Last Updated on April 15, 2023 by Adrienne
I think it’s hard to argue with the assertion that New York City is the best city in the US – and one of the best in the world – for food. I try new restaurants every time I visit my in-laws there, and yet I feel like I’ve barely begun to scratch the surface of New York’s incredible restaurant scene. But if there’s one area where I feel like I’m a little bit more well-versed, it’s New York’s dessert offerings. Here are five of my very favorite desserts to try in NYC.
Macarons from La Maison du Chocolat
My favorite macaron place in the world is La Maison du Chocolat, and they have several shops in NYC. As the name suggests, all their macarons incorporate chocolate somehow, either in the cookie or the ganache, in combination with other flavors like coffee, caramel and vanilla. Until I had LMdC macarons, I didn’t really understand the hype about these tiny treats and would always choose a cookie or a cupcake over a macaron when given the opportunity. But their perfectly airy and fudgy macarons here have made me a convert.
Ice Cream Sandwiches from The Meatball Shop
You might not expect a place called The Meatball Shop to be a dessert destination, but their ice cream sandwiches, with warm fresh-baked cookies and homemade ice cream, are truly delicious. I especially recommend the combo of chocolate chip cookie and brown sugar ice cream (and if you’re looking for a more complete meal, I also highly recommend their meatballs and noodles).
Cookies from Levain
No round-up of NYC desserts would be complete without a mention of Levain Bakery, the famous Upper West Side cookie shop that’s become almost as a big a tourist destination as the Empire State Building. They’re known for serving melty, fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies that are the size of baseballs and are so rich I need several glasses of milk to get through one. My favorite flavor is the dark chocolate chip, but they also have classics like chocolate chip (with walnuts) and oatmeal raisin.
Waffles from the Wafels & Dinges Food Truck
I haven’t really bought into the whole food truck craze, as I often find them to be overpriced and lacking on the quality front, but one exception to that rule is the Wafels & Dinges truck. They serve up fresh, crispy Belgian waffles and an array of toppings (“dinges”). I’m a big fan of their chocolate fudge sauce and their signature speculoos spread (aka cookie butter). They also have excellent hot chocolate.
Sprinkles Cupcakes
I know it’s a national chain, but I have to give Sprinkles a shout-out for having the best cupcakes in NYC. I’ve tried many of the local places, from Magnolia to Baked by Melissa to Buttercup, and none of them have come close to touching what I consider the gold standard for cupcakes.
A must-try for any chocolate lover is their dark chocolate, which has the best chocolate frosting I’ve ever eaten, but you really can’t go wrong with any of their other flavors. I especially enjoy the milk chocolate, banana, salty caramel, and their signature red velvet.
What other sweet treats should I add to my list for my next trip?
So glad to kno wI can get a good Belgian waffle fix close to home! And that ice cream sandwich?! I stared at it for a good minute or two.
Clearly you need to pay a visit to NYC and see how Wafels & Dinges compares to the waffles in Belgium! 😉
[…] Columbus Circle and the southwest corner of Central Park. As an added bonus, TWC is home to two of my favorite New York dessert places, Bouchon Bakery and La Maison du Chocolat, although the LMdC there is just a kiosk with pre-made […]