First priority for any sweet: it’s gotta be worth cheating on your diet.

Second priority: is it pretty? – so pretty, in fact, that I can instagram it?

Living in this social media age, trendy foods have helped launch many restaurants by generating conversation. In a matter of days, a new place can go from empty tables… to having a line around the corner.

They do say that you eat with your eyes first, and some of these desserts will make you hop on the nearest train and forego every meal for the next three days. Here are our top five instagrammable NYC dessert must-haves:

1. The Wowfull at Smorgasburg [Industry City, Brooklyn]

This is the latest rookie-stand-turned-favorite of the Brooklyn Flea Market. It isn’t your ordinary ice cream in a waffle cone – this is the WOWFULL cone, a special type of waffle of the Chinese variety. It comes in a plethora of flavors, from savory to sweet (with a new ice cream flavor of the week). The founding trio has already been gobbled out by New York news outlets and morning talk shows about their fun new dessert.

2. Mini Cupcakes at Baked by Melissa [Various Locations]

Perpetually undecided on which cupcake to get? Same. This is why Baked by Melissa’s mini cupcakes are the ideal solution. With red velvet, cookie dough, cookies & cream, mint chocolate, rainbow, and other flavor options, you might want to opt for the big pack and bring some home to share (or just polish them off on your own, we won’t judge).

3. Chocolate Chip Cookie at Levain Bakery. [Upper West Side & Harlem]

Now before you go preaching that chocolate chip cookies are basic as hell – try one of these first, and I guarantee you won’t even be able to get the words out between the wonderfully molten chocolate ooey-gooey center of this masterpiece. Levain Bakery is a New York classic – and their fresh baked cookies are LARGE and sure to satisfy. Maybe you should skip Sunday brunch this week and take a stroll over here instead.

4. Banana Pudding at Magnolia Bakery [Various Locations]

Magnolia Bakery is another NYC classic, thanks to Carrie Bradshaw and Sex in the City. You can never go wrong with their cupcakes, the frosting is just to die for (although your dentist may not thank you too much). What’s really a must-have is their banana pudding, made fresh every day on site. It’s creamy, light, and fluffy. Even better – if you’re a commuter, there’s a Magnolia bakery located in Grand Central, so celebrate Friday with your pudding on the train ride home.

5. Milkshakes at Black Tap Burgers & Beer [SoHo]

This is no ordinary milkshake…
This is your childhood diner’s loaded milkshake on steroids in the most extravagant manner ever seen in the history of all things glorious.
Take your pick, there’s over 12 varieties and they’re all enormous, overflowing and loaded up.
Expect a line since these are the latest dessert craze to his the big city… also expect up to 1,600 calories. So you get the picture: these are most definitely Buddy the Elf approved.

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NYC’s Most Insta Worthy Desserts