Local Guide: My Favorite Dessert Spots in New York

Local Guide: My Favorite Dessert Spots in New York

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1. Doughnut Plant (379 Grand St New York, NY 10002/ 220 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011)

Yelp Rating: 4 ½ Stars

Website: http://doughnutplant.com/

 

Some moments in life are so significant that you will always remember where you were when it happened. Eating my first Doughnut Plant doughnut is one of those moments. I was out for a friend’s birthday. We were at a bar at approximately 1 AM when his girlfriend brought out a tray of doughnuts. I took a doughnut (Tres Leches) to try and it was love at first bite. Of course, I had to ask where they were from and they told me a place called Doughnut Plant on Grand Street in the Lower East Side. These doughnuts are amazing, out of this world, and in a class of its own. If you are going a compare a Doughnut Plant doughnut, you compare it to every other doughnut ever made… that was not made by Doughnut Plant. Their most popular flavors are tres leches and carrot cake. Tres leches is definitely my favorite. They also have seasonal doughnuts. While every doughnut I tried there has been great, I also like the pistachio and pomegranate flavors.

They are pricey for doughnuts. They are about $2.75 to $3. However, they are more like gourmet cakes in the shape of doughnuts and definitely worth the premium price. To make things better, they opened up one in Chelsea a couple of years ago, which is a lot closer to my office.

2. Insomnia Cookies (Various Locations)

Yelp Rating: 4 Stars

Website: http://insomniacookies.com/

 

My coworker and I were walking in Murray Hill after dinner when we got a whiff of a heavenly scent. The aroma was so alluring that it is the only time in my life that I stopped in my tracks to find the source of the smell. It is the story of how I found Insomnia Cookies. They are by far the best cookies I have ever eaten. Their best cookie is the Smores. However, you need to eat it there right out of the oven or ruin the experience. I tried bringing one home once for my family to try but it solidified. It was still very good but not the same. If you live in Manhattan, they also deliver until 3 AM.

 

3. Schmackary’s (362 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036)

Yelp Rating: 4 Stars

Website: schmackarys.com/‎

 

Schmakary’s is another great cookie spot and it is in Hell’s Kitchen. In my opinion, it is not as good as Insomnia but also excellent. Naturally, I took advantage of the 12 cookies for $24 deal here so I can bring a box home and try multiple flavors. The Maple Bacon and Red Velvet are my favorite. Of course, the traditional chocolate chip is always delicious.

 

4. Martha’s Country Bakery (Multiple Locations in Queens)

Yelp Rating: 4 Stars

Website: http://marthascountrybakery.com/

 

Martha’s is my favorite bakery. It has three locations in Queens (Astoria, Forrest Hills, and Bayside). It also serves my favorite cheesecake, its Oreo Cheesecake. Their fruit tarts and red velvet cake are also excellent.

 

5. Junior’s Most Fabulous Cheesecake and Desserts (Multiple Locations)

Yelp Rating: 4 Stars

Website: http://www.juniorscheesecake.com

 

There are few things more New York City than Junior’s and its cheesecakes. They have great cheesecake. My personal favorite cheesecake at Junior’s is the Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake. It has chocolate mousse, chocolate cheesecake, and a chocolate chip outside layer. Martha’s Oreo Cheesecake is my favorite cheesecake but this Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake is a close second. They have locations in Manhattan in Times Square and Grand Central. The original one is in Brooklyn. While their cheesecakes are phenomenal, I have never tried their other food because I heard average reviews about it.

 

6. ChikaLicious Dessert Bar (203 E 10th St, New York, NY 10009)

Yelp Rating: 4 Stars

Website: chikalicious.com

 

I have never actually been to this location. One of my friends brought desserts from Chickalicious to dinner for one of our friend’s birthday. It was the only time I have tried their desserts. It has been a few years so I do not remember exactly what I ate. However, it was so good that it still made an impression on me that stays with me today. I still need to go the source to eat the desserts and will need to set aside time to do so.

 

7. Magnolia Bakery (Multiple Locations)

Yelp Rating: 3 ½ Stars

 Website: http://www.magnoliabakery.com/

 

The desserts at Magnolia look amazing. While all the desserts from Magnolia I have tried have been excellent, the banana pudding is out of this world good. In general, banana pudding is not one of my favorite desserts but the pudding at Magnolia is different and phenomenal. They are also known for their cupcakes but I have not been blown away from any cupcakes in New York (Please see further below).

 

8. 16 Handles (Multiple Locations)

Yelp Rating: 4 Stars

Website: 16handles.com/‎

 

I am a big fan of self serve frozen yogurt. Yogurtland is my favorite place for frozen yogurt in the country. 16 Handles is my favorite in New York City. As the name implies, you pull a handle to get as much frozen yogurt as you want. Then, you go over to the topping bar to add to the yogurt (e.g. candy, fruit, etc.). My personal favorite flavors are cookies and cream, pistachio, and chocolate love affair. The fruit flavors are also great.

 

Other Cupcake Spots

As I noted in my thoughts about Magnolia, I have not been blown away by any cupcake place yet. Crumbs is the mainstream chain. While it is good, it is also overpriced and overrated. However, everyone loves a delicious cupcake and here are a couple of the better cupcake shops that I enjoyed.

 

1. Butter Lane (123 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009)

Yelp Rating: 4 Stars

Website: http://butterlane.com/

 

Besides their own flavors, they allow you to build your own cupcake. You can also take a class at Butter Lane to learn how to make cupcakes.

 

2. sugar Sweet sunshine Bakery (126 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002)

Yelp Rating: 4 Stars

Website: http://www.sugarsweetsunshine.com/

 

I have only been here once and I tried the “Ooey Gooey”. It tastes like it sounds and is chocolate cake with chocolate almond buttercream.

Pat Wong

About Pat Wong

Patrick is a contributor for Rookerville. He is an avid sports fan. Before joining Rookerville, he was part of a defunct New York Yankees message board, NYYankeefans, where he was its top poster and was inducted in its Hall of Fame for his contributions. Patrick is also a passionate fan of movies. He has enjoyed reading movie reviews over the years and is excited about the opportunity to review movies.

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