NYC's 7 Best Apple Treats & Desserts
Are you as excited as we are that apples are back in season? The crisp is in the air and this year's fresh crop of apples has begun flooding the market. That means it's time for apple-filled sweet treats. Here's a round-up of New York's best. By Siobhan Wallace.
Caramel Apple Bread Pudding, Sweet Melissa Patisserie
175 Seventh Avenue Brooklyn, NY
718-788-2700
sweetmelissapatisserie.com
More: Brooklyn's 5 Best Bakeries
This is the ideal indulgence for a chilly weekend brunch. Sweet Melissa's Caramel Apple Bread Pudding is made from the bakery's own croissants, brioche and baguettes. The breads are cubed and lightly toasted so that they are a bit dry and able to soak up as much of the luxurious vanilla creme brulee base as possible. Caramelized granny smith apples are layered in the center and the bread pudding is then slowly baked in a hot water bath to ensure gentle even cooking, and that the custard stays creamy. Topped with a caramel rum raisin sauce over a warm slice of bread pudding.
Right behind apple pies, one of the tastiest apple treats are apple cider doughnuts. Go to any of the area's Greenmarkets and you're sure to find at least one stall selling them. The most varieties come from upstate farm Orchards of Concklin, who can be found at various markets throughout the week. They sell plain, cinnamon sugar-coated, and powdered sugar-coated--any of them are sure to please.
More: NYC's 5 Best Slices Of Pie
Though there's been a pie trend taking over New York City during the past few years, one of the best apple pies is still available at Four & Twenty Blackbirds in Gowanus, Brooklyn. This delicious dish topped our list last year. Four & Twenty Blackbirds lace their apple slices with salted caramel, leaving salty-sweet filling reminiscent of childhood's sticky candy apples. Be sure to get it with a dollop of their homemade whipped cream.
Sometimes a full double-crust apple pie is a bit too much dough, and you want to focus more of your treat on the apple. Then it's time to go for a tart. Upper East Side institution, Glaser's Bake Shop, is known for their classic bakery treats, including a fall special: Mini Dutch Apple Tarts. Be sure to call ahead to make sure it's on the day's menu.
Some of the best apple desserts are found on the menu's of the city's best restaurants, like the Apple & Fig Budino that can be found at Mario Batali's Babbo. The thick and creamy budino (an Italian dish similar to pudding) comes with an extra amount of apple delicious in the form of Caramel Apple Gelato. It's enough of a reason to plan your next date night there.
For many people, the best apple treats come in the form of cake. A creamy, delectable apple cake. Luckily, the Lower East Side's sugar Sweet sunshine bakery delivers with a seasonal apple crisp as well as their "Inescapable Apple Cake." Both are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and apple craving.
Baked's Vanilla Bean Caramel Apple
359 Van Brunt Street Brooklyn, New York
718-222-0345
bakednyc.com
See Also: NYC's 9 Best Cupcakes
For a grown-up take on a tasty caramel apple, head to Baked in Red Hook for their Vanilla Bean Caramel Apples. Hand made fresh daily in their Brooklyn establishment, it is quite the process to perfect the mixture. Ingredients include heavy cream, vanilla bean, sugar, light corn syrup and unsalted butter along with ice to accommodate the pot with the caramel mixture. If vanilla bean caramel apples aren't your thing, Baked omits the vanilla bean and instead adds pure maple extract for a delightful maple caramel apple.
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Siobhan Wallace is the co-founder of BlondieandBrownie.com.
