Crossing the Cupcake Rubicon at Magnolia Bakery
Yes, they do make some of the best cupcakes in New York. And yes, this bakery is the epicenter of the cupcake craze. But we’d like you to think twice about what you order at Magnolia Bakery, because quite frankly, it is far too easy to get carried away when you’re handed a little cardboard box and told you can only purchase six cupcakes. Focus is what’s required here, as there are two desserts there that are even better than the cupcakes, desserts that demand your immediate attention. So focus!
First is the Peanut Butter Heath Bar Blondie, a bar cookie that is much lighter than it appears– think of it as a cross between a peanut butter cookie and a chewy slice of peanut brittle. The cake component of the blondie is very rich, admittedly quite buttery, and perfectly salty (from the peanuts). The top layer, on the other hand, is just very slightly tacky–not like frosting, but more like caramel, and full of crunchy nut and toffee pieces. It goes beautifully with a cup of milky coffee (iced or hot). I’ll take this over a cupcake any day of the week.
Then there’s the invisible goodie: the Banana Pudding, which lives in the deli case next to the cash register. There are normally several portions already scooped into tall paper coffee cups, but because they’re capped, you might never see the delicious treat inside: a trifle-style dessert made with banana chunks, vanilla wafer cookies, and vanilla pudding. You’ll need to ask for a serving of this treat at the counter. Banana pudding is a traditional Southern snack that resembles a tiramisu, but Magnolia Bakery’s version improves on the original by using very high-quality pudding– we’re not sure if they make it themselves (they wouldn’t divulge their secrets to us), but however it’s made, it is fluffy and light, with a texture similar to a mousse. It might not be ultra-authentic, but it is fantastically refreshing and cool.
We won’t suggest that you skip the cupcakes when you’re there, but we do think that Magnolia Bakery is more than a one-trick pony. That may be its saving grace after all the Sex and the City tours stop and the appeal of the glitzy cupcake begins to wane. Vive la banane!
Magnolia Bakery, 401 Bleecker Street (at the corner of West 11th Street and Bleecker Street), 212-462-2572
The banana pudding finally gets its due! It’s way more queue-worthy than cupcakes, in my opinion.
Comment by melon — June 13, 2006 @ 8:09 pm
yes the blondies and brownies are certainly good….you should also try their hot chocolate and their cookies
Comment by Brendan — June 14, 2006 @ 3:41 pm
Oh my god. That blondie looks so great and sounds even better now that i read your description.
Comment by Frank — June 15, 2006 @ 3:04 am
The bread pudding is fabulous, but the red velvet cake is also to die for! (Not as good as cake man Raven in Harlem, but still pretty good) The chocolate chip cookies are also very good dipped in cappucino.
Comment by Cat — June 20, 2006 @ 11:41 am
The banana pudding at Buttercup Bake Shop is exactly the same (the owner of Buttercup was once a co-owner of Magnolia http://www.buttercupbakeshop.com/our_story.html) and the stuff is simply amazing. I just happen to have some of Buttercup Bakery’s banana pudding in the fridge right now, waiting for me …
Comment by Annulla — July 13, 2006 @ 12:03 pm
thanks for the tip on the banana pudding - my dad (from texas) said that it was just like his momma used to make!
Comment by des — July 24, 2006 @ 10:39 am
The banana pudding and red velvet cake are my favorite items there! The book “More from Magnolia” has the recipe for the banana pudding. I made it for Thanksgiving one year and my family loved it!
Comment by jeannie — September 14, 2006 @ 4:13 pm
Never had the banana pudding, but have gone back exclusively for the Ice Box cake. Numerous (I lost count)layers of thin chocolate cake, each kept apart by whipped cream. It can be shared by many, as it just huge. The taste-for us old timers-is like something our grandma’s used to make.
Comment by jack — June 7, 2007 @ 10:23 pm