This list of best desserts in New York City with kids was written by Yana Zaytseva, co-founder of New York Simply (an official partner of Apple Maps) and a NYC local.
For the sake of time, let’s all agree sugar is a second language and kids happen to be the most fluent in it. While their taste-buds may not be picky when it comes to all the goodies, presentation matters more than you’d think.
The Big Apple is known for its lavish and delectable sweets and children can’t help but fall victim to the tempting treats. In the hopes of helping some parents out, we took it upon ourselves to create a list of the best desserts for kids in NYC.
These kid-friendly dessert shops in NYC are perfect for any occasion, whether you’re celebrating a big day or taking your child on a date.
Visiting New York City? If you haven’t decided where to stay (yet) check out our helpful guide on Where to Stay in New York City (10 Best Neighborhoods +3 to Avoid). Don’t have time? Here’s our favorite hotel in NYC, hands down.
Best Desserts in NYC with Kids
Table of Contents: Kid-Friendly Dessert Spots in New York City
Table of Contents: Desserts For Kids in NYC
- Best Desserts in NYC with Kids
- Junior’s Cheesecake
- Cookies from Funny Face Bakery
- Cereal-Milk Soft Serve from Milk Bar
- Hot Chocolate from Dominique Ansel
- Milkshake from Black Tap Burger
- 24-Layer Cake from Maison Pickle
- Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery
- 16 Handles
- S’mores Churro Cone from ChikaLicious Dessert Bar
- Anything from Spot Dessert Bar
- Waffles from Wafels & Dinges
- Cone of the Month from Mister Dips
- Fish Cone from Taiyaki
- Frozzzen Hot Chocolate from Serendipity 3
- Kid-Friendly Dessert Spots NYC (Post Summary)
- Map of the Best Dessert in New York City with Kids
Junior’s Cheesecake
Website: Junior’s Cheesecake
Neighborhood: Midtown
Address: 1626 Broadway at, W 49th St, New York, NY 10019
Junior’s Cheesecake in Times Square is arguably one of the most well-known dessert spots in New York City to take your kids on a date. The cases are brimming with delicious delicacies and the bright lights make it look too good to resist!
You and your child won’t have any trouble selecting which sugary treat will be the highlight of the show thanks to the wide variety of flavors available. And if your kiddo isn’t a fan of cheesecake, Junior’s has plenty of other options to choose from like sundaes, brownies, and cake slices.
You may notice there are two locations in Times Square, the one on 45th Street is basically just a slice shop. You pop in, order and then head outside to a handful of tables sprinkled around. The 49th Street location is an actual restaurant where they serve food, drinks and some of the best kid-friendly desserts in NYC.
Cookies from Funny Face Bakery
Website: Funny Face Bakery
Neighborhood: SoHo & Financial District
Address: 6 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038 & 319 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012
If winning parent of the year is a big deal to you, I suggest bringing your kids to Funny Face Bakery. Not only are the cookies here some of the best desserts in NYC for kids, but the artistry skills are next level.
The colorful and playful cookie shop breaks all the rules and specializes in creating the most absurd cookies. You can get a cookie created of your favorite TV character or even your own face! Sometimes just popping in to see the impressive cookies on display is enough to get your child all giddy.
Cereal-Milk Soft Serve from Milk Bar
Website: Milk Bar
Address: Multiple Locations in New York City
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, the name Milk Bar has surely graced your social media feed at some point in time. Famous for their viral funfetti, and cookie-dough cake, the treats churned out of this bakery are sure to leave a lasting impression.
In terms of the best dessert in NYC for kids, it’s hard to go wrong with the cereal-milk soft serve. I mean, isn’t it a law or something for kids to LOVE cereal? And what makes the treat even sweeter is adding a crunchy layer of cornflakes to the mix. I swear adults love this stuff just as much as kids do, the combination is so good.
Pro Tip: Don’t even think about splitting this delicious NYC dessert with your kids, you won’t be able to rip their grip off the spoon. Save yourself the heartbreak and get your own.
Hot Chocolate from Dominique Ansel
Website: Dominique Ansel Bakery
Neighborhood: SoHo
Address: 189 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
There’s nothing quite like the change of seasons and the start of hot chocolate weather. But as any true connoisseur knows, not all hot chocolates are created equal. Dominque Ansel takes the cake in terms of creativity. Kids can’t resist the playfulness that comes with each cup of cocoa.
Each drink is topped with a marshmallow in the shape of a flower, coated in white chocolate. When the chocolate melts, a blossoming flower appears atop your cocoa! Your kids will absolutely lose their little minds over the “magic” they’ve just witnessed, it’s a memory you’re going to want to record. And while the cocoa is one of the best desserts in NYC for kids, everything else sold here is pure gold for the adults.
Milkshake from Black Tap Burger
Website: Black Tap Burger
Neighborhood: SoHo & Midtown
Address: 529 Broome St, New York, NY 10013 & 45 W 35th St, New York, NY 10001
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer gained popularity largely thanks to the absurd milkshakes they make. I’m talking rich, colorful, loaded milkshakes that you couldn’t even dream of finishing without gaining three cavities. But like moths to a flame, that amount of sugar has kids rushing to its side, preying on the next victim. If you are looking for a place to celebrate a birthday this is one of the top dessert spots in NYC for kids.
The Cookie Shake, which has a frosted rim with vanilla icing and cookie crumbles and is topped with loads of cookies and whipped cream — is always a crowd favorite. I warn you though! These shakes are rich in flavor, if you don’t plan on splitting this treat you’re better off going to another kid-friendly dessert spot in New York City.
24-Layer Cake from Maison Pickle
Website: Maison Pickle
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Address: 2315 Broadway, New York, NY 10024
Maison Pickle is a beloved restaurant on the Upper West Side where you can expect enormous servings, a beautiful presentation, and an energetic vibe. Their 24-layer cake is no exception. The cake is exactly what it sounds like — 24 layers of perfectly moist cake that requires an entire high school football team to finish. I have no doubt that this is one of the best desserts in NYC for kids.
There are two ways to enjoy your mountain of sugar, either chocolate or vanilla confetti cake. As the waiter walks the masterpiece over to the table, watch as your kids shriek with excitement, unable to contain their composure knowing what’s ahead to tackle.
Bonus reading: Maison Pickle also makes an appearance on our list of the best kid-friendly restaurants in New York City!
Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery
Website: Magnolia Bakery
Address: Multiple Locations in New York City
Since we all know how important fruits and veggies are in our diets, one of the best desserts in NYC for kids is the iconic banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery. The world-famous banana pudding has a cult-like following and it’s not hard to see why. Made with fresh bananas, vanilla wafer crackers, and a mix of condensed milk and whipped cream, the airy dessert is a match made in heaven.
What’s more, each month Magnolia rolls out a seasonal flavor that changes up the original recipe in the best way possible. Clear standouts are the Apple Crisp Pudding (typically around the holiday season) and the Chocolate Covered Strawberry Pudding (around Valentine’s Day).
16 Handles
Website: 16 Handles
Address: Multiple Locations in New York City
The question is simple, how much do you trust your kids? If the answer is a lot, one of the best dessert spots in NYC for children is 16 Handles. If the answer is anything but a lot… avoid this place at all costs! 16 Handles is a self-serve frozen yogurt shop with toppings galore.
Your kids will run wild filling up their cups with as many cookie dough scoops as their hearts desire. The only thing to keep in mind is that price is based on weight… keep an eye on your kiddos and make sure you don’t need to take out a loan to pay off their generous portions.
S’mores Churro Cone from ChikaLicious Dessert Bar
Website: ChikaLicious Dessert Bar
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 203 E 10th St, New York, NY 10003
At ChikaLicious we’re stepping into dangerous territory. Combining three classic treats; churros, s’mores & ice cream, we get the masterpiece that is one of the best desserts in New York City for kids. The base of this delight is a perfectly fried, doughy churro. Add to that, delicious soft serve ice cream and top it all off with a toasted marshmallow & graham cracker.
Anything from Spot Dessert Bar
Website: Spot Dessert Bar
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 13 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003
Opened in 2009, Spot Dessert Bar takes classic confectionaries and adds a twist, creating some of the best desserts in New York City, especially for kids. Creative treats like the “Harvest”, are served in a planting pot (I’m talking like a mini terra-cotta pot from Home Depot) and meant to look like a fresh pot of soil with herbs growing.
It isn’t until you dig into the pot that you find layers of fresh fruit, cake, whipped cream, and Oreo crumbs that resemble dirt. It’ll be tough picking just one thing to try since this is one of the best dessert spots in NYC for kids, so come with multiple mouths to feed, and be prepared to share!
Waffles from Wafels & Dinges
Website: Wafels & Dinges
Address: Multiple Locations in New York City
What started as a food truck offering delicious Belgian Waffles quickly blossomed into multiple locations (including brick-and-mortar stores) sprinkled all around the city selling award-winning treats. Offering an impressive menu chock-full of sugary combinations, the waffles at Wafels & Dinges are some of the best desserts in NYC with kids.
The waffles come with heaps of whipped cream and ice cream for crying out loud! I find the S’mores waffle to be irresistible with the marshmallow and chocolate fudge drizzle, but the De Bom Waffle comes with an entire scoop of ice cream — hard to beat that.
Locals Tip: Wafels & Dinges recently opened a location on the Upper West Side near the American Museum of Natural History (one of the best kids museums in NYC). Make a full date out of the day and treat your kiddo to some waffles after exploring all the neat exhibits.
Cone of the Month from Mister Dips
Website: Mister Dips
Neighborhood: Financial District
Address: 89 South St, New York, NY 10038
Located on Pier 17, the cutesy burger and shake shop churns out the most adorable ice cream cones I’ve ever laid my eyes on. The specialty soft-serve cones are delectable as well as amusing to look at. Whatever the upcoming holiday or season, Mister Dips comes prepared with a tasty surprise.
Last year they had a Maple Creemee cone topped with brown butter and pecans for the month of November and spooky spooky-themed cone for October. The kid-friendly NYC dessert shop will be an instant hit, especially during Christmas time thanks to the neighboring ice rink.
Fish Cone from Taiyaki
Website: Taiyaki NYC
Neighborhood: Chinatown & Williamsburg
Address: 119 Baxter St, New York, NY 10013 & 294 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
The next time you find yourself wandering the streets of Chinatown with your littles attached to your hip, do yourself the biggest favor and swing by Taiyaki. At Taiyaki, one of the best kid-friendly desserts in NYC is their fish-tail ice cream. Made with spongy fish cones and paired with delicious soft-serve ice cream, your kids will be hooting and hollering over the epic design and flavor that comes from this unique treat.
Taiyaki is a popular Japanese street food that is essentially a fish-shaped pastry. The best way to describe the flavor is a mix between a crispy pancake and a hint of waffle cone.
Frozzzen Hot Chocolate from Serendipity 3
Website: Serendipity 3
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Address: 225 E 60th St, New York, NY, 10022
There’s no shortage of great kid-friendly treats to be had in New York City, especially when it’s chilly out and thankfully calories don’t count on vacation so parents are free to indulge too. One of my personal favorite dessert spots in NYC with kids is Serendipity 3. The delectable Frrrozen Hot Chocolate (not a typo) will have your kids buzzing for years to come!
This unique hot chocolate experience isn’t a secret by any stretch of the imagination. Heck, at this point it feels rather touristy, but you know what? It’s a memorable dessert spot in NYC with kids and this list doesn’t feel complete without mentioning it, so go all in!
Kid-Friendly Dessert Spots NYC (Post Summary)
- Frozzzen Hot Chocolate from Serendipity 3
- Fish Cone from Taiyaki
- Cone of the Month from Mister Dips
- Waffles from Wafels & Dinges
- Anything from Spot Dessert Bar
- S’mores Churro Cone from ChikaLicious Dessert Bar
- 16 Handles
- Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery
- 24-Layer Cake from Maison Pickle
- Milkshake from Black Tap Burger
- Hot Chocolate from Dominique Ansel
- Cereal-Milk Soft Serve from Milk Bar
- Cookies from Funny Face Bakery
- Junior’s Cheesecake
Further Reading for Fun Things to Do in NYC With Kids
Best Things to Do With Kids: 15+ EPIC Things to Do in New York City With Kids
Top Museums with Kids: 10 Museums in New York City to Visit with Kids
Festive Things to Do With Kids During Christmas: 15 Festive Things to Do for Christmas in New York City with Kids
Best Toy Stores in NYC: 15 Charming Local New York City Toy Stores
Exploring New York City
Unique Things to Do: 25 Unique (Non-Touristy) Things to Do in New York City
Free Things to Do: 20 Unique Free Things to Do in New York City to Keep Your Wallet Happy!
Best Things to Do in NYC: 30 Best Things to Do in New York City
Map of the Best Dessert in New York City with Kids
And there you have it folks, my list of the best kid-friendly desserts in NYC! Let me know if you think I missed a spot.
Cheers!
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