NYC's Best Gingerbread Cookies, Cakes And Treats For The Holiday Season
If you ask us, there's no better way to get into the holiday spirit than by stuffing your belly with good seasonal stuff. We're talking about gingerbread: that sweet, warming, slightly spicy flavor that makes everything—from cupcakes to cookies and donuts—even better. Here's some of our favorite gingerbread treats in New York City right now. Get 'em while you can! By Jessica Allen/John Friia
Butterscotch Gingerbread Cookies
Billy's Bakery
184 Ninth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
(212) 647-9406
More: Best Bakeries In NYC
Billy's Bakery, in Chelsea, is all about nostalgia —well, nostalgia coupled with delicious treats like what your grandma or great-grandma once baked. To celebrate the season, Billy's is making butterscotch gingerbread cookies. Lucky for you, they're sold by the half dozen, so you can enjoy one with a coffee or tea inside the warm yellowy bakery itself, one to eat as you stroll along ninth, admiring the holiday windows and brightly-lit townhouses.
Chalk Point Kitchen
527 Broome Street
New York, NY 10013
www.chalkpointkitchen.com
More: Best Gluten-Free Bakeries In NYC
Blending farm-to-table and vegan cuisine, Chalk Point Kitchen boasts a robust menu of seasonal and organic dishes. In honor of the season, the restaurant is offering Gingerbread donut holes with a maple glaze. The vegan and gluten-free dessert is sugary treat that will leave people wanting more.
Crumbs Bake Shop
Multiple Locations
More: Best Gift Baskets In NYC
The Christmas spirit is taking over Crumbs Bake Shop with their Gingerbread Man Cupcake. Filled with a spice cake, the dessert is topped with a cinnamon spice cream cheese and topped with gingerbread cookie. Crumbs Bake Shops also offers a Gingerbread Medley gift box filled with cookies and their signature seasonal cupcake.
Delilah New York
155 Rivington Street
New York, NY 10002
212-777-2520
www.delilahnyc.com
More: Best Holiday Cocktails In NYC
As the weather gets colder, people can head to Delilah New York to warm up with their Desert Christmas. The Lower East Side's new cocktail and tapas lounge serves a delectable cocktail that is filled with the spirit of the season. The holiday drink is made with vodka, Singani, ginger syrup, lime juice, a dust of cinnamon and garnished with a gingerbread man.
Dylan's Mini Candy Bar at Turnstyle
1000 8th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
More: Best Candy Stores In NYC
Columbus Circle boasts countless places to shop, but some of the best places to eat can be found at Turnstyle. Dylan's Mini Candy Bar offers a decadent 3D Christmas Tree Gingerbread Cookie that not only makes for the best Instagram post, but it is the perfect Christmas treat. Whether it is a holiday dessert or table decoration for a party, the festive tree is composed of a series of stacked gingerbread cookies.
Gingerbread Brownstone Cereal
Dominique Ansel Kitchen
137 Seventh Ave South
New York, NY 10014
(212) 242-5111
Holiday Gift Guide: Best Gifts For Foodies
Dominique Ansel Kitchen, helmed by Chef Dominique Ansel, does things a bit differently. Case in point: rather than make and sell traditional gingerbread houses, the West Village bakery offers "gingerbread brownstone cereal." The mélange of sweetness includes cookie crumbs, hazelnut nougatine, chocolate puffed rice, candied orange zest, and chocolate puffed rice. It comes in a cool purple can, and we dare you to eat just one handful. Needless to say, this cereal in no way, shape, or form resembles the Frosted Flakes or Lucky Charms of your youth -- and that's a good thing.
Gingerbread Donut
The Doughnut Plant
220 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 505-3700
More: Most Unique Doughnuts In NYC
Since 1994, Doughnut Plant has been cranking out truly extraordinary donuts. Indeed the fine folks here invented, and trademarked, the "jelly-filled square doughnut," which will totally change the way you think about this type of confection. See for yourself with their special holiday treats, such as the chewy gingerbread doughnut, topped with candied ginger. Other holiday offerings include roasted chestnut, marzipan, and triple chocolate mint.
Gingerbread Man
Treat House
452 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10024
(212) 799-7779
More: Best Holiday Charities, Drives In NYC
So when you stop to think about it, eating a gingerbread man can feel a bit creepy. The wee fellow atop the crispy rice square offered at the Treat House, however, is little enough that you can gobble one after another without a care. He's even wearing a little red scarf, and is surrounded by gold sprinkles. So festive! Eating one will not only benefit bring joy to your belly, but those of others too. The Treat House has a long-standing partnership with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, providing treats to those affected by blood cancers and their families.
Lemon Gingerbread Cake
Two Little Red Hens
1652 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10028
(212) 452-0476
More: Best Cupcakes In NYC
The lemon gingerbread cake at Two Little Red Hens has two equally vital components: a base of homey gingerbread cake, and a thick layer of lemon cream cheese frosting. The lemon enhances the edgy gingerbread, while the cream cheese somehow ties it all together. Also excellent this holiday season: the carrot cake, the Brooklyn blackout cake (featuring four layers of chocolate cake), and a classic double crust apple pie. This Upper East Side institution has legions of fans, all who flock to the cozy space for homestyle desserts. There's nothing fancy or pretentious here, just honestly delicious treats.
Schmackary's
362 West 45th Street
New York, NY
646-801-9866
Adding a twist to the beloved gingerbread cookie, Schmackary's is serving the Ginger Rogers cookie this holiday season. The seasonal cookies are made with molasses, ginger, white chocolate, cinnamon, cinnamon chips, cloves, black pepper and topped with a sweet sugar glaze. Within one bite, people will realize that this beloved variation is a new holiday tradition.
Jessica Allen is a New York-based writer.
John Friia is a freelance journalist and native New Yorker writing about food, drinks and lifestyle. You can follow his adventures on Instagram.
