Little Treat: Favorite Cakes in Manhattan
It doesn’t need to be your birthday to enjoy a great slice of cake.
Welcome to our first monthlong content series! This time around, we’re focusing on one theme: birthdays.
My own birthday is later this month, so I thought it’d be fun to spend the next 30 days diving into all things birthday-related topics: cakes, parties, iconic TV episodes, and more.
Birthdays can be tricky for a lot of us, so let’s use this as a chance to find the fun in them! SO, let’s start with cakes! Here are some of my favorite finds in the city:
Billy’s Bakery: Banana
This cake is an absolute dream. The banana keeps it incredibly flavorful and sorry, but we have to say it: moist. I personally don’t have an issue with this word but I know a lot of people do. This cake is paired with a cream cheese frosting and it balances the sweetness of the banana beautifully. If that’s not your thing, they also offer it with chocolate frosting.
I’ve served this cake multiple times, and it’s always a hit. Bonus: if a slice feels too big it also comes in regular and mini cupcake sizes.
From Lucie: Victoria Sponge
Run, don’t walk. I’ve never had a bad thing here, but my favorite is the Victoria Sponge. Two layers of white cake sandwiched between whipped cream and raspberry jam—it works just as well for breakfast as it does for dessert. Also, if you’re not eating cake for breakfast you need to start. Another bonus at From Lucie is that each slice is topped with fresh flowers, turning each slice into a unique piece of art.
PS their chocolate chip cookie is unbelievable.
Empire Cake: Raspberry Lemon
I served this at my birthday last year and had a friend say, four separate times that it was the best cake they ever had.
It’s a summertime dream: yellow cake with raspberry buttercream and a lemon curd filling. The cake is light and fluffy, and the tart lemon with the sweet raspberry is pure magic. I do have to be honest, they use a Swiss buttercream here which is not my favorite but life is about compromising.
Runner-up here is the passion fruit cake, though the coconut buttercream leans a little piña colada, which might not be for everyone.
Claude: Manhattan Blackout
My go-to chocolate cake. A classic two-layer chocolate cake with whipped chocolate frosting. This one feels super homemade as it’s unlike a lot of heavy chocolate cakes, this one feels indulgent without being too dense.
Cipriani: Vanilla Meringue
This cake looks and tastes like heaven. It’s a more elegant spin on a vanilla-vanilla. The meringue is airy and delicate, and it pairs beautifully with the vanilla filling and cake which is also light as air.
Lady M: Strawberry Shortcake
Yes, they’re known for their crepe cakes (which are divine), but don’t sleep on their strawberry shortcake. Light sponge cake layered with whipped cream and finely chopped strawberries—it’s a delicate and delicious twist on the classic. Also, look how beautiful it is!
Little Cupcake Bakeshop: Coconut Cloud
Everyone raves about their Brooklyn Blackout, but I actually think the Coconut Cloud is way more special. White cake layered with coconut cream and finished with coconut and meringue. It’s decadent but never overwhelming. I haven’t had anything else quite like it.
Let me know your favorite slice!
PS I strongly recommend pairing an ice cold glass of 2% milk with any of the above.