{"id":314461,"date":"2026-08-05T17:34:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T17:34:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/314461\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T17:34:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T17:34:20","slug":"5-nyc-banana-puddings-as-good-as-magnolias","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/314461\/","title":{"rendered":"5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia’s"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since opening on the corner of Bleecker and West 11th streets 30 years ago this summer<\/a>, Magnolia Bakery has significantly raised the profile of a long beloved yet humble dessert: banana pudding.<\/p>\n

The bakery has since expanded internationally and become almost synonymous with the the sweet treat, at least in New York, one of the few places outside of the South where banana pudding is widely available for purchase.<\/p>\n

According to \u201cThe Baker\u2019s Appendix\u201d author and cake historian<\/a> Jessica Reed, \u201c\u200aIt’s not something you find very commonly outside of New York.\u201d<\/p>\n

Or, of course, the South. Though the dessert has long been associated with the region, the first published banana pudding recipe was reportedly<\/a> in 1887\u2019s Chicago-published \u201cWhite House Cook Book,\u201d by Michigan-born Fanny Lemira Gillette. The second oldest appears in 1888, in the pages of the then-Massachusetts-based \u201cGood Housekeeping.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, according to numerous<\/a> accounts<\/a>, banana puddings\u2019 southern association does not seem to have begun until shortly after World War II, and continued to solidify as the dessert’s popularity increased.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very homespun, very church picnic. A very make-a-big-bowl-and-take-it-to-a-barbecue kind of dessert,\u201d Reed posits as the reason for the regional association.<\/p>\n

She thinks banana pudding is currently \u201chaving a moment,\u201d possibly because it\u2019s replacing a less portable, less nuanced dessert: \u201cIt probably is taking the place of your parents’ or your grandparents’ slice of cheesecake at the counter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, a wide variety of bakeries and even some NYC restaurants have banana pudding on offer. To determine the cream of the boroughs\u2019 pudding crop, we surveyed a wide array of spots, from Chinese food takeout joints stocking local batches to Turkish grocery stores\u2019 dessert sections and tiki bars offering it as elevated pub grub.<\/p>\n

Below, five of the best local spots to get your banana pudding fix.<\/p>\n

Sugar Sweet Sunshine<\/a><\/p>\n

To a certain set, Sugar Sweet Sunshine\u2019s banana pudding is more classic (if lesser known) than Magnolia\u2019s. The Lower East Side bakery was started by two former Magnolia\u2019s employees<\/a> in the \u201990s and offers a much more cake-like banana pudding than their former employer. Ideal for anyone who prefers a denser pudding experience.<\/p>\n

$5+. Grand Street Market (365 Grand St.) and Essex Market (88 Essex St.), Lower East Side.<\/p>\n

Doughgirl Bakery Cafe<\/a><\/p>\n

Doughgirl\u2019s creamy, yet layered take doesn\u2019t skimp on the Nilla wafers. They also have a Biscoff banana pudding for those who like more caramel in the mix.<\/p>\n

$7.99+. 316 Stuyvesant Ave., Bed-Stuy.<\/p>\n

Little Cupcake Bakeshop<\/a><\/p>\n

Another cakey-take on banana pudding, Little Cupcake Bakeshop\u2019s version is dense and not too sweet yet distinctively banana-y and overall delectable.<\/p>\n

$12. 30 Prince St., Soho; 9102 Third Ave., Bay Ridge; 594 Vanderbilt Ave., Prospect Heights; 995 Flushing Ave., Bushwick.<\/p>\n

Jess Puddin\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

For those who like the light, whipped texture of Magnolia\u2019s, Jess Puddin\u2019 offers a similar alternative that\u2019s fluffy, not too sweet, and heavy on the banana flavor. Vegan options also available.<\/p>\n

$8. 732 Greene Ave., Bed-Stuy.<\/p>\n

Martha\u2019s Country Bakery<\/a><\/p>\n

This classic, no frills banana pudding in a transparent to-go cup is balanced and flavorful. It has good mouthfeel and isn’t too rich.<\/p>\n

$8.75. 36-21 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria; 41-06 Bell Blvd., Bayside; 175 Bedford Ave., Williamsburg; 263 Bedford Ave., Williamsburg.<\/p>\n