakery, these days, has an inevitable line around the corner but despite the crowds, it is still a great place to visit, tucked in between shops, restaurants and bars in my favorite neighborhood in NYC.  

They also have expanded their reign by opening shops in Bloomingdale’s flagship location, the Upper West Side, and Rockefellar Center.

Best Dessert in Midtown:

Forty Carrots

Speaking of Bloomingdale’s, they not only house a Magnolia Bakery but they also have their own frozen yogurt counter called Forty Carrots.  It’s delicious yogurt and you really get what you pay for there.  The frozen yogurt from Forty Carrots below is what Bloomie’s calls a “large!”  Fair warning: get this to split or intend on getting the small which is essentially what most people would call a large.  Shopping and fro yo is always a preferable way to spend the day.

Best Desserts in the East Village:

Momofuku Milk Bar

Momofuku is known for its cool vibes and conceptual asian cuisine but it also has a Milk bar where they have items like “crack pie” and cereal milk flavored fro yo, as seen below.  

Yes, it actually taste like the milk that you drink up after you’ve finished your cereal that was just floating in the bowl.  It’s funky and delish all at once, this should definitely be a stop on your sweet to-do list.

Baked by Melissa

People have been going crazy over these mini cupcakes that are in fact baked by a woman named Melissa.  They taste like little balls of dough and are the perfect alternative to a whole cupcake–unless you eat all six in a pack!  Opps!

Gregory’s Coffee

This place is a New York City coffee joint that not only has great coffee but some seriously delicious pastries.  They bake them all fresh and you have to stare at them as you order your coffee: evil geniuses.

Best Desserts Upper West Side:

Levain Bakery

This bakery is flocked to by tourist and New Yorkers alike.  

There is a Los Angeles location now too!

It touts a gooey and warm chocolate chip walnut cookie and with good reason!  

It happened to be drizzling out one day, hence no line at this teeny tiny bakery and I snagged myself one of their famous cookies as pictured below.  I recommend a trip to this Upper West Side spot, just be prepared to wait a bit!

There you have it: my list of the best desserts to try in New York City!

Which dessert from above would you love to try?