Top 20 Desserts in New York City

If you’re anything like us at Female Foodie all great vacations are planned with a few clutch dessert spots in mind. And when looking for the beast dessert in NYC there’s certainly no shortage. We compiled this list highlighting some of the best sweet bites in New York City from homemade pie to doughnuts to even trendy desserts like cookie dough in a cone. Who do you think has the best dessert in NYC? Please leave a comment-we love to hear from you!

SEE ALSO- BEST RESTAURANTS IN NYC: TOP 20 PLACES FOR A FIRST TIMER

20. Black Tap: Milkshakes

If you’re looking for one of the craziest milkshakes you will ever try in your life, Blacktap is 100% our go-to. The Female Foodie team agrees that while the actual ice cream in these milkshakes is nothing to write home about, the composition and creativity of each of these shakes certainly are making them a very iconic NYC dessert. Our favorite shakes are the , or make sure to watch for their rotating specials. Because who wouldn’t want a slice of chocolate cake or donuts or a slice of birthday cake on top of their 16 ounce milkshake?

19. Momofuku Milk Bar: Cereal Milk Soft Serve

I heard a lot of mixed reviews on Milk Bar before trying it- most seemed to love or hate their ice cream and I have to say that I LIKED it! The cereal milk soft serve (yes, it tastes like the milk at the bottom of a bowl of cereal) comes out of left field but I loved how unique and surprisingly nostalgic it was. Plus the texture of caramelized cornflakes scattered throughout was pretty hard to beat. Other popular items here include the crack pie, compost cookie, and birthday cake.

18. Lady M Cake Boutique: Signature Mille Crepe Cake

For one of the most elegant dessert experiences New York City make sure to enjoy a slice of mille crepe cake at Lady M. This sophisticated desert is comprised of 20 layers of paper-thin handmade crepes layered with light pastry cream with a beautifully caramelized top. Lady M typically serves two or three different flavors in their five separate Manhattan locations.

17. Breads Bakery: Chocolate Babka

Babka is without question one of the most quintessential desserts in New York City. It’s a Jewish bread prepared with layers of dough and chocolate, dough and chocolate, dough and more chocolate- you get the picture? There are plenty of places where you can grab this popular New York City treat, but one of the most iconic loaves is from Breads Bakery. It’s a fantastic place to stop and grab some for yourself and a to-goie loaf for someone back home.

16. Rice To Riches: Rice Pudding

Rice to Riches may serve one of the most non-ascetically pleasing desserts in the entire city but the incredible flavors that you didn’t know were even possible makes up for it all. After entering their original location on Spring Street, you’ll notice a case covering several flavor varieties of this unique sweet treat. Sample a flavor or two and if you need our recommendation, we’re big fans of Rocky Road and Old Fashioned Romance! Be sure to complete with toppings- our favorite is the buttery graham crumble. 100% on our list of the best dessert in NYC.

15. Jacques Torres: Chocolate Chip Cookie

Of the many popular chocolate chip cookies in the city of New York, the Jacques Torres cookie is definitely on our list of best dessert in NYC solely for the copious amounts of high-quality dark chocolate found in each and every cookie. It’s on the thinner, crispier, and indulgent end of the cookie spectrum. If you really fall in love like we did, you can buy some their chocolate chip cookie mix or dark chocolate baking disks to go and attempt to re-create it home.

14. Cookie DŌ NYC: Cookie Dough in a Cone

If you’re looking for a place for the best dessert in NYC where all of your childhood dreams will come true, then Cookie DŌ in Greenwich Village is an absolute must. It’s basically like walking to your favorite ice cream parlor with various flavors and menu options but all made with cookie dough instead. The best part about it? All doughs are eggless and made with heat-treated flour, not that that ever stopped us from eating a heaping scoop of cookie dough! There’s often wait here so be sure to plan ahead or go on a weekday when crowds seem to be a little less intimidating.

13. Wafels & Dinges: Liege Wafel

One of the best desserts in NYC originally started as a food truck in 2007 and now serves their amazing waffles in nearly one dozen locations across town. The Liege Wafel is truly to die for- made with pearl sugar that caramelizes when the dough hits the waffle iron and topped with a variety of delicious additions depending on what you fancy. We recommend trying the classic Liège waffle with strawberries, whipped cream, and a touch of nutella if you’re feeling extra decadent.

12. Big Gay Ice Cream: The Salty Pimp

We are big fans of fantastic soft serve ice cream, and the creations at Big Gay Ice Cream in NYC does nothing less than deliver on all counts. They have a plethora of flavor and topping creations that will no doubt leave you feeling indecisive, but you cannot go wrong with the most iconic concoction, The Salty Pimp (you may have seen this featured on Food Network’s The Best Thing I Ever Ate). It’s a vanilla soft serve cone topped with dulce de leche, a chocolate shell, and a pinch of sea salt.

11. Glaser’s Bake Shop: Black and White Cookie (CLOSED)

Glaser’s Bake Shop in the Upper East Side is where many believe to be the birthplace of this iconic cookie and definitely regarded by several as the best dessert in NYC. This cookie, simply put, is delicious! A very simple and soft cookie (almost cake like) topped with vanilla buttercream and chocolate fudge. The flavor of the chocolate fudge totally won us over. Let the sweet employees know it’s your first time at Glaser’s and they’ll let you sample a cookie or two from their case!

10. Eileen’s Special Cheesecake: Cheesecake Tarts

Cheesecake is yet another dessert that many recognize as iconic to New York City, and we’re big fans of how they run things over at Eileen‘s Special Cheesecake. Opened in the mid 70’s and now located in Nolita, this is the perfect spot to stop for a quick treat in NYC. Their gorgeous case will make you swoon with a stunning display of their many flavors including fruit topped, nut topped, or classic cheesecake varieties.

9. Two Little Red Hens: Cupcakes

When it comes to cupcakes in New York City, we searched far and wide for GREAT cupcakes that we felt were worth our time and money. Not going to mention names,  but several of the popular NYC cupcake spots were underwhelming to us and provided finished products that were either dry or lacking in flavor. If you’re looking for a cupcake done right in the Big Apple, make sure you grab them at the Two Little Red Hens bakery. They do an absolutely fantastic job at making moist, flavorful cupcakes in both their regular and mini sizes.

8. Ample Hills Creamery: Ice Cream Cone

Although we didn’t want to make this post too ice cream-centric, we absolutely couldn’t leave out Ample Hills Creamery on a list of the best dessert in NYC. Ample Hills, originally based out of Brooklyn, makes some of the most delicious ice cream in the entire city. This ice cream shop is dedicated to making ice cream the old-fashioned way, slowly, by hand. Make sure to complete your due diligence and sample any and all flavors the peak your interest before committing. The most popular flavor (and worth the hype) is the ooey gooey butter cake. Need we say more?

7. The City Bakery: Hot Chocolate (CLOSED)

If you find yourself in New York City on a cold day as we have, your heart might be in search of the best hot chocolate you can find. Never fear, thanks to several Female Foodie readers, we were pointed in the direction of literally one of the best cups of hot chocolate we’ve had to date. Made with milk and cream, real melted chocolate, and topped with a fluffy homemade marshmallow, it’s definitely worth stopping by. If you’re game for a little more sugar make sure to grab one of their fantastic chocolate chip cookies too.

6. Morgenstern’s: Philly Style Ice Cream

If you’re looking for something that truly stands out when it comes to ice cream, make sure to visit Morgenstern’s ice cream parlor for flavor profiles with classic toppings that you won’t forget. Some of their inventive flavors include burnt honey vanilla, black coconut ash, blueberry milk chocolate, and the list goes on. The ice cream is fantastic and can stand on its own, but if you’re up for something with a twist try the salted caramel pretzel combination or one of their famous king kong banana splits!

5. Petee’s Pie Company: Homemade Pie

There are plenty of popular options for pie New York City, but we found that some of the best pie on all counts comes from the cozy corners of Petee’s. This small family owned business has everything nailed when it comes to a great slice of pie from the crust to the filling to the topping. Some of the most popular pies include the Hudson Valley apple pie, sour cherry pie, or the salty chocolate chess. No doubt a highlight in our book when it comes to the best dessert in NYC.

4. Doughnut Plant: Creme Brûlée Doughnut

Every great foodie city has their go-to spots for great doughnuts and Doughnut Plant is at the top of our list for best dessert in NYC! With multiple locations in NYC, make sure prioritize these doughnuts in your quest for the best desserts in New York City. Their case is stunning with so many amazing options but we recommend trying the crème brûlée donuts or the brooklyn black out. Save a bite for us!

3. Dominique Ansel Bakery: Cronut

The cronut from the Dominique Ansel Bakery in Soho is without question at the top of our list for the best dessert in NYC! With a two-cronut-per-customer limit, you can only help but wonder why this pastry is so sought after. Delicate layers of this croissants and doughnut hybrid is truly delectable. Cronut flavors rotate every single month and are never repeated. If you go early enough (especially on a weekday), just before they open at 8 am, you shouldn’t have to wait very long. Making experience of it and try a couple other things from the bakery while you’re at it. But if you’re in a rush or you’ve lost track of time, get on the pre-order list online every Monday at 11 a.m. for the following week!

2. Magnolia Bakery: Banana Pudding

It isn’t a trip to New York City without a helping of the ever famous and oh-so-iconic banana pudding from Magnolia bakery. Skip the cupcakes and cookies and bars for what’s truly the highlight of the entire place and some of the best dessert in NYC. At first glance or hearing about this treat you might ask yourself “What can be so special about banana pudding?”  We’re still trying to figure that out ourselves, but rest assured that this masterpiece is truly worth the hype.

1. Levain Bakery: Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie

The beautiful, glorious, Levain Bakery has a lot of hype when it comes to the best dessert in NYC and for good reason. We have yet to find a better chocolate chip cookie anywhere else, but you’ll have to go and see for yourself. With four amazing flavors to choose from you certainly can’t go wrong but we recommend the OG Levain bakery cookie which is the chocolate chip walnut. Perfectly crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, it’s truly a cookie lovers dream come true. The lines are typically long so don’t forget about their second location just a couple short blocks away.

SEE ALSO: BEST RESTAURANTS IN NYC- TOP 20 PLACES FOR A FIRST TIMER