The perfect cookie has a few non negotiables. It must have a nice crispiness on the outside, but a soft, gooeyness on the inside. The flavors must be rich and developed without being too sweet. And add ins need to be evenly spread throughout.
When a cookie spot nails these key components, one’s taste buds should be totally astounded with flavors, textures, and nostalgia as “how did I ever exist before trying this cookie?” thoughts pass through your head.
I’ve eaten an outrageous number of cookies in New York City. (Check out my guide to the best NYC mega cookies HERE!) However, there always seem to be more to try. I’ve recently enjoyed 4 under the radar spots that got my heart palipating.
Let’s dive in the 4 best NYC cookies that probably aren’t on your radar.
1. Nani’s Dough
This cookie pop up is the brainchild of Nani— an ex-Tesla employee who decided to ditch tech and follow his passion for baking. This spot has been blowing up social media. I’m always skeptical of the #trendy places, and decided to see if it’s worth the hype. I walked in, and an amazing thing happened: he recognized me from The Frugal Foodies! We chit chatted and he gifted me this box of the 6 last remaining cookies.
I found a park bench and dug in.
The chocolate chip cookie has a delectable texture with plenty of salt to compliment the chocolate. I’m usually not a fan of matcha, but the matcha cookie had a perfectly subtle matcha flavor. My least favorite was the blueberry pie. It was perfectly delicious, but there was nothing special or exciting to the flavors.
Nani’s Dough is easily serving up some of the best NYC cookies, and they live up to the hype. One will set you back a whopping $6.25, But given Nani’s story and the quality of the cookies, I think they are worth it!
2. Ella Crown Bakehouse
Ella Crown Bakehouse is a Brooklyn bakery dishing up massive cookies for a reasonable $4 a pop. We tried the peanut butter, which had a delectable, pure peanut butter flavor with just enough chocolate to add a flavor pop. Often, cookies this large sacrifice flavor for size. But Ella Crown Bakehouse nails it, making these some of the best NYC cookies you’ve likely never heard of.
3. L’Appartement 4F
L’Appartement 4F is a posh Brooklyn Heights cafe that bakes up classic French pastries with a few American twists. Their extravagant croissants have put them on the map. But you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t snag a chocolate chip cookie. It’s texturally the most perfect cookie I’ve had the privilege of sinking my teeth into.
It boasts a thick crispiness that leads to soft ooey gooeyness at just the right moment. The soft, brown butter flavor lifts up the ample number of chocolate chips beautifully. And the light dusting of sea salt jumps in well before sweetness takes over everything.
4. Michaeli Bakery
Michaeli Bakery is an Israeli style bakery serving up everything from rugalach to babka. And let me say…. their bakers know what they are doing. Everything is expertly crafted, but the nutella chocolate chip cookie is just flat out offensively good. It has the perfect crispy to gooey balance, and somehow the Nutella doesn’t totally overwhelm everything. The chocolate chips shine, and it’s a true gem of a cookie.
