Appetizers are nice and entrées are essential, but we adore dessert. For real — we feel about ice cream and cookies and brownies the way Liz Lemon feels about her night cheese. A day without something sweet is like a day without joy.
Ahead, find New York City's most jaw-dropping, happiness-inducing desserts — from legendary chocolate babka to a classic banana split. These treats aren't just memorable; they are worth every single delicious calorie. Fair warning: We're not sharing!
Salty Pimp At Big Gay Ice Cream
Big Gay Ice Cream is a downtown NYC dessert institution. Beginning as a colorful truck doling out frosty treats, BGIC expanded into two rooted locations within the East and West Village. It's a must visit for the Salty Pimp cone, one of their classic funky flavors: chocolate-dipped vanilla with dulce de leche and sea salt.
Big Gay Ice Cream, Multiple locations in Manhattan.
Photo: Via @fha.kanch.
Brooklyn Blackout At Doughnut Plant
If you haven't had a doughnut from NYC's Doughnut Plant, you haven't been living. This lower east side originator has been churning out sweet baked dough since 1994 (with family business roots all the way back to the early 1900s). The Brooklyn Blackout is a classic: chocolate filled with chocolate, dipped in chocolate, and sprinkled with more chocolate.
Doughnut Plant, Multiple locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Photo: Via @doughnutplant.
Matcha Sesame Swirl Ice Cream At Taiyaki
Taiyaki is the trendy Japanese ice cream parlor that's set up shop in Manhattan's Little Italy (and our Instagram feeds). The delectable soft serve is swirled atop a traditional Taiyaki cone (i.e. a crispy fish shaped cake filled with red bean paste). If you plan on stopping by, be prepared to wait in line — these cool fish are in high demand.
Taiyaki NYC, 119 Baxter Street (between Hester and Canal Street); 212-966-2882.
Photo: Via @stuffbeneats.
Everything Black Ice Cream Sandwich At Ice & Vice
This ice cream sandwich combines two of the Big Apple's ultimate flavor classics: everything bagels and black-and-white cookies. The mastermind behind the melty mashup is Kossar's Bagels & Bialys — they've teamed up with Ice & Vice for this salty sweet NYC mega treat.
Ice & Vice, 221 East Broadway (at Clinton Street); 646-678-3687.
Photo: Via @iceandvice.
Black Tap Milkshake
This ain't no ordinary milkshake. Black Tap is whipping up the mega milkshakes of your wildest dreams, ranging from $7 to $12 a pop. Think layers of frozen cream, fudge, doughnuts, sprinkles, candy, slices of cake, and so much more. You'll definitely want to bring a friend (or two) to share one of these milky monsters.
Black Tap, 529 Broome Street (between Sullivan and Thompson streets); 917-639-3089.
Photo: Via @blacktapnyc.
Ooey Gooey Butter Cake at Ample Hills Creamery
If you have yet to taste the ice cream brilliance that is Ample Hills Creamery, go immediately. The inventive flavors range from Snap Mallow Pop (marshmallow flavored ice cream with rice crispy treat chunks) to Baby I Was Churned This Way! (salted hazelnut flavored ice cream with rainbow-chocolate covered sunflower seeds). But, the creamiest and dreamiest of all is the famous Ooey Gooey Butter Cake (it's all in the name).
Ample Hills Creamery, 305 Nevins Street (at the corner of Union Street), Gowanus; 347-725-4061
Photo: Courtesy of Ample Hills Creamery.
Cookie Shots At Dominique Ansel Bakery
The cronut is a household name at this point, but there are still lots of reasons to drop by Dominique Ansel's Soho bakery. His cookie shots, which are served starting at 3 p.m., are meant to be a twist on an after-school snack. The ooey-gooey cookie cup is coated in chocolate to make it water-tight, then filled with a shot of vanilla-infused milk. And, unlike its more famous sibling, you don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get one.
Dominique Ansel Bakery, 189 Spring Street (Between Sullivan and Thompson Streets); 212-219-2773.
Banana Pudding At Magnolia Bakery
Magnolia Bakery might be better known for its cupcakes, but the real treat is the banana pudding. Rich, creamy, and full of fresh fruit, it's the perfect decadent sweet. It comes in classic banana or chocolate-banana, and we suggest trying them both!
Magnolia Bakery, multiple locations.
Photo: Courtesy of Magnolia Bakery
Pate De Fruit & Olive Oil Ice Cream At Betony
This simple but delectable dessert will have your mouth watering for days. The seasonal dish has fresh watermelon and cucumber fruit jewels topped with three small scoops of olive oil ice cream. Seconds, anyone?
Betony, 41 West 57th Street (between 5th and 6th avenues); 212- 465-2400.
Photo: Courtesy of Signe Birck.
Tarte Tatin For 2 At Gotham Bar and Grill
Available at one of New York's best restaurants, this Tarte Tatin is beautiful and delicious. This puffy apple pastry is brought out whole first for the lucky diners to glimpse at before being taken back and cut in the kitchen. While it's a bit pricey at $28, it's totally worth the cash.
Gotham Bar and Grill, 12 East 12th Street (between Fifth Avenue and University Place); 212-620-4020.
Photo: Courtesy of Gotham Bar and Grill.
Coconut Cake At Miss Lily's
This Jamaican hot spot offers a selection of especially delicious sweets, but their coconut cake is the standout of the dessert tray. It's a moist white slide topped with frosting and toasted coconut bits — a.k.a. a must try.
Miss Lily's, 132 West Houston Street (at Sullivan Street); 212-812-1482.
Photo: Courtesy of Miss Lily's.
S'mores At Marc Forgione
Urban campfires aren't easy to come by. The s'mores by pastry chef Veronica Rivera at Tribeca's Marc Forgione is a wonderful replacement. It's a gorgeous dish, but doesn't sacrifice authenticity: Crunchy graham cracker, gooey toasted marshmallows, and melty-chocolate are all represented. More proof that the dessert doesn't branch out too much: It's plated with a twig.
Marc Forgione, 134 Reade Street (between Hudson and Greenwich streets); 212-941-9401.
Photo: Courtesy of Marc Forgione.
Local Apple Pie At Bubby's
The Big Apple has a lot of specialties. Funnily enough, apple pie is not one of them (you'll have more luck with cheesecake). The pie at Bubby's is an unforgettable exception to this rule. It's spiced with cinnamon, cloves, lemon zest, and is double-crusted, because it's the real, down-home deal.
Bubby's, Multiple Locations.
Photo: Courtesy of Bubby's.
Chocolate Green Tea Lava Cake At Spot Dessert Bar
Green tea ganache and molten chocolate get super cozy in this decadent East-meets-West dessert. Spot operates on a 'Dessert Tapas' concept, which is a glorious excuse to treat sugar like Lilly Pulitzer for Target — take everything and don't look back. The cake comes with a delicate scoop of green tea ice cream to cool down your taste buds after they erupt.
Spot Dessert Bar, Multiple Locations.
Photo: Courtesy of Spot Dessert Bar.
Brown Sugar Panna Cotta At The Dessert Club by ChikaLicious
This brand new West Village dessert club operates on the concept that appealing to your sweet tooth can be a full-service affair. Here, bakery items are available to-go, while a menu of haute creations are served plated with wine pairings. Prepped with house-made sorbet and fruit from the farmer's market, the panna cotta (which is also gluten-free!) is so fresh and airy, that eating it could only be more heavenly on a cloud. Flavors change seasonally, too, so you'll never, ever tire of its goodness.
The Dessert Club, 27 Bedford Street (at Downing Street); 212-691-2426.
Photo: Courtesy of The Dessert Club by ChikaLicious.
Chocolate Babka At Breads Bakery
It's easy to have a love affair with the delectable goodness at this Union Square bakery, with its flaky top, soft, doughy brioche insides, and chocolate (mixed with Nutella) that oozes richness and happiness with every single bite. It's Eastern European comfort food at its finest (and sweetest), and it might just be the best babka in New York City (or dare we say, the world?).
Breads Bakery, 18 East 16th Street (between Union Square West and Fifth Avenue); 212-633-2253.
Photo: Courtesy of Breads Bakery.
Oversized Cookies At Levain Bakery
You don't need to be a cookie connoisseur to recognize the award-worthy quality goods here. First things first, they're huge. Massive. And, they come in flavors like chocolate chip walnut and dark chocolate peanut butter chip. So, it's no surprise that there's typically a line going out the door. We promise they're worth the wait.
Levain Bakery, 167 West 74th Street (at Amsterdam Avenue); 212-874-6080.
Photo: Courtesy of Levain Bakery.
Gelato On A Stick at Popbar
This pint-size West Village shop may have Italian gelato rival Grom situated on a nearby corner, but there's just something so fresh and delicious and satisfying about these fancy-pants ice pops. Maybe it's the all-natural ingredients; maybe it's the crazy mix of customizable flavors and toppings. All we know is that even when it's subzero degrees outside, they're still so damn good.
Popbar, 5 Carmine Street (at Sixth Avenue); 212-255-4874.
Photo: Courtesy of Popbar.
Banana Split At Empire Diner
This scrumptious sundae is not your typical banana split. A caramelized banana cradles three over-the-top scoops of ice cream, topped with walnuts, chocolate fudge, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. Even better? The newly reopened diner will soon be open 24 hours a day, so you can enjoy this classic dessert anytime of the day or night. (After all, calories don't count after midnight, right?)
Empire Diner, 210 10th Avenue (at W. 22nd Street); no phone.
Photo: Courtesy of Empire Diner.
Taiwanese Shaved Ice At TAO Downtown
Diving into this delicacy is just like splurging on a Rick Owens jacket — once you've tried it, there's no going back. That's why we haven't been able to stop thinking about TAO Downtown’s sweet bowl of heaven since we first tried it (and had to restrain ourselves from licking the dish clean). The towering serving of pineapple-lime ice is sweet, airy, and creamy. Topped with house-made mochi, roasted soba, and fresh strawberries and pineapple, it tastes like a one-way ticket to a tropical vacation, without the pesky security lines.
TAO Downtown, 92 9th Avenue (at W. 16th Street); 212-888-2724.
Photo: Courtesy of TAO Downtown.
Mocha Affogato At Thistle Hill Tavern
Thistle Hill Tavern’s Mocha Affogato is a coffee-and-chocolate lover's dream. A heaping glass of Caramello Italian Gelato — a.k.a Brooklyn’s best ice cream — is served alongside a cup of strong espresso, made to be poured over and enjoyed as a chocolaty, caffeinated delicacy that melts together in perfect harmony. It’s ideal treat to enjoy before heading to that warehouse party in Bushwick you thought you couldn’t stay up for. This dessert will have you dancing 'til dawn.
Thistle Hill Tavern, 441 7th Avenue (at 15th Street), Brooklyn; 347-599-1262.
Photo: Courtesy of Thistle Hill Tavern.
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