Editor’s Note: For more tips on birthday parties, see our articles “NYC’s 10 Best Birthday Cakes” and 2014 Guide to Birthday Party Venues
When it comes to planning a fresh and fun birthday celebration, there’s no rule that you have to go the traditional cake and ice cream route. We’ve rounded up some great ideas (and local retailers) to sweeten the deal at any party.
Chocolate Pizza: This sugary twist on a savory classic is sweeping birthday parties across the city. It’s easy to make at home with store-bought dough and an array of sweet toppings—or, head to Union Square for a Chocolate Pizza from Max Brenner. Their deluxe version is made with melted milk and white chocolate meteors and an ice cream snow ball. Include melting campfire marshmallows as a bonus treat.
Caramel Apples: While caramel apples are naturally suited to the autumn season, there’s no reason you can’t whip up this DIY dessert for birthdays year-round. We love the idea of cooking up caramel sauce (a great activity to do with older kids and tweens) and letting guests dip their apples in an array of toppings. For a decadent local option, head to Red Hook, Brooklyn for seasonal offerings at Baked. Their Caramel Apples are a heavenly combo of farmer’s market-fresh apples dipped in homemade vanilla or maple caramel.
Rice Crispies: Craving a gourmet spin on a bake-sale classic? Treat House on the Upper West Side offers the fun square snack in dozens of cool flavor combinations—like butterscotch sprinkle and dark chocolate chili—as well as TreatPops, ice cream bars, and homemade flavored marshmallows. All of the crispy rice goods are Kosher, gluten-free, and dairy-free. Plus, ten cents of every bite sold will be donated to Food Bank For New York City.
Macarons: In recent years, it seems like you can barely walk down a street in NYC without passing a tempting window display of candy-colored macarons—which naturally lends them to being a perfect birthday treat for kiddos with sophisticated palates. One of our fave mac spots is the Macaron Parlour on the Lower East Side. Here you’ll find crowd-pleasing flavors like Red Velvet, Party Time (salted milk chocolate with dulce de leche), and even Cheetos (yes, actual Cheetos—infused with white chocolate ganache). Also try Francois Payard for elegant macs (including cakes festooned with the crunchy cookies) or Sugar & Plumm in Greenwich Village for kid-friendly picks.
Cookie Baking: To put an interactive twist on b-day sweets, have the kids bake and decorate cookies themselves! Chloe Doughy—known primarily for their cookie dough subscription and delivery service—offers classes that can be customized for any group size, age range, or dietary preference! They host baking sessions at partner kitchens throughout NYC and can also bring the party to a location of your choice. And did we mention the results are cookies in flavors like Lavender Lemon, Currant Carrot Cake, and Key Lime Coconut?
Doughnuts: Doughnuts have been slowly sneaking up on cupcakes as the hot dessert-du-jour—and why shouldn’t they? New York offers a plethora of circular delicacies sure to suit the tastes of the birthday boy or girl as well as all adult chaperones at the party—from the elusive Cronut at the Dominque Ansel Bakery in SoHo to the Doughnuttery’s diminutive delights, in an array of enticing flavors like PB&J and Fruity Breakfast Cereal, at Chelsea Market (plus, the tiny size makes them great take-home favors as well).
Pie: Pie—it’s not just for Thanksgiving anymore! Cake’s often- under-appreciated cousin has a robust NYC presence and is sure to be a hit at the b-day celebration of any kids with a sweet-tooth. Try rustic—yet innovative—pies from Butter & Scotch (available at various Brooklyn locations, and at Whole Foods Bowery) in kid-friendly flavors like S’Mores as well as parent-pleasers like Bourbon Ginger Pecan.
Brownies: Chocolate lovers can diversify from the standard chocolate cake birthday treat with a yummy bite of brownie. Of course, while homemade brownies are often a snap to whip up, we also recommend Fat Witch (located in Chelsea Market) for their array of flavor variations (think infusions of cherries, walnuts, and more) and commitment to all-natural quality ingredients.
Gelato: An at-home gelato bar is a suave alternative to the sundae bar trend—and super-easy to set up! We love packaged gelato from Talenti (available at Whole Foods, Union Market, and Duane Reade—as well as at a new pop-up shop in Bryant Park through October 15) in party-worthy flavors like Mediterranean Mint and Banana Chocolate Swirl. Simply pick up a few pints and let guests top their scoops with sprinkles, nuts, and fruit.
Soda Floats: Step outside the rootbeer box and temp taste buds with locally-made artisan sodas for a unique float bar. Our fave fizzies come from Brooklyn Soda Works—you can snap up bottles on the High Line and at a variety of weekend markets in Brooklyn, plus, they offer catering services—with their refreshing bubbly brews of Apple & Ginger and Grapefruit, Jalapeno & Honey. Just add a dollop of ice cream and a playful party straw!
Cake Pops: The only thing more enticing to a child celebrating their birthday than a cupcake? A cake pop! Turn up the fun with cake pops from Fabipops’ kosher bakery in Brooklyn (pops are available for order online as well)—on top of offering a robust menu of flavors, they can even craft pops to look like the birthday celebrant’s fave celebrities. Seasonal and themed looks are available as well.
