Glaser’s Bake Shop

Glaser’s Bake Shop is nothing fancy, and it doesn’t have to be. When a business has survived in Manhattan since 1902, it earns a level of street cred that transcends the allure of celeb chefs and glossy, sophisticated interiors. From the easy-​access rolls of baker’s twine hanging from the ceiling to the straight-​shot view of the bakers crafting cookies and breads behind the counter, this is old-​school NYC at its finest. On my visit, I saw the staff greet repeat customers by name, ask about their families, and dole out full-​sized samples to construction workers coming in from the cold. Great, but what about the food? you ask. They make just about every traditional bakery item there is, but my favorites are the cookies, whose tender crumbs trigger nostalgia in every bite.
Eat This: Rainbow Cookie, Raspberry Linzer, Lemon Meltaway

Glaser’s is up there with Katz’s in terms of how authentic everything looks: compared to Two Little Red Hen’s homey hues of red and yellow or Lady M’s sleekness, Glaser’s can look a bit drab. It’s soaked in nostalgia, though, from the framed yellowing newspaper articles about the grand opening to the doilies to the wood-​panel cabinets, and, considering that the place first started churning out German goodies in 1902, it’s held up remarkably well.
And, as someone who’s gobbled her way through some of the offerings, here are the standouts:
(1) Apple crumb pie: the ratio of crumb to actual pie or fruit was a tad absurd, but I also tend to eat just the crumb chunks off coffee crumb cake, so this one was a winner for me.
(2) Kitchen sink cookie: white chocolate, dark chocolate, coconut, pretzels, and POTATO CHIPS. Okay, I couldn’t really taste the potato chips. This cookie is basically a meal unto itself. Best split between 3 – 4 people.
(3) Cheese danish: never really a Danish person, especially not a fruit Danish person, but I liked Glaser’s rendition of it — soft, almost crossiant-​like layers of dough, non-​obtrusive cheese flavor. Still, I’ll never fight my boyfriend for the last bite.
Not a standout:
(1) The mini chocolate chip cookie: I put this here because it comes down to a simple preference of chewy versus crispy. I’ll pick chewy any day. For the crispy cookie people (ugh, who are you), Glaser’s has just the right bite-​sized version for you.
The counter people are very sweet, and will give it to you straight their preferences.
NEXT TIME: blueberry cookie cake, black and white cookie, sticky buns

So I came here after doing some research on where to get the best Black&White Cookies in NY because its definitely a «thing». I definitely tried other Black&White Cookies from other bakeries, and I will say I would probably get the Black&White Cookies elsewhere. I prefer the frosting to be more glazed with a hard finish, but the frosting here is more whipped? However, the reason why I really liked this place was that I think the Kitchen Sink Cookie is AMAZING! I tried the Kitchen Sink Cookie (or compost cookie as they call it at some other places) at other bakeries, but the one at Glaser’s is the best! On top of that, its really an old fashioned and totally not pretentious bakery, which is what I love about this place.
*The only downside was that we did visit the bakery in the evening so there weren’t too many options of cookies or baked goods left, so I would recommend coming in the morning or earlier in the day for more options!

I love this place. I love these people. I work at the animal clinic a few doors down and have been going to Glasers religiously for 5 years now. Today when i went in one of the ladies noticed my scrubs, asked what i wanted, and gave me not one but two apple turnovers for a dollar (i usually pay 2.50 for one). At the begining of a shift, when you have a completely booked scheduled and a bunch of sick patients to look after little acts of kindness like that will truly make your whole day.
That being said, I absolutely love the turnovers! So flakey, just the right amount of sweet and fresh crisp apples in the center. I think i could eat this every day for the next 5 years to come!

Black and white cookie-​average. Fluffy cake texture. A little dry. The white icing tastes just like normal cupcake icing. The black icing has black chocolate flavor. Pretty sweet.

This place is absurd. I can only imagine that it is still in business based 100% on nostalgia.
My grandma liked this place. I liked my grandma. It must be the best.
Ugh.
Do yourself a favor and walk a block or two to Little Red Hen where the food is actually edible (Glaser’s is really bad) and if you have it in you to walk a few more blocks there is Orwashers. How a place this bad can stay in business this long in an area with so many other options is really a testament to the lack of taste of the local denizens.

The best bakery in NYC. I love this homemade, old fashion bakery products. Remind me childhood. Everything fresh, tasty and have a real taste.

I thought recipes and food nowadays must be vastly better than the food that people ate in the 1910s. Innovation and information sharing has led to higher quality food right? This oldschool bakery has me questioning that notion. All the pastries and cookies are great, and the staff is incredibly warm and friendly. With Glasers, it doesn’t have to be just holiday weight — you can delightfully gain weight here all year round.

I visited this place right after a heavy dinner. Despite the fact that my tummy was full, I was still able to enjoy these delightful cookies.
This old fashioned bakery not only has sweet cookies but also has sweet staffs. The staffs were really friendly, and I was able to feel the staff’s genuine welcoming.
Truly delightful place to grab a heavenly cookies.

I’m back for my Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie! The line was about 10 people when I arrived. Soon it was about 20! Glaser’s was prepared with lots of pies and goodies filling the whole store. Everything is so delicious looking. While I was waiting in line I was having a fantasy about accidentally being locked up in the store at night.
Now I can’t wait until tomorrow so I can taste my delicious looking pie! Check out my pictures!

I have to give this great old bakery a more fair review. Return was worth it for the walk in alone — smells incredible and reminds me of the old bakeries I used to be taken to when I was little in the Bronx. Such friendly service! Everyone liked the baked items I bought this time. Okay, I didn’t flip over them but if the others liked them, all is good in the world. The cake was a simple, old fashioned type of cake, which was not too sweet like many others. Pumpkin cheesecake bars. yum! Will return for the almond cookies and chocolate snaps — anyone remember chocolate snaps from the ‘80s?
$ 19 per pound for cookies, while most places seem to be around $ 24. Worth a visit. These old places need to stay!

OMG, what an old fashioned bakery with the most amazing deserts. I would be on the Biggest Loser if I lived around here! I wanted to eat everything here!
I wanted to eat everything, the whoopie pies, the cookies, the apple pie…
I decided to be good and just had a blueberry tart.
I went to lunch actually after buying my tart, but had the tart as desert once I got home.
WOW. Best blueberry tart ever. They know what they are doing. The crumbs on top were just crunchy and buttery, and the blueberry was so good.
I kinda regret not buying everything in sight, guess I need to go back.
YUM!

It’s taken me TWO years to finally check this place out, and man am I regretting not coming sooner!
Their pastries are amazing. Their cookies fresh and their staff friendly! I got my favorite type of cookie: black & white. I also tried the kitchen sink cookie. LOVE. I really like coconut so I was pleasantly surprised when the staff mentioned it was included in the kitchen sink cookie. The black and white cookie was amazing. Or in my case it was orange and black to stay up to date with the seasons :). It was fluffy and the frosting was unreal.
My waistline hates me for finally coming to Glasers, there’s no turning back now.

Love everything here!
I’ve had their lemon meringue tart, mini fruit crumb pies, chocolate snaps, butter wafers, chocolate chip cookies, kitchen sink cookies…
Just picked up a pumpkin cheesecake brownie for the season— deliciousness
I have to say, too, that the jelly donut here is better than Orwasher’s
I try to come here anytime I’m on the UES
You can ask to try the small cookies, which they sell by weight (I usually ask for a ¼−½ lb mix)
Just know it’s cash only

Pleasant service. Best danish I’ve ever had. I will definitely stop by whenever I’m in town.

Old school but simple. The ladies behind the counter are alway friendly.
They have a smallish selection for a NYC bakery but what they do have is all very good.
Get the black and white first and try some of the other stuff too but don’t forget the black and white.
Their black and white is unique. It is more like a small cake with frosting not fondant and it is delicious!

Legit traditional neighborhood joint only the locals nearby know about (cash only). The old tiles still survive, the signage, the sweet smell, the bakery twine — its all about the old school authenticity. Family run, if you want to try before you buy — they load you up. The place definitely has its regulars. I’d make that trek to the UES for these desserts any day.
To eat:
–Amazing cookies (huge range, changes by the day, homemade feel, all delicious) — Rainbow, black and white, kitchen sink, fruit filled, bavarian almond, cherry and apricot spritz. theres no end)
–Eclairs
–Cakes
This is a perfect NYC bakery. Nuff said.

Such a lovely bakery! You walk in and feel like you traveled back in time to a bake sop from the 1950s. The old display cases are all there. The floor has all the old tile from the 50s. The people behind the counter use that spool of string that hands from the ceiling to tie up the boxes.
Now onto the important stuff… the baked good are out of this world. Incredible black and white cookies, PHENOMENAL cream puffs, delicious cookies. The cheesecake was just ok. But I could seriously have eaten 50 of those cream puffs. Also, the woman behind the counter asked my friend and I if this was our first time to Glaser’s. It was, so they gave us a free cookie! I just loved this place. It’s so adorable and lovely. Go here!

A local legend that has thankfully had a kinder fate thus far than Village institutions like De Robertis. (Knock on wood)
Not being an Upper East Sider, my Glaser’s visits are more rare than I’d like, but it’s always fun to witness the rapport they have with the neighborhood locals.
Their black and whites are the best in the city (and they’re rumored to be the treat’s creator). They are also home to the «Kitchen Sink Cookie» which is a precursor to the «Frankenfood» confections that have become all the rage more recently.
Cash only, so come prepared!

This bakery appears to be pretty popular, all three times that I’ve gone inside, there’s been a short line of people waiting. I was lucky enough to try the rainbow cookie which was pretty good… my first time eating a rainbow cookie! The chocolate chip cookie was crispy with a good amount of chocolate chips.
I wasn’t a fan of the brownie, which was a little less than ordinary.
Other than that, the people working here seem down to earth, they don’t push products on you, and take their time.
It’s a simple, normal bakery that happens to be rather old.