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WILLIAM GREENBERG JR DESSERTS

Last Updated: 8 days ago

Phone: (212) 861-1340

Address: 1100 MADISON AVENUE 10028

TLDR

Iconic UES bakery w/ decades of tradition. Famous for its soft, chewy Black & White cookies & other classic American/Jewish baked goods. A must-try for nostalgic treats!

Sentiment Overview(Based on 37 Reddit comments)

73% Positive22% Neutral5% Negative

Achievements and Accolades

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Tags

bakery 9american 8jewish 6cookies 20bakery 7baked goods 4View All

Neighborhoods

Upper East Side

Instagram Posts References

Summary

Details

This Upper East Side bakery, a Manhattan institution since 1946, is a must-visit for classic American and Jewish baked goods. Renowned for their exceptional Black and White cookies, reviewers rave about their soft, chewy texture reminiscent of 'donettes.' Beyond cookies, they offer a delightful array of cakes, including a historically noted chocolate cake and strawberry shortcake, as well as sticky buns (Schnecken) and rugelach, making it a nostalgic stop for traditional treats.

Food Overview

This bakery is celebrated for its classic American and Jewish baked goods, with a particular emphasis on its Black and White cookies, which are frequently lauded for their soft, chewy texture. Other popular items include strawberry shortcake, chocolate cake, sticky buns (Schnecken), and rugelach. While most feedback is positive, one commenter found the Black and White cookies to be 'good/okay' but still acknowledged their reputation.

Highlights / Recommended

"The Black and White cookie is overwhelmingly recommended, often cited as the best in the city with a soft and chewy texture. Sticky buns (Schnecken) and rugelach are also mentioned as notable items."

Mentioned Dishes:

  • black and white cookies(2)
  • black and white cookie(2)

Customer Sentiment

Customers highly praise this long-standing bakery, particularly for its iconic Black and White cookies, often describing them as the best they've ever had. The overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the quality and nostalgic appeal of their baked goods.

Reddit References

Highlighted Posts

This thread is a deep dive into the best Black and White cookies in NYC, with multiple commenters overwhelmingly recommending William Greenberg Desserts. They are consistently described as a top-tier choice, with many calling them the best.
In a discussion about iconic, non-touristy bakeries, William Greenberg Desserts is recommended for its 'old school' black and white cookies.
A user recommends William Greenberg Desserts' Black and White cookies, noting they travel well and are a hit with out-of-towners.
William Greenberg Desserts is recommended for its black and white cookies in this thread about the best cookies in NYC.
This user declares William Greenberg Desserts the winner for black and white cookies after trying many, and also mentions their addictive sticky buns called Schnecken.

Recent Mentions

From post: Where Can I Find The Best Seven Layer Cake

"The user provided a link to W.M. Greenberg Desserts for seven layer cake."

Neutral
Feb 11, 2026View Comment →

From post: Best Brownie Cheesecake In Nyc

"This user suggested William Greenberg Desserts as a likely place to find a good cheesecake brownie, noting that such items might be on a rotating menu and not necessarily a seasonal offering."

Positive
Dec 23, 2025View Comment →

From post: Bakeries Selling Gingerbread People

"The commenter suggested William Greenberg Desserts as a place to find gingerbread people."

Positive
Dec 22, 2025View Comment →

From post: Where Can You Buy Premade Gingerbread Houses In

"The original poster thanked the user for the recommendation of William Greenberg Desserts."

Positive
Nov 25, 2025View Comment →

From post: Where Can You Buy Premade Gingerbread Houses In

"The user recommended William Greenberg Desserts as a place that sells premade gingerbread houses."

Positive
Nov 25, 2025View Comment →

From post: Crunchyhard Cookies Recs

"Regarding black and white cookies, this commenter states they are not crispy at all."

Negative
Nov 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Crunchyhard Cookies Recs

"William Greensburg is a few blocks away from Levain and is known for their black and white cookie, though it's not described as crunchy."

Positive
Nov 12, 2025View Comment →

From post: Does Anyone Know Any Cake Shops That Do These

"This is a very old-school UES establishment, famous for its strawberry shortcake, which has been a family favorite for decades."

Positive
Sep 30, 2025View Comment →

From post: Best Rosh Hashanah Treats

"This comment simply states that William Greenberg Desserts is the place to go."

Positive
Sep 21, 2025View Comment →

From post: Look To The Cookie Best Black White

"This user believes William Greenberg is only on the UES, and suggests Orwasher's might be the place the other user is thinking of, as it has locations on both UES and UWS."

Neutral
Sep 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Look To The Cookie Best Black White

"This user states Glasers was their favorite black and white cookie place but it closed years ago, and considers William Greenberg Desserts the second favorite."

Positive
Sep 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Look To The Cookie Best Black White

"This user confirmed that the Hudson Yards location of William Greenberg Desserts is closed."

Negative
Sep 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Look To The Cookie Best Black White

"This user agrees with recommendations for William Greenberg and Orwashers, and mentions their local deli's cookies were a favorite."

Positive
Sep 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Look To The Cookie Best Black White

"Following up on a mention of William Greenberg in Hudson Yards, this user recommends the original location on Madison Ave."

Neutral
Sep 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Look To The Cookie Best Black White

"A user mentions a William Greenberg in Hudson Yards is delicious. Another user recommends going to the original location on Madison Ave."

Positive
Sep 13, 2025View Comment →

From post: Look To The Cookie Best Black White

"This user states that they have not found any black and white cookies that compare to William Greenberg's, calling them in a league of their own."

Positive
Sep 12, 2025View Comment →

From post: Look To The Cookie Best Black White

"This user recommends William Greenberg Desserts, along with Orwashers, Zaro's (if fresh), and Caputo's in Brooklyn for black and white cookies."

Positive
Sep 12, 2025View Comment →

From post: Look To The Cookie Best Black White

"The original poster is seeking confirmation for William Greenberg Desserts, considering buying a large quantity before traveling."

Positive
Sep 12, 2025View Comment →

From post: Look To The Cookie Best Black White

"The user likes William Greenberg Desserts and suggests trying their rugelach as well."

Positive
Sep 12, 2025View Comment →

From post: 4 Days In Nyc From Italy What I Ate And What I

"The user confirmed that the B/W cookie's texture and flavor are cake-like, explaining that the classic recipe uses yellow cake batter baked directly on the sheet."

Positive
Sep 10, 2025View Comment →