Sweet Treats in Chelsea
Doughnut Plant This Lower East Side legend recently set up shop in Chelsea, making its famous donuts—hand-made daily—more accessible for obsessed New Yorkers. (There are also locations in Tokyo and Seoul.) There are not your grandmother's donuts. Flavors range from cashew and orange blossom to peanut-butter-and-banana-cream filled to matcha green tea. 220 West 23rd St.; doughnutplant.com Billy's Bakery Sure, you could go to Magnolia's Bakery and Crumbs—but neither one holds a candle to the cupcakes at this cozy bakery. The best ones are the simplest: yellow cake or chocolate with vanilla or chocolate buttercream frosting. If you're feeling more adventurous, specials can include nutella, chai, and maple pecan. 184 Ninth Ave.; billysbakerynyc.com La Maison du Macaron These might not be the best macarons in town (you'll need to make your way to Ladurée on the Upper East Side for that, where they're shipped in from Paris), but the rainbow-colored, meringue-based treats here still do the trick. Flavors vary, but passion fruit, champagne, fig, and graham cracker key lime pie have been known to grace the shelves. 132 West 23rd St.; nymacaron.com