Mattie’s Top 8 Desserts in New York City
A Native New Yorker's Guide to
the Top 8 Desserts in New York City
Hello readers of Courtney in the Middle Seat!
This is Courtney’s wife, Mattie, who regularly sits anywhere but the middle seat. Today, I’ll be sharing a top 8 list of my favorite desserts in New York City (I tried for a top 5, but I couldn’t compromise). This topic is to be taken extremely seriously. If you are unable to check off this whole list on this trip, I recommend you prioritize completion during your next visit. Here are the top desserts in New York City!
Mattie's List of Top 8 Desserts in NYC
Top desserts in New York City by a native New Yorker! Please note: this list is in no particular order. Details and pictures below.
- Banana Pudding at Magnolia
- Chocolate Chip Cookie at Ground Central & Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookie at Maman
- Amaretti cookies at Madonia Brothers Bakery
- Birthday Cake Truffles at Momofuku Milk Bar
- Lemon Drop Cookies at Pasticceria Roccos
- Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity 3
- Key Lime Pie at Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pies
- Cannoli or Chocolate Cake at Veniero’s Pasticceria
Bonus: Frosting Shot at Sprinkles Cupcakes
P.S. – You may note that I did not include Levain or Chip on this list. While delicious, I personally prefer crunchy cookies over soft. If soft cookies are your jam, then definitely check out Levain or Chip!
P.P.S. – If you have access to the Delta Sky Club, they serve very delicious small amaretti cookies! Fill a cup and take them with you!
And now, the deets on the top desserts in New York City!
Photo Credit: MagnolaBakery.com
Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery
What makes this banana pudding so delicious is that it’s not really your traditional yellow-ish pudding creme that binds together the wafers and bananas, but closer to a frosting texture and taste. When purchasing, you’ll feel like the sizes are small for the cost, but you won’t need to eat a lot. It’s super rich. Small should be all you need for 1 or 2 people.
Like me, Magnolia is also a NYC-native. The first location opened in ’96 on Bleecker Street in Manhattan’s West Village. Now you can find Magnolia in multiple locations around NYC, Chicago & LA, But, all of Magnolia’s baked goods are made fresh daily, on-site. If you’re planning out your NYC-agenda based on dessert, there are Magnolia locations in both Grand Central or Penn Station. Start your visit off with banana pudding or take some with you for the trip home!
Chocolate Chip Cookie at Ground Central & Nutty Chocolate Chip at Maman
From my perspective and deep love of flat, semi-crunchy cookies with large swaths of chocolate often served warm, these two are the most perfect chocolate chip cookies this city has to offer. Ground Central’s includes a bit of sea salt on top (but not too much), and Maman’s includes a nut mixture of macadamia, almonds, and walnuts (but chopped small). If you’re looking for a side of caffeine with your cookie, both have delicious drinks, too!
Maman is another NYC-native that is so good it has expanded internationally to Montreal & Toronto. Today there are multiple locations across Manhattan (& one in Greenpoint, Brooklyn!), but Manan first started as an independent bakery and cafe in SoHo 6 years ago. More than just a bakery, some Manan locations also serve salads, quiches, sandwiches more. But, the Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookie is truly the star. It was even named one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things’ in 2017!
Fun fact: Maman means ‘mother’ in French, a shoutout to the the mothers of founders Benjamin Sormonte & Elisa Marshall for guiding their earliest experiences in the kitchen.
Amaretti Cookies at Madonia Brothers Bakery
Photo Credit: Listen Notes
https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/wat-cast/episode-36-peter-madonia-j0XSOoVDGqF/
If you love marzipan, this cookie is for you. Crunchy on the outside, super soft on the inside, and overwhelmingly filled with almond paste. My mouth is drooling just thinking about this cookie. For over 100 years, Madonia Brothers has been baking fresh Sicilian pastries. Located along Arthur Ave in the Bronx, Madonia Brothers is part of NY’s historic Italian neighborhood and one of the city’s culinary hotspots. It will take you about an hour from Midtown, Manhattan, but it’s worth the schelp. And while you’re at it, pick up some eggplant parm from Mike’s Deli (located next door) to bring home.
Photo Credit: bronxlittleitaly.com
If you love Madonia Brother’s amaretti cookie as much as I do check out the recipe here. Just note it’s measured for 76 cookies!
Birthday Cake Truffles at Momofuku Milk Bar
Overall, I find Momofuku to be wildly overrated, especially their cookies. However, there is something about these Birthday Cake Truffles that I just love. Could it be the overly sweet cakey taste? Could it be that you feel like you’re eating the best part of the topping of cake? Maybe it’s the fact that they are small so there’s little guilt involved in eating just one… either way, skip their full Birthday Cake slice, and just get the truffles.
Milk Bar’s first location opened in 2008 in the East Village. Founders James Beard and pastry chef Christina Tosi have grown Milk Bar’s fan base so strongly over the past decade that Bon Appetit even named it ‘one of the most exciting bakeries in the country.”
Lemon Drop Cookies at Pasticceria Roccos
Roccos (and Venerios, see below) is an old-school Italian bakery. Basically everything is delicious and it exudes authenticity. So what’s more classic than a simple lemon drop cookie? Hard lemony frosting, soft buttery cookie made with real vanilla bean. And they freeze well, too!
Located in Manhattan’s West Village neighborhood, Rocco’s proves that you don’t have to go all the way to the Bronx for authentic Italian pastries. Pasticceria Roccos founder, Rocco Generoso Sr., arrived in NYC in 1956 as a 17-year-old young man from Italy. And Rocco’s has been his home ever since! He started as a dishwasher at Zema’s Bakery, the predecessor to Rocco’s. Over the next 20 years Rocco learned the art of Italian baking from Joe Zema himself, and 1974 he purchased the bakery and grew it into the West Village staple it is today.
Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity 3
This Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity 3 is by far the most ‘touristy’ suggestion on the list, and I’m happy to say that it’s not overrated at all. The portion is huge and it is super chocolatey. You’ll probably need to plan to wait for at least 30 minutes depending on time of day. The location itself is also a sight to see – let’s just say that ‘more is more’ is the interior decorator’s philosophy. Serendipity 3 is truly nothing less than fabulous.
Key Lime Pie at Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie
For comparison sake, Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pies are probably the least touristy suggestion on the list. I’d recommend going in the summer because it’s located on the water in Red Hook, Brooklyn (also fun to take the ferry there!). You can get a Key Lime Pie in it’s most classic form, as a pie. But, you can also get mini pies on a stick, or dipped in chocolate!
One thing that sets Steve’s pies apart are that they are made using fresh squeezed key lime juice. Who knew that a ‘key lime’ is actually a specific type of lime?! (Read here!) Grown in the Florida Keys, the key lime industry has suffered over the past decade due to severe damage from 2017’s Hurricane Irma and bacterial disease affecting the trees. To support the re-growth of Florida’s key lime industry, using the fresh seeds from his lime juice Steve has started the One Seed at a Time project to provide seeds to individuals and organizations interested in growing key lime trees!
For Courtney’s top NYC dessert picks and a few more of Brooklyn’s sweetest spots, check out Part 2 of this post!
Cannoli or Chocolate Cake at Veinero's
And last but not least, Venerio’s is a NYC classic. Almost everything is famous – from their cheesecake to their strawberry shortcake. If I’m going though, it’s all about the original classic cannoli. Sweet, but not too, sweet ricotta filling piped generously into a perfectly crunchy shell. Maybe get an extra to go!
Veneiro’s has been around since 1894, when Antonia Veniero opened a social club serving homemade biscotti, candies and roasted espresso. By the 1920’s the social club transformed into a full-fledged family-run bakery and cake shop. Veniero actually brought master bakers over from Sicily to ensure true Italian authenticity. They even competed in 1939 New York City World Fair! Over 120 years and a few generations later, Veniero’s continues to be family run!
Bonus: Frosting Shot at Sprinkles Cupcakes
Sprinkles may be known for their cupcakes, but as a frosting connoisseur having the option to just buy a shot of frosting (with sprinkles on top!) is truly the dessert dream!
Thanks for joining for my first guest blog post! If you’ve tried any of Mattie’s top spots or have recommendations that you think should have made the list, let us know in the comments! Or, want more more tips on where to find the sweetest spots in NYC? Check out part 2 for my favorite New York City desserts!
Omg! These look AMAZING! The truffle balls are calling my name! Will definitely try next time I’m in the big Apple!
This post has me missing NYC so much!! I love Momofuku Milk Bar. It’s so good! I can’t wait to try more of these places when I visit again.
Yes! So good! They have nationwide shipping if you’re in the US 😉
I’ve been to New York twice and have never been to these places! When I go back I’ll definitely be trying the frozen hot chocs!
Mouthwatering post!! Thanks for sharing!
This is such a great list and those all look delicious! I’ll definitely have to check some of these out next time I’m there. One of my favorite spots for dessert in NYC is Cafe Laduree, it’s just like the one in Paris and their macaroons are amazing! 😁
I’ve been to Magnolia Bakery but didn’t try their banana pudding and now I’m kicking myself for it–that looks amazing! I want those birthday cake truffles too! *-*
You definitely have to try the banana pudding when you’re back! It’s truly incredible!