The Big Apple is a culinary hub, and dessert enthusiasts can find a plethora of delectable options to relish. From traditional favorites to innovative delicacies, New York's dessert scene caters to every taste bud and houses some of the world's most delicious desserts. If you crave creamy gelato, decadent chocolate cakes, or syrupy baklava, the city has got you covered. In this piece, we will unveil the ten most mouth-watering desserts to try in the metropolis. So, sit back, unwind, and prepare to savor some of the most delicious desserts that New York or even America has to offer.
9 Cheesecake From Junior's
Junior's Restaurant and Bakery is renowned for its signature dessert, Junior's Cheesecake, which was originally introduced in Brooklyn, New York, and is now served in numerous locations throughout New York City. This classic New York-style cheesecake is creamy, dense, and rich, made from cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. The crust is prepared with graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar and baked until it becomes golden brown and crispy. The cheesecake is baked slowly at a low temperature to ensure that it remains silky and smooth. While cheesecake may be one of the most popular desserts in the world, quality counts.
- Cheesecake from Junior's: creamy, dense, and rich, made from cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract, paired with a crispy crust
8 Black And White Cookies From William Greenberg Desserts
While the United States is not considered one of the best places in the world for those who love sweet delicacies, some desserts really leave a lasting impression. William Greenberg Desserts, located on Manhattan's Upper East Side, is known for its iconic New York City dessert, the black and white cookie. This circular cookie features a soft, cake-like base and is divided into two halves, one side covered in vanilla icing and the other in chocolate. The icing is thick and lustrous, giving the cookie a stunning appearance.
- Black and white cookies from William Greenberg Desserts: a soft, cake-like base and is divided into two halves, one side covered in vanilla icing and the other in chocolate.
7 Cronuts From Dominique Ansel Bakery
Cronuts, the fusion pastry that combines elements of a croissant and a doughnut, were first introduced at Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York City's SoHo neighborhood in 2013. The Cronut quickly became a sensation, with long lines forming just to obtain one. The pastry dough is laminated like a croissant, with layers of butter and dough, but it is also fried like a doughnut, resulting in a crispy exterior and a delicate, flaky interior. The Cronut is filled with flavored cream or ganache and finished with a glaze. Surprisingly, Cronuts were not one of the most Googled desserts in 2020.
- Cronuts from Dominique Ansel Bakery: a cross between a croissant and doughnut, filled with flavored cream or ganache and finished with a glaze
6 Banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery
Magnolia Bakery is a well-known New York City bakery that is famous for its classic American desserts, including its Banana Pudding. The Banana Pudding is a favorite of both locals and tourists, made with layers of fresh bananas, vanilla pudding, and Nilla wafers. The pudding is crafted using fresh, high-quality ingredients and is neither too sweet nor too heavy. The bananas and Nilla wafers give the pudding a lovely texture and a subtle crunch with each bite.
- Banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery: fresh bananas, vanilla pudding, and Nilla wafers
5 Chocolate Babka From Breads Bakery
Breads Bakery is a popular bakery in New York City, known for its scrumptious Chocolate Babka. Chocolate babka is a decadent, sweet bread that is usually made with yeast dough, chocolate filling, and streusel topping. The dough is prepared with locally sourced flour and left to rise overnight to achieve a light and fluffy texture. The filling comprises dark chocolate, sugar, and cinnamon, which is spread evenly throughout the dough. The Chocolate Babka is topped with a crunchy streusel topping, adding another layer of sweetness and texture to the bread.
Key lime pie from Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pies
Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pies, located in Red Hook, Brooklyn, is known for its authentic Key Lime Pie, a traditional dessert that originated in the Florida Keys. The tangy, creamy filling is created with a combination of key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, and egg yolks baked in a graham cracker crust. The pie is topped with a whipped cream topping that complements the tartness of the lime filling and adds a lightness to the dessert.
- Chocolate babka from Breads Bakery: decadent, sweet bread that is usually made with yeast dough, chocolate filling, and streusel topping
4 Chocolate Chip Cookie From Levain Bakery
Levain Bakery, located on Manhattan's Upper West Side, is famous for its classic American chocolate chip cookies, which have earned a reputation as one of the best in New York City. These cookies are large, thick, and chewy, with a slightly crispy exterior and a soft, gooey center. A blend of four different types of chocolate chips is used in making the cookies, which imparts a rich and intricate flavor.
- Chocolate chip cookie from Levain Bakery: large, thick, and chewy, with a slightly crispy exterior and a soft, gooey center
3 Gelato from Il Laboratorio del Gelato
Il Laboratorio del Gelato is a gelato parlor situated in New York City that has a reputation for producing high-quality, artisanal gelato. Gelato is a dessert that hails from Italy and is comparable to ice cream but has a creamier texture and less air. Il Laboratorio del Gelato offers a diverse range of flavors, from classic ones like chocolate and vanilla to more unusual ones like grapefruit Campari and goat cheese. To make their gelato, they employ a traditional Italian technique that involves slowly churning the mixture until it becomes thick and velvety. While there are a plethora of frozen desserts that aren't ice cream, foodies tend to have a soft spot for the infamous gelato.
- Gelato from Il Laboratorio del Gelato: ice-cream flavors from chocolate and vanilla to grapefruit Campari and goat cheese
2 Milk Bar Pie From Milk Bar
Milk Bar, a well-known bakery and dessert chain in New York City, has a signature dessert called Milk Bar Pie, also known as Crack Pie. The Milk Bar pie is a luscious and indulgent pie with a buttery oat crust and a filling similar to a custard or chess pie. The filling is made using a mixture of sugar, butter, eggs, cream, and corn powder, which creates a unique texture and flavor profile. The filling is rich and sweet with a slightly caramelized flavor and a touch of saltiness from the butter. The buttery oat crust adds a crunchy texture and a nutty taste that complements the sweetness of the filling perfectly.
- Milk Bar pie from Milk Bar: buttery oat crust and a filling similar to a custard or chess pie
1 Baklava from Damascus Bakery
Baklava is a traditional dessert from the Middle East that is made by layering phyllo dough, chopped nuts, and honey syrup. Damascus Bakery, located in Brooklyn, New York, is famous for its delicious baklava, which is made using a family recipe passed down through generations. The baklava at Damascus Bakery consists of layers of buttery phyllo dough, finely chopped pistachios, and walnuts that are spiced with a blend of cinnamon and cardamom. The layers are then soaked in a sweet honey syrup that gives the baklava its characteristic sticky and sweet texture.
- Baklava from Damascus Bakery: phyllo dough, chopped nuts, and honey syrup