No Sweet Deal? No Problem.

In this world, deals exist.  There may not be as many, but they are out there.  You know what though? This is a world where I do not care about deals.  Just give it to me.  I'll pay for it.  I want it.  Name the price, and I will hand that cash over, or charge it, or scour the streets for change.  $5.00 you say? I will pay it. Actually, when deals in this world exist, it is the best kind of deal, because I was already willing to pay full price.  The deal just sweetens it.  Literally.

What world am I in today (this sounds like a game for kindergartners.  sorry. I respect that you are adults)?

BAKED GOODS WORLD!!

Welcome!  This is the land where for some reason, price does not always weigh as heavily on our minds.  Why is that?  We see a bakery, and we go in, we pick the cupcake/mud pie/cookie of our choice and we pay for it. Whatever the price. Here are a few reasons why we don't care:

1.  Chances are, it is under $5.00. So nothing is too shocking.  Can you get a cheap cupcake for $1.00 at one place and go somewhere overpriced and pay $4.50 for it? Sure.  But you see it, and you want it, and no one says "O that cupcake will be $12.95."  So when it is a $1 or $2 more than expected, it is does not feel like a huge loss.  And there may be chocolate involved.  So you take it.

2.  You want it.  And you want it NOW.  And you want it once.  There are lots of things we could cook on our own but that we buy out anyway.  I could easily cook 4-5 turkey burgers, seasoned, and some homemade french fries, for under $20, and it will give me lunch for the week.  Going out for lunch for that exact meal will cost me at least twice as much.  But sometimes you do not want the same thing. Or you don't want to cook.  But with baked goods - you want to indulge, and you want to enjoy it, and then, you might want to be done with it.  Could you bake 24 cupcakes from a box pretty easily? Or from scratch even? Sure.  But then you eat 3, and have to bring the rest to work, unless you are having a playdate or a party.  So often you want ONE baked good, and then you want to move on.

3.  It is dessert, which for some people, is a treat.  And you feel like a 4 year old phrasing it that way, but you want a special treat, and you are ok shelling out a few bucks for it.  Because it is special.  I mean, that might be an excuse, but who cares? If you shell out $4 a day for a bagel, 5 days a week, you may feel bad that you don't purchase a $5 box of cereal for the whole week.  But, with a baked good - it is not necessarily an everyday purchase.  So you cough up the dollars.  And you DO NOT regret it.  Good for you!

Here is the best thing about baked goods in the city - THEY ARE EVERYWHERE!  There are places that have been popularized, like Magnolia's Bakery. 

http://www.magnoliabakery.com/

I went to Magnolia for the first time a few months ago.  I thought it was pretty good.  I can't say it was the best cupcake I have ever had (gasp!)  It is crowded and small.  The icing was a little too buttery for me.  And it is a bit of a tourist trap, because who does not want to say that they went to Magnolia?  But I promise, there are a lot of places to get great cupcakes and other assorted baked goods.

Any chocolate vanilla combo is $2.50 and special cupcakes are $3.00.

Billy's Bakery is a great bakery on 21st and 9th, with some seating too.  Any chocolate vanilla combo is $2.25 and special cupcakes are $2.75, so you stand to save a quarter here.

http://www.billysbakerynyc.com/

Feeling decadent? Go to Momofuku Milk Bar on 13th and 2nd.  The cookies are under $2.00 and they are the most amazing bites of deliciousness.  The chocolate chocolate chip is incredible, worth the money, and worth the wait (I think I waited on the line for 10 minutes).  This Milk Bar has ice cream (and they let you try it), delicious pies (one is called crack pie, and it is like crack I guess, but for a better food addictive reference, for me I could say "it is like goat cheese.")

http://www.momofuku.com/milkbar/milkbarmenu.asp

Look at the extensive menu and the delicious treats?  Yummy!

Are you overwhelmed though? So many choices that you may freak out? I freak out at too many choices because I am afraid I will get something I do not like and think, well I could have ordered so many other things that could have been better!  So then don't go to a fancy bakery.  Go to a STREET CART.  Dessert trucks are huge in this city: Big Gay Ice Cream Truck, Wafels & Dinges, Cupcake Stop, and OH so many more!  I am going to Cupcake Stop tomorrow for the first time, so check back Friday for more on dessert trucks. 

Some other good finds:

B-Cup, Avenue B and 13th Street: Great mud pies.

Any bakery in Chelsea Market, 15th and 9th Avenue.

City Bakery, 18th and 5th: Decent cookies.  HUGE space, so you can definitely sit.

Tbsp, 20th and 5th.  Great brownies and croissants.

Crumbs, MANY Locations: the downer is they post calories now.

Balthazar Bakery, Spring and Crosby: Fancy Schmancy.

Any Coffeeshop, Anywhere in NYC, could possibly have baked goods.

Milk & Cookies, Commerce & 7th: Ice Cream sandwiches, delicious cookies, and totally adorable.

How delicious does that look?  We asked to have the sandwich with two different cookies.  Chocolate chocolate chip on the bottom and an M&M cookie on top! 

Recap and Moral of the Story

There are baked goods everywhere in the city.  Some are better than others.  Some you will visit once and never return.  Others you will make a special trip for because of how delicious it is.  You may have some pretty bad experiences, but hopefully the baked good is at least somewhat decent to make it somewhat worth it.  Nothing sucks more than paying $40 for a bad dinner, I get that.  But $2.50 down the drain on a so-so cookie or cupcake won't kill you.

I could give you the longest list on the planet of places to get baked goods, but really, don't overthink this one too much, unless you are catering to a large crowd.  See a bakery, walk in, if it looks decent, maybe buy something.  If it doesn't, keep walking.  You will find something.

Have a delicious day!

NYCMenuGirl