The confectionery bliss that is New York City’s current food scene is the product of the Cronut phenomenon of the early 2000s and wonders of the quarter-sized delights from Baked by Melissa. But what’s among the most-improvised of NYC food trends? Unsurprisingly, ice cream. Though the temperatures have dropped well below 40 degrees, it’s the perfect time to hit up some of the popular ice cream spots included here because there’s almost never a line.
Here’s a few great places to go with your family whenever you’re in the mood for sweets. There’s something for everyone, from chocolate to matcha, or even a warm bowl of oatmeal.
8 Local Sweet Spots We Love
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Ice & Vice
Ice & Vice has the new scoop on the simple ice cream cone. Their mastery of flavors allows them to introduce a new zest to New York City’s growing ice cream scene. Allow yourself to pile on the decadence by topping your ice cream cone with a slice of cheesecake, or even an ice cream sandwich. You can further personalize your ice cream with flavored cones, from Dark Chocolate Chai to Cold Brew Coffee cones. That’s definitely a step up from the original splurge that a sugar cone was at your local ice cream truck. 221 East Broadway
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Oatmeal's
Surprisingly, oatmeal can be so divisive! You either love it or you hate it. But a place like Oatmeal’s has something for everyone. You can build your own (a la Pinkberry) or choose from their variety of savory and sweet oatmeal bowls. Personally, the Truffle RisOATto (shaved Parmesan, truffle oil, and cracked pepper) sounds like such a dream, or even their S’mores bowl, because dark chocolate and marshmallow fluff is certainly up our alley. This is the perfect place to come with your family for an eclectic snack if you guys missed out on breakfast together. 120 West 3rd Street
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Blue Stripes Cacao Shop
This cacao eatery’s rich menu is every dessert lover’s dream. Blue Stripes was founded by Max Fichtman, co-founder of the worldwide chocolate restaurant Max Brenner. Fichtman studied as a chocolate apprentice in Paris—where do you apply for that position?—and brought his love for the European roots of the treat to NYC. All of the chocolate delicacies you love can be found here! If you’re feeling fancy, start with the chocolate fondue, indulge in a slice of their famous chocolate pizza, and give yourself a caffeine kick with their white chocolate chai latte. 28 East 13th Street
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JARSbyDani
JARSbyDani is the new, colorful take on the trifle recipe that often goes ignored in cookbooks. Dani has found the key to everyone’s heart in New York City: Colorful palettes, colliding flavors, and sweets on sweets on sweets. These are available online and also at the Bryant Park Winter Village! Each layer is carefully chosen to curate the perfect dining experience and take you way back to your childhood with these classics. Take a bite into the strawberry shortcake jar, containing a chewy shortbread cookie, whipped cream, strawberry filling, and strawberry shortcake crumbs similar to the ones on the popsicles you used to eat as a kid. Is your mouth watering? Mine, too. Bryant Park
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Supermoon Bakehouse
Supermoon Bakehouse is so innovative in its flavors and pairings that they’ve almost reached Cronut fame. Supermoon regularly sells out of pastries because they’ve officially hit internet fame but trekking there is worth it. They’ve perfected the art of the croissant; they come crisp, carefully rolled, and flaky enough to get all over your winter coat, filled either with sweets or New York City breakfast classics. They even reinvented the Mister Softee ice cream truck classic with their famous croissant butter soft serve, and their more recent chai latte soft serve—both highly photogenic and tasty. One thing to note is one of their savory croissants, known as the NYC, an everything-spiced croissant stuffed with cream cheese and lox. (I know. I can’t believe it either.) 120 Rivington Street
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Bibble & Sip
Bibble & Sip is a picture-perfect bakery that promises the finest coffee and pastries. In this increasingly cold weather, nothing sounds better than a cappuccino with a cute, kitschy bear design in the foam and a matcha cream puff that spills over when you crack it open. Bibble & Sip is a warm safe haven with hand-crafted delicacies that will win your heart over. It’s one of those places where, once you look at all of the pastries in the glass case, you won’t be able to make up your mind. 254 West 51st Street
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Republic of Booza
Have you seen those videos of ice cream being stretched and carefully fitted into the small serving cups? Republic of Booza is where it’s at. This new restaurant brought back an age-old ice cream recipe that makes it interestingly elastic, using natural flavors and ingredients. They have all the classics you love, while also bringing international flavors such as masala chai or even panettone. If your little ones are feeling more adventurous that day and want to try one of their experimental flavors, the mint tahini chip and eggnog zabaione certainly sound interesting! 76 North 4th Street, Brooklyn
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Dough Doughnuts
Dough Doughnuts is constantly reinventing the possibilities of the doughnut. Besides their creative menu of flavors, these doughnuts are concocted with either yeast or cake to give them their fluffy interior. These doughnuts are also the perfect size for sharing, like when everyone wants in on the Nutella doughnut. 448 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn