Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Aug 5, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Hannah Frishberg
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Aug 5, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Since opening on the corner of Bleecker and West 11th streets 30 years ago this summer, Magnolia Bakery has significantly raised the profile of a long beloved yet humble dessert: banana pudding.
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.
According to “The Baker’s Appendix” author and cake historian Jessica Reed, “ It's not something you find very commonly outside of New York.”
Or, of course, the South. Though the dessert has long been associated with the region, the first published banana pudding recipe was reportedly in 1887’s Chicago-published “White House Cook Book,” by Michigan-born Fanny Lemira Gillette. The second oldest appears in 1888, in the pages of the then-Massachusetts-based “Good Housekeeping.”
Indeed, according to numerous accounts, banana puddings’ southern association does not seem to have begun until shortly after World War II, and continued to solidify as the dessert's popularity increased.
“It’s very homespun, very church picnic. A very make-a-big-bowl-and-take-it-to-a-barbecue kind of dessert,” Reed posits as the reason for the regional association.
She thinks banana pudding is currently “having a moment,” possibly because it’s replacing a less portable, less nuanced dessert: “It probably is taking the place of your parents' or your grandparents' slice of cheesecake at the counter.”
Today, a wide variety of bakeries and even some NYC restaurants have banana pudding on offer. To determine the cream of the boroughs’ pudding crop, we surveyed a wide array of spots, from Chinese food takeout joints stocking local batches to Turkish grocery stores’ dessert sections and tiki bars offering it as elevated pub grub.
Below, five of the best local spots to get your banana pudding fix.
Sugar Sweet Sunshine
To a certain set, Sugar Sweet Sunshine’s banana pudding is more classic (if lesser known) than Magnolia’s. The Lower East Side bakery was started by two former Magnolia’s employees in the ’90s and offers a much more cake-like banana pudding than their former employer. Ideal for anyone who prefers a denser pudding experience.
$5+. Grand Street Market (365 Grand St.) and Essex Market (88 Essex St.), Lower East Side.
Doughgirl Bakery Cafe
Doughgirl’s creamy, yet layered take doesn’t skimp on the Nilla wafers. They also have a Biscoff banana pudding for those who like more caramel in the mix.
$7.99+. 316 Stuyvesant Ave., Bed-Stuy.
Little Cupcake Bakeshop
Another cakey-take on banana pudding, Little Cupcake Bakeshop’s version is dense and not too sweet yet distinctively banana-y and overall delectable.
$12. 30 Prince St., Soho; 9102 Third Ave., Bay Ridge; 594 Vanderbilt Ave., Prospect Heights; 995 Flushing Ave., Bushwick.
Jess Puddin’
For those who like the light, whipped texture of Magnolia’s, Jess Puddin’ offers a similar alternative that’s fluffy, not too sweet, and heavy on the banana flavor. Vegan options also available.
$8. 732 Greene Ave., Bed-Stuy.
Martha’s Country Bakery
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.
$8.75. 36-21 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria; 41-06 Bell Blvd., Bayside; 175 Bedford Ave., Williamsburg; 263 Bedford Ave., Williamsburg.
Tagged
brooklyn
food
manhattan
Hannah Frishberg
Hannah Frishberg covers New York City arts and culture. Got a tip? Email Hannah at [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
As the neighborhood changes, so does its cuisine
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Jul 24, 2026
Can a congressional candidate's dumpling diplomacy win over Queens’ immigrant communities?
Chuck Park is building on Zohran Mamdani’s food-centered mayoral campaign.
By
Caroline Shin
Food
Can a congressional candidate's dumpling diplomacy win over Queens’ immigrant communities?
Chuck Park is building on Zohran Mamdani’s food-centered mayoral campaign.
By
Caroline Shin
Gourmet pizza is all the rage in NYC. Are the towers of toppings worth the high price?
By
Walter Wuthmann
New York’s only Surinamese restaurant blends Dutch, Asian and African flavors
By
Daniel Maurer
How New York City steakhouses are meating the moment
By
Joshua David Stein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .