Best banana desserts in NYC
Banana desserts have been an acquired taste for me, but I know many people who swear that a banana’s foster or banana cream pie are their favorites. NYC has some amazing spins on banana sweets that even I, a non-banana enthusiast love. Here are a few of my favorites.
Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery
Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Pudding: This is your mom’s banana pudding with nilla wafers but to the nth degree. It’s so light and fluffy. Aside from the classic offering, you can also get banana pudding with java chips for a hint of coffee. Magnolia has locations throughout Midtown, The West Village, and The Upper West Side and they’re all open for pickup and delivery. Magnolia also has outposts in DC, Boston, LA, and Chicago. If you’re not in any of these cities they offer nationwide shipping or you can try your hand at this or their other famous confections with The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook.
Billy’s Bakery’s Banana Cake: My friend Nathaniel introduced me to this cake about eight years ago and it’s been a go for birthdays and other celebrations ever since. The cake is perfectly moist and the cream cheese frosting is a nice counter balance to the sweetness of the banana. Billy’s has locations in Chelsea, Tribeca, Midtown, and the Upper West Side. At the time of this posting, only the Chelsea and Midtown locations are open for takeout, but Billy’s delivers to Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Mikey Likes It Ice Cream’s Brandy Bunch: Mikey Likes It is one of my favorite local ice cream shops. All of the flavors are amazing, but if I were to poll my friends, Brandy Bunch would be the number one pick. It’s banana pudding in ice cream form with vienna fingers and vanilla wafers. Mikey’s has locations in The East Village and Harlem, but The East Village location is the only one open currently. They deliver in Manhattan and you can also check out their site to donate to help them during the COVID crisis.
