Thanks to Carrie Bradshaw and co, Magnolia Bakery is best known for their cupcakes. I’ve been down on Magnolia’s cupcakes before, they’re just not my thing. Too dry and too sweet for my taste. The red velvet is pretty good, but nothing I’d go out of my way for. I used to maintain that the best things on their menu are the non-cupcake items, but now I’m willing to make one exception: their flourless chocolate cupcake special.

Last month I was invited to check out some of Magnolia’s Valentine’s Day treats at a special event for bloggers and media. That’s where I first tried the flourless chocolate cupcake. A specialty cupcake that I learned is usually in their once a week rotation (this month it’s available on Thursdays). Unlike Magnolia’s traditional chocolate cupcake this one is super moist and chocolatey. The vanilla bean meringue buttercream is definitely lighter and less sweet than their regular butter frosting. I’ll admit that at $4 the cupcake is spendy, but it is soooooo good (words I never expected to write). How good exactly? Well, how about so good, that every time–three times and counting–that I’ve stopped by to pick up another one on the designated special day, they’ve been sold out. Lesson learned, the early snacker gets the flourless chocolate cupcake.  (And what do you know… tomorrow is Thursday.)

Magnolia Bakery, 1240 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, (212) 767-1123

With Thanksgiving a little more than a week away, at least a few of you might be starting to figure out your Thanksgiving eve plans i.e. how to procure everything needed for dinner with the least resistance and crowds possible. And while Magnolia isn’t the tops on our bakery lists, may I present their pies for Thanksgiving ordering. Between Rockefeller Center and Grand Central, it would be easy to pick up your pie on the way our of town. A few weeks ago, I tasted their pumpkin and black bottom pecan, and was pleasantly surprised. Both were thoroughly enjoyable and I wouldn’t mind either after gorging myself on turkey and stuffing. A regular sized pie goes for $24, and Thanksgiving day ordering ends on Sunday.

Magnolia Bakery, 1240 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, (212) 767-1123

That’s not a peanut butter sandwich, it’s a slice of peanut butter and jelly cake ($3.50). The peanut butter cake was surprisingly moist (not dry like, ahem, certain cupcakes) with a lightly sweetened, nutty flavor. I wouldn’t have minded some more peanut butter-buttercream in the middle with a dollop more grape jelly. At $3.50 this is bigger than a cupcake, but not quite the enormous layer cake portion you get or $4.50. If you’re a pb fan, this is a twist on a classic worth trying.

Time is also running out for their seasonal strawberry ice box cake. For $4.50 you get an enormous hunk of strawberry whipped cream covered chocolate wafers. This is without question my favorite item on the menu at Magnolia. The dessert itself is simple to make at home, but the chocolate wafers are like cookie unicorns, I’ve never seen them in the city so to me it’s totally worth it to buy a slice. The staff couldn’t tell me exactly when this would be retired, but did promise that peppermint ice box cake would be on the horizon, so if you’re an icebox cake fan looking to get a last taste of summer, I’d recommend hitting up Magnolia stat.

Magnolia Bakery, 1240 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, (212) 767-1123

Cupcake haters best start scrolling now because there’s serious cupcake action happening in midtown today. Sprinkles, the LA cupcakery that’s about to invade NYC is planning on giving away cupcakes in Times Square (yeah, good luck with that). Follow them @sprinklesmobile for details on when/where the giveaway is going down. Yesterday, they ran out of 1000 cupcakes in under an hour. Elsewhere in midtown Robicelli’s has their once- a-year Mint Julep cupcakes (hello, bourbon-mint cake & buttercream with hand candied mint leaf). You can snag some for Derby day at Schnitzel & Things (3rd Ave. btw. 45+46th). Lastly, Magnolia is currently offering “the Japan cupcake,” (chocolate cake, vanilla frosting with a raspberry “to signify the ‘rising sun’ symbol known as the Nisshoki.”) These cupcakes are $3 and $1 goes to the Japan Society’s earthquake fund (regular cupcakes are $2.75). Available at both the Rock Center and Grand Central locations.

Sadness is showing up on the last day of Flex Donuts, hoping for one last hurrah with their spiced chocolate goodness, only to see a sign saying “Out of Doughnuts.” That is a sad sign. One look to the left reminded me of the paradox that is Magnolia Bakery (in the Grand Central Food Court.) Knowing I was not going to be getting a cupcake, I took a gander at the display case to see if anything else tickled my fancy: personal chocolate pudding pie, anyone?

Magnolia’s claim to fame shouldn’t be its cupcakes, it should be everything else they sell. I’ve had a few of their awesome puddings (banana FTW,) slices of their cakes (I take payments of icebox cake,) even a brownie once-all of it was delicious and well above average. This day I needed some chocolate, but wasn’t in the mood for a large portion and that’s when I spotted their mini graham cracker crust pies ($3.) Their chocolate pudding was excellent-creamy and dark with no chemical aftertastes, and decadent enough that you don’t need much more than the pie. The whipped cream on top and graham cracker bottom both complemented the chocolate well. It’s a sad world when I’ve become a quasi-Magnolia fan…

Related:
The Magnoliafication of Midtown Continues

Photo courtesy of Bloorozez

Things have gotten so bad that even Magnolia Bakery (on 49th & 6th) has to resort to offering free samples to drum up business! Don’t ask me why I was in there… I didn’t buy anything, but I took a free sample of carrot cake. I’m not going to lie- their cupcakes may be mediocre but that carrot cake freebie was goooood.