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The latest New York dessert crazes include raw cookie dough, epic freakshakes, s’mores in a jar, mille crepes, and chocolate pizza, so what are you waiting for? It’s time for a tour of the best desserts in New York!

A little while back I wrote a blog about the crazy desserts that have got London talking. From super-duper freakshakes topped with cupcakes, cookies and more, to bizarre bubble waffles and ice cream filled macaroons, there are plenty of sweet treats worth skipping breakfast, lunch and dinner for.

But it turns out London has stiff competition from across the pond in New York City. When I visited earlier in the year there were plenty of appealing treats on offer! Nope, I’m not talking about big name spots like Magnolia Bakery, many on the list are tiny places you could easily walk past without realising what you were missing out on!

Some of these places have Instagram to thank. Their desserts have gone viral, and some of the snaps below have been the most shared foodie photos in the city!

Are you a chocolate chip lover, looking for an ice cream cone with a difference, or creating the ultimate New York City dessert list? I think I might be able to help!

So whether it’s your home city and you fancy a sugar fix, or you’re planning a holiday to The Big Apple, here’s my guide to the top desserts in New York right now.

Cookie Dough In A Cone at DŌ

Who didn’t love licking out the bowl when you were baking cookies as a kid? This cookie dough shop in Greenwich Village makes it ok to eat the raw stuff as they treat the flour and egg mix.

The most photogenic offerings come in cones, but you can add your dough to ice cream, milkshakes and more!

Plus, flavours include Nutella, caramel and even “Fluffernutter” – a special peanut butter and marshmallow hybrid.

The only downside is the epic queue that snakes around the block, but when you need cookie dough in your life, it’s totally worth the wait.

A post shared by DŌ, Cookie Dough Confections™ (@cookiedonyc) on Apr 18, 2017 at 1:44pm PDT

Check prices and availability for a Food Tour of Greenwich Village, New York.

Freakshakes at Black Tap

New Yorkers have been going wild for these crazy milkshakes served across Black Tap’s four restaurants. $15 will get you a monster of shake with one of the top sellers being the ‘Sweet N’ Salty Peanut Butter Shake’.

It features a chocolate frosted rim with chocolate gems & PB cups topped with a sugar daddy, pretzel rods, chocolate covered pretzel, whipped cream & chocolate drizzle!

Personally, I love the look of their cute Easter shake!

A post shared by Black Tap (@blacktapnyc) on Apr 16, 2017 at 7:12am PDT

Unicorn ice cream in a fish-shaped cone at Taiyaki

For Instagram-worthy multicoloured ice cream with all the rainbow sprinkles and toppings you can imagine, head on over to Taiyaki NYC. This tiny Japanese dessert café serves up a menu of sweet treats, but the big draw are the famous fish-shaped cones filled with colourful ice cream. After my travels in Japan, I feel like these could easily be lifted straight from the vibrant streets of Harajuku in Tokyo! The ice creams may have been instagrammed more than they’ve been eaten, but I promise they are tasty! Oh and ask for yours with a a little unicorn horn on top, for a fun, magical twist!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taiyaki NYC® (@taiyakinyc) on Mar 7, 2019 at 5:01pm PST

Cronuts at Dominique Ansel Bakery

The croissant-donut hybrid has been around for a while now, and it’s something that this bakery takes very seriously.

They push the boundaries on flavours and designs regularly, and launching in May is the ‘Raspberry Earl Grey’ which is filled with homemade raspberry jam and creamy Earl Grey-infused ganache.

A post shared by dominiqueansel (@dominiqueansel) on Apr 17, 2017 at 7:14am PDT

Green Tea Mille Crêpes at Lady M

If you love all things matcha, you HAVE to try the crêpes at Lady M Confections. With 6 ‘confectionary boutiques’ across the city, business is clearly booming! The 6-inch tall cake is made up of twenty ultra-thin crêpes that are infused with the finest green tea powder, making for a deliciously delicate dessert. The light pastry cream offsets adds to the flavour of this sweet treat, which has been taking over Instagram lately! The mille crepe is on the menu at a few New York restaurants too, so if you can’t make it to one of their stores you might still get the chance to sample it!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lady M Confections Official (@ladymcakes) on Jun 12, 2019 at 10:52am PDT

Ice Cream Sandwiches at The Good Batch

Head to Brooklyn for an ice cream sandwich to remember! The Good Batch are busy developing new varieties all the time, with the latest being the ‘Honey Graham’ – homemade cinnamon graham crackers stuffed with a creamy honey mousse and vanilla ice cream.

The finale? It’s rolled in candied pistachio crumbs!

Or for something more traditional, try this best seller – the crispy caramel ice cream sandwich.

A post shared by The Good Batch Bakery (@thegoodbatch) on Mar 30, 2017 at 7:02am PDT

Check prices and availability for a Food Tour Of Brooklyn.

Innovative Ice Creams at Big Gay Ice Cream

I passed Big Gay Ice Cream while exploring the East Village. Obviously the name caught my eye… but after that it was pure ice cream lust!

Along with a fun rainbow coloured store, you can expect delicious ice creams like this one – Bea, a vanilla ice cream, injected with dulce de leche then rolled in crushed Nilla wafers!

A post shared by Big. Gay. Ice. Cream (@biggayicecream) on Apr 10, 2017 at 12:10pm PDT

Check prices and availability for a NYC Dessert Tour.

24 Layer Chocolate Cake at Maison Pickle

Mason Pickle, in NYC’s Upper West Side, is known as one of the city’s top brunch spots… but now, it’s all about dessert too! With 24 layers of the richest, smoothest chocolate in Manhattan, the restaurant’s 1 foot tall, 20-pound slice of cake is built for sharing (unless you want a real challenge!!) Say goodbye to your healthy-eating regime and enjoy an afternoon of pure indulgence. The cake (which really does have 24 layers) is sandwiched by chocolate buttercream and topped with a thin layer of the beautifully shiny ganache.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maison Pickle (@maisonpickle) on Mar 26, 2019 at 5:38pm PDT

Churro Ice Cream Cones at ChikaLicious

Why settle for a standard crunchy ice cream cone when you can have a scoop of your fave flavour in a warm churro?! It’s enough of a big deal that they’ve trademarked the coneCHURRO!

Oh and if you’re super savvy, do your research before you visit and order some of their ‘secret’ menu items!

A post shared by You’re Making Me Hungry ? (@youremakingmehungry) on Mar 20, 2017 at 5:55pm PDT

Rolled Avocado Ice Cream at 10Below

I first heard about 10Below after one of those #foodporn videos popped up on Facebook featuring the team rolling up ice cream. Genius, and it looks so pretty too!

The latest trendy flavour – avocado. I’d say that just about counts as one of your five a day… right?

Chocolate Pizza at Max Brenner

Forget margherita and pepperoni, it’s time to turn your love of pizza into a full on sugar fix.

Everything at Max Brenner revolves around chocolate, but the pizza is the star of the show.

Topped with warm chocolate chunks and toasted marshmallows, it’s perfect for sharing.

A post shared by Max Brenner (@maxbrennerusa) on Apr 7, 2017 at 7:06am PDT

Egg Waffle Ice Cream Cone at Eggloo

I wrote about the bubble waffle sensation sweeping London, but it’s well and truly embedded in NYC too.

The light and fluffy Hong Kong egg waffles come in original, chocolate and green tea flavours.

Then you pick an ice cream to fill it with and top it with whatever takes your fancy, from Oreos and M&Ms to fresh fruit, nuts and mochi balls.

A post shared by Eggloo (@myeggloo) on Aug 31, 2016 at 3:04pm PDT

S’mores in a jar at The Smith

If you grew up watching American and Canadian TV shows and movies, then this dessert is going to take you right back to your childhood! You know, watching kids at summer camp, roasting marshmallows on a stick over the fire and then sticking them between Graham Crackers with a big slab of chocolate. YUM! The Smith’s restaurants in NYC have put a modern twist on classic s’mores, by layering the ingredients in a jar. With layers of smooth chocolate mousse, crunchy cracker crumble, marshmallows toasted to perfection and chocolate crunch bar to tie it all together, this is one of New York’s best desserts.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Smith (@thesmithrestaurant) on Nov 11, 2018 at 4:22pm PST

Intriguing Ice Cream Flavours at Morgensterns

If someone offers me durian flavoured anything, I’m pretty wary. Also known as ‘vomit fruit’ it’s not something I lap up… yet it’s on the menu as a flavour at top New York ice cream parlour Morgensterns.

Also on the menu, a jet black ice cream described as black coconut ash flavour, a sweet potato caramel and earlier this year they created these adorable lychee panda cones for Valentine’s Day!

A post shared by Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream (@morgensternsnyc) on Feb 5, 2017 at 10:00am PST

Have you got any great New York dessert spots to recommend? Let me know in the comments below!

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