Billy's Bakes Banana {cupcakes} Beautifully!!

Billy's Bakery
Tribeca: 75 Franklin Street (Between Broadway and Church Street)

Nolita: 268 Elizabeth Street (Between Prince and Houston Streets)

Chelsea: 184 9th Avenue (Between 21st and 22nd Streets)


Somehow I've never managed to make it to Billy's - until last week - and boy, had I been missing out! I never would have picked it out on my own, but my dear friend, Em, suggested the banana cupcake with cream cheese frosting and it was amazing!!

The banana one is on the left {AMAZING!!}.. The yellow daisy flavor is on the right. That one was good, but the banana overshadowed it :)

And the decor inside is just simply charming!

 Such a cute gift idea for a friend! Who wouldn't want to try several flavors?!

Good to know: Billy's Bakery is on maxdelivery.com!!! You could get them delivered!! Or maybe that's bad to know :)

Donut Plant in Chelsea!

Donut Plant
220 West 23rd Street (between 7th and 8th Ave.)

So I've heard for years about the original Donut Plant on the Lower East Side, but it's not the most convenient neighborhood to get to.  Earlier this year, Donut Plant opened a gorgeous new store in Chelsea and it's fantastic!

A friend and I shared the carrot cake and the tres leches donuts! The carrot cake was out of this world! The tres leches was amazing too! As you can tell by those two flavors, these aren't your typical donuts. More like a food connoisseurs' heaven!

Good to know: Get there early for a full selection! The hours listed on the website are "until donuts are sold out (between 5-7pm)." Also, the original location is at 379 Grand Street.

So much more than JUST a cookie!

Levain Bakery
167 West 74th Street

It was just kind of a funky day out yesterday with the rain and mist so a girlfriend and I decided we needed a cheery treat! She hadn't tried Levain's before so we headed up to the Upper West Side {UWS}!

If I were to give out awards, I think Levain would earn the award for MOST gooey and delicious Chocolate Chip Walnut cookie in the city! It really is something to try! And you MUST get it fresh from the bakery yourself so it's still warm {if not hot:)} inside!

I feel like the story should go - instead of - if you give a mouse a cookie...

If you give a girl a cookie, she'll be happy all day long! :) And we were!

Sorry the lighting is so bad on these! I was obviously distracted by the sweet smell and just wanting to take a bite!

For fun this time, we sampled this creation! It said it had cinnamon butter on the inside. We liked it, but thought it would have been better to pick up on a Saturday morning for a brunch instead of an afternoon snack.

Racks and racks and racks of cookies! It's amazing how many they can make in one little place!!

Want to try making them at home?! I don't think Levain has released their recipe, but they have links to copycat ones on their website!

Good to know: The bakery's hours are fairly limited (like a normal bakery - but not necessarily what you'd expect in New York): Mon-Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 9am-7pm. If you want these for a date night, you better pick them up earlier in the day!


Also, there is a location that is open seasonally in the Hamptons and another regularly open store in Harlem.

Birthday cake truffles, cereal milk ice cream, compost cookies... need I say more?!

Momufuku Milk Bar
207 Second Ave. (the entrance is actually on 13th Street)

A must try for any New Yorker! Great for picking up a quick treat on a walk or way home from a date night!

If you're heading here for the first time, it's best to go with a group of at least 3-4 people so you can order a bunch of treats and sample {almost} everything!

Here's what I'd recommend for your first visit:
(Oh trust me, you'll be going back!)


Compost cookie ($1.85)
-Made up with potato chips, butterscotch, pretzels, oats and chocolate chips! But it really just tastes like the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookie you've ever had! Oopps.. just realized there's coffee grinds in it.. Thought I'd let you know in case that matters :)

'Sampler' ice cream platter - small cups of all four flavors! ($6)
-The grasshopper and candy bar pie flavors tied for first place! And the cereal milk flavor was just fun to try :) {They'll give you a sample if you ask - that's probably enough of that flavor - though it is interesting!}

A slice of crack pie ($5.25)
-Luckily, my girlfriend added this to the order since I was a little apprehensive because of the name :) Its actually kind of like a toasted oat crust version of pecan pie (though I can't remember whether there were actually pecans on it or not - more like melted butter/caramelized sugar). Simply amazing! I'll be ordering it next time.

I've tried the candy bar as well. It's good, but just a little too sweet.

Pretzel truffles (3 for $4) {Unfortunately this flavor isn't offered at the Milk bar anymore, but I heard you can find them at one of the Momufuku restaurants!}
-The salt/sweet combo is just right with these cake balls! These would make a treat to drop off for a friend.

I've heard the pork buns are amazing too, but we went to the Milk Bar after dinner at Westville (which is also fabulous and worth a post) so I'll have to try that one later!

Know before you go: There is a counter where you to eat your treats, but no chairs. Only a few spots to stand inside and two benches outside.

You'll want to take more than a Bite here...

Bite
211 East 14th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Ave.)
335 Lafayette Street (at Bleeker)

This is one of my new favorites! Bite is an organic-friendly, counter-service lunch or quick dinner place with unbelievable service and the most amazing dessert!

So the real reason to come here is for the Nutella Ciabatta! (It's on the breakfast part of the menu, but don't worry - they serve it all day!) Its a hot-pressed sandwich with nutella and bananas inside. Mmm.. is your mouth watering yet? Seriously, it should be. I've taken four friends to this place and no one has been disappointed yet. If you're ordering this with lunch or dinner, just ask and they'll bring the ciabatta out after you've had your meal so its hot! :)

I usually get the split pea or lentil soup for lunch so I can somewhat justify having the ciabatta for dessert!

Just realized that in this photo, you caught me! Two diet cokes with lunch :)

Know before you go: There's about 25 (rough guess) seats at the Union Square location. The Soho location has a few outdoor stools, but otherwise, plan on taking it to go.

Better look for this one or you'll miss it!

It really is kind of hidden, but definitely worth finding! I stumbled upon it while walking to the subway the other day. The cakes are a sight to see and the cookies will make your mouth water! 

City Cakes

251 West 18th Street (look for the stairs!)

Cupcakes, cookies and cakes! This place has enough sugar inside to send you straight to the dentist! And check out this cake! Their creations are simply amazingly beautiful!

One of the owners, Benny Rivera, told me they made these displays after creating the cakes (which were obviously very popular with their clients). He said they actually just opened the retail counter last summer. Before that, they only did custom orders! If any of these look familiar,  you may have seen Rivera and his cakes when his shop was featured on TLC's Fabulous Cakes show!

So I didn't actually get to try a cake, but I did get a taste of their cookies! Each one is a half-a-pound! Whoa! So, so yummy!

As I was getting ready to walk out the door, Benny told me I really had to try one of their cupcakes because he said they are famous for their moist cakes and smooth buttercream frosting. It didn't take much convincing and I was out the door with a salted carmel cupcake. I'm a chocolate girl all the way, but this cupcake was definitely worth switching it up for! It was every so moist (think sticking to fingers - not crumbling) and the frosting had some type of syrup drizzled on top that was incredible!

Sorry the photo of the cupcakes is so bad! I guess I'll just have to go back :) And you'll have to check with them to see if this deal is still going on, but it caught my eye! 

Know before you go: There's no seating inside. On a nice day, I'd suggest picking them up and then walking the few blocks to Highline Park! Also, it's not exactly a cheap treat at $2.50 for a regular cupcake and $3.50 for a premium flavor, but its definitely worth trying. Cookies at $3.50, but remember, it's a half-a-pound!