I have a massive sweet tooth. It’s kind of ridiculous. Pastries, cakes, ice cream, pudding - infuse just about anything with chocolate and I’ll buy it in bulk. Some of my findest childhood memories involve Sunday mornings leaning on the kitchen counter with my mom, cramming our faces with German Chocolate cake, all while my pajama-clad sister looked on disapprovingly (as she poured extra frosting on her super-gooey cinnamon rolls). This time of year is particularly bad; a stressful week combined with pre-Easter temptation means I’m ducking into Duane Reade and shoving entire Cadbury Cream Eggs in my mouth at regular intervals.

Regardless of childhood associations, the bottom line is that sweets make me happy. And life’s too short not to indulge yourself in a little happiness every so often. Or once every few hours, as the case may be. So when a friend pointed out that my prior NYC Guide was missing a key element - desserts - I couldn’t have agreed more. As such, here is my personal guide to sugar in Manhattan. I go a little wider on the geographic distance this time - while it isn’t worth getting on a subway for dinner, I’ll gladly hop the L.I.R.R. in rush hour for great dessert. Enjoy.

Best Chocolate Croissants - Sullivan Bakery (though you have to go before 11 AM or else they’ll be sold out - if this unfortunate event occurs, go up the street to Vesuvio Bakery and buy a plastic-wrapped one as consolation)

Most Intense Chocolate Milkshake - Australian Homemade; they fill it with little dark chocolate shavings, good for the soul.

Hands Down Best Red Devil Cupcakes - Buttercup Bakery (though they better start delivering ’cause who wants to trek to 52nd Street for cupcakes)

Most Overrated Dessert-Only Restaurant That Of Course I Still Go To - ChikaLicious

Manhattan’s Sugar Atlantis - Dylan’s Candy Shop

Best Nutella & Banana Crepe - Crooked Tree on St. Marks

Best Deal on Nutella In Bulk - the Italian shop in Chelsea Market; you can buy a gallon tub of it for ten bucks, which lasts me a week or two.

Best Giant Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie - Grey Dog; as an added bonus, it’ll last up to two days in your purse if you wrap it in enough napkins (not that I’ve tested this or anything).

Best Obscenely Overpriced Gelato - Ciao Bella on Mott

Best Enormous Egg Cream & Subsequent Stomachache - Emack & Bolio’s

Only Place That Can Get Away With Serving Desserts Containing Ingredients Like “Chocolate Soil” and “Olive Clafoutis” (Whatever the Hell That Is) - WD-50

Best Place to Gorge on Brownie Free Samples - Fat Witch

Best Chocolate Souffle in the City- Craft. Had it two years ago and I still think about it.

Best Brick-In-Your-Stomach-For-Hours Beignets - Mara’s Homemade

Best Place to Royally Piss Off the Person Behind the Counter By Asking to Sample Every One of the 20 Flavors Before Making a Decision - Rice to Riches (Ciao Bella is a close second).

Worst Dessert in the City - Tasti D Lite; not only is it made of raw toxic chemicals, they toss in some insult to injury by mangling the English language.