We at Untapped Cities believe the indulgence of dessert should be a daily activity. That’s why we treat October 14th, National Dessert Day, with the importance and excitement of any other holiday – if not more. For the sweet-tooths of New York looking for a proper celebration, here are are 9 delicious destinations to enjoy National Dessert Day:
9. Philippe
Philippe, a Beijing-styled family restaurant on the Upper East Side, is home to some of the most innovative desserts in the city. Owner Philippe Chow’s most notable creation is that of the Cotton Candy Baked Alaska: strawberry and vanilla bean ice cream covered in meringue, and topped off with a mound of cotton candy. The cotton candy is then soaked in rum and set ablaze, coating the cake with a layer of smoked sugar.
Philippe also serves other inventive desserts like Fortune Cookie Red Velvet Cake, Coconut Pineapple Rice Pudding with toasted marshmallows, and flourless Chocolate Molten Cake with Dulce de Leche and vanilla ice cream. It is the perfect spot to spoil yourself this dessert day.
Address: 33 East 60th Street
8. Du’s Donuts & Coffee
Wylie Dufresne’s Du’s Donuts & Coffee has opened a popup location in the heart of SoHo just in time for National Dessert Day. Dufresne, along with his head baker Colin Kull, have worked together to create the perfect donut in texture, weight, and of course, taste. The shop includes traditional sweets along with creative flavored donuts, like pomegranate tahini, Mexican hot chocolate, and honey fennel pollen donuts.
These high-end treats go for a low budget price of $3.50 a piece – perfect for those looking to feast this dessert day at a cheaper fare.
Address: 62 Spring Street
7. Arcade Bakery
Hidden in an office corridor in Tribeca is Arcade Bakery. Conceived by Robert Highsmith and Stefanie Brechbuehler of the Brooklyn-based design firm Workstead, the setting of Arcade Bakery is quite unconventional and rather hidden from the street. Opened in May 2014, they specialize in traditional handcrafted breads and yeasted pastries and bake everything fresh daily on premises in small batches. Also on the menu: pizza and Babkas.
Serving up arguable some of the city’s best croissants and baguettes, take your lunch break at this low-key gem for some delicious savory options, with some pretty stunning puff-pastry for dessert.
Address: 220 Church St
6. Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream
What better way to enjoy National Dessert Day than by chowing down on one of the most classic NYC desserts of all? Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream offers uniquely delicious ice cream flavors like salt & pepper pine nut, cardamom lemon jam, and black coconut ash (which will actually turn your mouth black). This Lower East Side treat is also well known for their $20 King Kong Banana Split, made with five scoops of ice cream, bananas, sesame caramel, pineapple, and Luxardo.
The shop also offers some toned-down flavors (in both taste and price) like Bitter Dark Chocolate and Rockiest Road for $5.50-9.50. This is the perfect dessert spot for those craving a delicious twist on a classic treat.
Address: 2 Rivington Street
5. Patisserie Chanson’s Dessert Bar
For those looking for a more lavish way to celebrate, Patisserie Chanson’s Dessert Bar is the perfect place to do it. Purportedly a former speakeasy, the lower level of Patisserie Chanson in New York’s Flatiron District has been transformed into a permissible (and much preferred) type of bar: a Dessert Bar. The bar’s 6-course menu, “The Art of Dessert,” begins with truffle popcorn and includes other creative concoctions like yuzu honey meringue, moliterno with black truffle, and more.
But don’t be fooled, this unique gastronomical experience comes at a price — $68 to be exact. However, in our minds, this is totally worth it. Where else can you expect to find Apple Jalapeno dessert dishes in New York City?
Address: 20 West 23rd Street, lower level
4.The Hungarian Pastry Shop in Morningside Heights
Located across the street from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Morningside Heights, The Hungarian Pastry Shop is a favorite of Columbia University students. Opened in 1961, with cozy indoor seating and pleasant outdoor seating, this family-run shop serves up old-world, Eastern European pastries like tarts, strudel, cream puffs, Viennese tortes, just to name a few favorites. Don’t miss the graffiti in the bathroom.
Address: 1030 Amsterdam Avenue at 111th Street
3. Levain Bakery
As stated on the bakery’s website, Levain originally set out to create the world’s best chocolate chip cookie. They have far surpassed that goal ever since. The bakery’s several locations around New York each provide the same thing: the best cookies you have ever tasted. Along with their classic chocolate chip, the bakery offers Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip, Chocolate Chip Walnut, and Oatmeal Raisin flavored cookies – all as simple and classically delicious.
The bakery also offers other sweets like scones, bread rolls, and delicious sticky buns, along with much more. Levain is the perfect place for those with less adventurous taste buds to set their sights on this dessert day.
Address: 167 West 74th Street
2. Two Little Red Hens
When thinking of New York City cupcakes, most people’s minds go straight to Magnolia. While Magnolia certainly serves up some amazing sweets, we’ve got another location in mind for cupcakes: Two Little Red Hens. This all-American bakery on the Upper East Side is probably best known for its Brooklyn Blackout cupcake. This rich, fudgy cake is enough to make any cupcake lover’s mouth water – and require a glass of milk.
The bakery also serves “chilled ‘n’ filled” key lime and coconut cream cupcakes, along with cheesecakes and other scrumptious desserts. Two Little Red Hens offers delicious sweets for the cake-cravers of New York.
Address: 1652 2nd Avenue
1. Jacques Torres Chocolate
Of course, we had to include Jacques Torres Chocolate for our chocoholic readers. Often called “Mr. Chocolate,” Torres traveled to New York from France to open his first chocolate factory in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn. He now has several shops around the city, each providing a unique chocolatey experience. Torres uses his French background and all natural ingredients to create some of the most decadent sweets known to New York.
One of his most famous items is a simple hot chocolate, the perfect dessert day treat to compliment the fall weather. Be sure to try a bit of everything, though – this chocolate shop is one to indulge in.
