While most people are thinking about New Years resolutions with a focus on healthy eating, I can’t help but look back at all the DELICIOUS new desserts I ate in 2018. New York has welcomed some great newcomers in its ever-inventive dessert scene, from vibrantly colored brownie cakes to cookie hybrids you never knew you needed – these are the city’s best new desserts of 2018.
Hot fudge sundae cookie at Chip
After taking Astoria by storm with chunky scone-like cookies, Chip made the big move to Manhattan and seriously stepped up its line-up this year. These cookies celebrate the season’s sought-after flavors like no other, from pumpkin spice latte to summery strawberries, but my favorite was the Food Baby collaboration: the ice cream inspired-sundae cookie, overflowing with HOT fudge and covered in thousands of sprinkles. Dear Chip, make this a permanent item, sincerely – ALL New Yorkers.
Address: 353 W 14th St, NY 10014 (favorite location)
Mookie & Black and White Cookie at Dana’s Bakery
Reimagining fine French macarons with all-American flavors like s’mores and birthday cake, pastry chef Dana Pollack has always taken a creative approach to desserts. But in 2018, Dana took her delicately-made macarons and stuffed them in American-style cookies, launching an entirely new dessert hybrid: the oh-so marvelous Mookie. If that wasn’t enough already, New York’s famous black and white cookie got a makeover on the INSIDE, contrasting its stark appearance with Instagram-ready rainbow colors (soft and sweetened with almonds).
Address: 1011 3rd Ave, NY 10065 (inside Dylan’s Candy Bar)
Croissant toast at Supermoon Bakehouse
From making Mr Holmes Bakehouse a famous San Fran attraction to selling out cruffins before noon at his first solo spot Supermoon, pastry chef Ry Stephen has made quite a name for himself in America’s playful pastry scene. New flavors drop on a daily basis and weekends highlight extra-special brunch-worthy creations such as the croissant toast. You never know kind you’re going to get, but expect a thick slab of soft dough, a dome in the middle (often made with raspberry cheesecake or chocolate mousse) and toppings like sugared almonds, white chocolate bulbs and meringue shards. So extra, but I love it.
Address: 120 Rivington St, NY 10002
Salted caramel brownie at Sherry B Dessert Studio
The start of 2018 brought in this Upstate-born dessert studio, a modern-looking space with updated treats to match. Pastry chef Sherry B prepares American favorites with fine French techniques, so instead of oversized American cookies and brownies, expect delicate versions, smaller in size but BIG in flavor. The salted caramel brownie, two exceedingly gooey chocolate squares folded over a layer of sticky salted caramel, is a match made in heaven.
Address: 643 Hudson St, NY 10014
Newly-Nutella cookie at Spot Dessert Bar
Swapping drinks for desserts in Saint Marks’ bustling bar scene, Spot gives Asian-inspired sweets the attention they deserve – served at your table, tapas-style as a full-blown meal. But if you can’t stay, their take-out counter now has you covered with Newly-Nutella cookies. Popped in the oven to achieve a cake-like structure, it’s a super soft dark chocolate cookie filled with Nutella and speckled in nutty flakes of Feuilletine (crushed, caramelised crepes).
Address: 13 St Marks Pl, NY 10003
Gold-dusted dossant at Sugar & Water
2018 was the year I ate gold dust, and life will never be quite the same again. A newcomer to Astoria’s Ditmars neighborhood, Sugar & Water specialises in cake donuts and so-called dossants (a croissant-donut hybrid with flaky layers), jazzed up with fancy toppings like silver pearls, glitter and gold dust. All of that is sprinkled on top of a classic vanilla glaze, or for extra decadence, deeply rich melted chocolate.
Address: 29-14 23rd Ave, NY 11105
Lucky charms cupcake at Sprinkles
The best way to start the new year, Sprinkles launched a whole line-up of cereal-inspired cupcakes throughout January. Not that we need a reason to eat cupcakes for breakfast, but trust me, cacao puffs are the perfect partner to banana cake; cinnamon toast crunch gets added spice with cinnamon-infused cream cheese; and lucky charms taste so much sweeter on strawberry frosting. I wonder what Sprinkles has in store for 2019…
Address: 780 Lexington Ave, NY 10065 (favorite location)
Cookie Monster cookie at Duchess Cookies
Taking inspiration from desserts to her very own dreams, baking goddess Sofia Demetriou reimagines cookies with highly creative fillings (think dulce de leche, birthday cake cream cheese) and striking coats. Take the Cookie Monster for example, a doughy chunk with melted chocolate chips wrapped in a blue sugar cookie, or the mysterious-looking galaxy creation made with black coconut ash. In New York, dreams really do come true.
Address: 117 W 46th St, NY 10036 (inside For Five Coffee Roasters) or online
Rainbow cookie brownie cake at Baked in Color
A baking company that stays true to its name, Baked in Color highlights all the colors of the rainbow in mini, munchable cookies to whole cakes with endless layers. Behold the rainbow cookie brownie cake; an incredibly moist brownie forms the base, which is then cushioned with oreos and covered in a blanket of chocolate chip-packed rainbow cake. Dear 2018, thanks for the memories, or should I say calories?
Address: Turnstyle NYC market, NY 10019
