New York City’s Sweetest Spots

Who can pass up the delightful aromas wafting out of a bakery? I certainly can’t – which is why I had to give up my New Year’s resolution of eating less sugar when I visited New York City last weekend! There’s a bakery on practically every block. In three days, I visited my fair share to sample treats and look for baking inspiration. Check out my three favorites:

Levain

Don’t be fooled by this tiny, unassuming bakery that is tucked away down a small flight of stairs in the Upper West Side. Levain’s monster, six-ounce cookies look like scones and are quite possibly the best in town! It’s worth waiting around a few minutes to get a warm chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookie straight from the oven.

Magnolia

Magnolia is famous for their cupcakes and even credited with starting the “cupcake craze” that swept the nation a few years ago. And it’s true — they bake a mean red velvet cream cheese cupcake. But don’t overlook their other tasty offerings, including the banana bread pudding, which combines torn-up vanilla cupcakes and banana pudding. Oh my.

Sullivan Street Bakery

Have you heard of “no-knead bread?” Owner Jim Lahey made his name developing this technique, in which bread dough is baked in a piping hot dutch oven. As Lahey’s popularity has grown, so have the lines at his Sullivan Street Bakery, where you can find Roman-style pizzas, rustic Italian pastries, cookies and, of course, bread.

What are you favorite bakeries in New York City — or your town?

About the author: Jillian Locks

Jillian’s love affair with food began shortly after she joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and was delighted by all of the amazing produce delivered in her weekly food box. If she’s not frequenting local farmer’s markets, she’s usually covered in flour from testing new baking products in the Williams-Sonoma kitchen. As the bakeware buyer, Jillian spends her working days brainstorming product ideas that help customers make beautiful, tasty treats at home.