sweets Archives - Adventure, baby!

Top 5 Sweet Spots on the Upper East Side

September 7, 2014 / Manhattan Munchies, New York Food, Upper East Side / 0 comment

When your sweet tooth is a-calling, the Upper East Side is the place to go. Within a few blocks of each other lies a cornucopia of sugary heavens. How’s a sleep-deprived mom to choose?

Dylan’s Candy Bar
Created in 2001 by Dylan Lauren (of the Ralph Lauren family) Dylan’s Candy Bar is the place to go for a serious sugar high. Choose from 7,000 candy treats in the store, then lounge upstairs in a cupcake booth at the Candy Cafe to enjoy lunch or a snack, and perhaps a candy cocktail.
1011 3rd Ave, New York, NY

Baked By Melissa
These mini cupcakes were made with tiny hands in mind! At $1 for each little cupcake, it’s the perfect sized treat when you don’t want the day to get too sugary. Our favorite flavor is the Choc Chip Pancake (totally breakfast food, right?).
784 Lexington Avenue at 61st Street New York NY

Two Little Red Hens
How can you pass up what’s often called the best red velvet cupcake in the city? The cupcakes come in regular and mini sizes, so you can sample several if you’re not set on one flavor.
1652 2nd Ave, New York, NY

Sprinkles Cupcakes
If you’re on the go, grab your cupcake from the Sprinkles ATM out the front. We prefer to sit down inside to enjoy our cupcakes – the cupcake-inspired interior and ottomans are a huge hit with kids. Know before you go: Check out their rotating seasonal menu so you visit on the day when your favorite flavors are being served.
780 Lexington Ave, New York, NY

IT’SUGAR
This candy chain store recently opened its doors on the Upper East Side. IT’SUGAR focuses on the fun of candy, from giant 5LB Hershey bars to the World’s Largest Gummy Bear (they recommend sharing this cub, and so do we!)
1542 3rd Ave New York NY
IT’SUGAR Image via Jia J. Yelp.com

This article first appeared on MommyNearest.com.

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Betty Bakery; Kid-friendly Bakeries and Cafes, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, New York

March 26, 2013 / Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Bites, New York, New York Food / 2 Comments

Betty Bakery is the place to stop in Boerum Hill when your sweet tooth is getting the better of you. The bakery was opened in 2006, by renowned cake designers Cheryl Kleinman and Ellen Baumwoll. A touch retro, a touch modern, it’s the go-to place n the neighbourhood for cupcakes, custom cakes, cookies and hot chocolate.

Kids hoping for snacks. Betty Bakery, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.

What to try: In summer, you absolutely have to have their strawberry lemonade. They also do a strawberry lemonade cupcake that will delight your tastebuds. In winter, get a hot chocolate and mini palmier to go – or perch on a stool in the bakery and take cover from the nasty elements outside.

Mini palmiers. Betty’s Bakery, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.

Betty’s loves to celebrate special occasions and seasons, so it’s the perfect place to drop in and pick up last-minute Easter and passover treats.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: No. There is space for a few strollers in the store however – we’ve fit three at once and still had room for other customers.
Easy access: No. There is only one step, but it’s a narrow door frame and tricky to manoeuvre the stroller in.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Betty Bakery
448 Atlantic Ave,
Brooklyn, NY
Phone: (718) 246 2402
Prices: $$
Hours: Tues-Thurs 7:30am-7pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm. Closed Mondays.
Get directions.

The Best Desserts In DUMBO, New York

March 25, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, DUMBO / 1 Comment

DUMBO (standing for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), is industrial neighbourhood on the verge of gentrification. Old factories have been gutted and turned into luxury condos, hipsters bars and restaurants like Superfine are popping up everywhere. DUMBO is also a haven for those with a major sweet tooth. Here are four places to hit up for an intense sugar hit.

Whoopie pies and spiky cupcakes, One Girl Cookie, DUMBO.

Best whoopie pie: One Girl Cookies
Lovers of cookies will find it hard to restrict themselves to just a few treats when stopping by One Girl Cookie’s DUMBO store (They also have a cosy cafe in Cobble Hill). What to try: Tiny, exquisite cookies give the store its name, but it’s the spiky cupcakes and whoopie pies that are the big drawcard for us. If you’ve never had a whoopie pie before (for the uninitiated, it’s two mounds of cake – usually either chocolate or pumpkin – with a cream cheese filling), get thee to One Girl Cookie now!

Little piggie. Whoopie pies at One Girl Cookie, DUMBO.

One Girl Cookies
33 Main St (corner of Water)
Brooklyn
Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-7pm, Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 9am-7pm

Best croissants: Almondine
This beloved pastry-haven was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy last year. It reopened a few weeks ago and has been packed ever since with returning loyal customers, desperate for their favourite crossants. What to try: Almondine are well-known for their croissants, macarons and loaves of bread.

Almondine
85 Water St, Brooklyn
Hours: Mon-Sat 7am-7pm, Sun 10am-6pm

Best candy in town – Dewey’s Candy Store, DUMBO.

Best candy: Dewey’s Candy Store
Venture into this store only if you’re ready for the smell of sugar and a desire to eat everything in sight. Dewey’s Candy Store is an adorable retro candy store that will make you feel like you’re in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Just don’t lick the wallpaper. What to try: Get a little clear bag and fill it with bits and pieces of everything. Our particular favourites are the cola bottle sours.

Dewey’s Candy Store
141 Front St, Brooklyn
Hours: Mon-Wed, Fri & Sat 12pm-7pm, Thur 12pm-8pm, Sun 12pm-6pm

Best chocolate hit – Jacques Torres, DUMBO.

Best chocolate hit: Jacques Torres
Whenever we need a major chocolate hit, there is no place in the neighbourhood like Jacques Torres for really good chocolate. They currently have a huge range of Easter treats like bunnies, chickens and traditional Easter eggs, as well as their usual supply of delicate chocolate bonbons, pastries and chocolate-covered nuts and pretzels. What to try: We’d say one of everything, but if you can’t handle that much sugar, the must-haves are the hot chocolate (think pure chocolate melted in a cup) and the chocolate-covered almonds.

Jacques Torres
66 Water Street, Brooklyn
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 10am-6pm

What are your favourite places to go for sweet treats in your neighbourhood?