Best of: Fall Desserts

“Autumn in New York, why does it seem so inviting?” Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald sing. Though not what Ellington and Fitzgerald had in mind, these inviting Upper West Side treats help answer that question. A pumpkin pecan cupcake or slice of apple pie are just the thing to remind students that despite unusually warm temperatures, fall is here—and that’s a good thing.

Grom

Grom (2165 Broadway, at 76th street) is now featuring marron glacé gelato ($5.25 for a small cup), a classic autumn flavor composed of chestnuts. The sweet and creamy frozen treat contains bits of candied chestnuts imported from Italy’s Piedmont region. These candied pieces are soft and chewy, and their nutty flavor is significant but not overwhelming. As chestnuts are somewhat of an acquired taste, students might want to try a sample before ordering. A good pairing is half marron glacé and half bacio, or chocolate-hazelnut.

Shake Shack

Shake Shack (366 Columbus Ave., at 77th Street) is all about autumn. The chain’s October frozen custard calendar features flavors such as apple spice cake custard (on Sundays) and pumpkin pie custard (on Fridays). The latter ($3.25 for a cup) tastes like pumpkin pie and vanilla ice cream blended together. Dense and bold, the pumpkin flavor epitomizes autumn. A hint of cinnamon and nutmeg completes the pumpkin pie effect.

Magnolia Bakery

After just one bite of a pumpkin pecan cupcake ($3.50), the October special at Magnolia Bakery (200 Columbus Ave., at 69th Street), students will wish it was permanently on the menu. The pumpkin cake contains tiny pieces of pecans and has a flavor reminiscent of carrot cake. The maple cream cheese icing is the treat’s pièce de résistance. It tastes like melted maple sugar candy, but the cream cheese prevents it from becoming too sweet. Pecan pieces garnish the top for an extra crunch. Other seasonal desserts at Magnolia include pumpkin pecan cheesecake with a gingersnap crust and pumpkin chocolate brownies.

Artopolis

When midterms prevent dessert-hopping outside of MoHi, Artopolis (1090 Amsterdam Ave., between 113th and 114th streets) is a good standby. Indulge in a slice of old-fashioned apple pie ($4.75). The serving is huge, with gooey apples overflowing onto the plate. Those craving a light, flaky crust might want to go elsewhere—Artopolis’ crust is chewy and hard—but a sweet, thick filling makes up for the mediocre shell. For brunch, try the candy apple waffle special, which comes with vanilla gelato, caramel, cinnamon, and fresh-cut apples. The sugar high is sure to help students plow through an essay or problem set.