Northside Bakery

The next stop on my 12 Best Bakeries In NYC Challenge off of Gothamist’s list, is Northside Bakery in Williamsburg.

This European bakery is using all natural and fresh ingredients. Their products range from cookies, to breads, to cakes and Napoleon.

Since three is the magic number (at least in this case it is), I got three different items to try. First, I had a raisin and walnut roll. Don’t let the size of this little roll fool you. It’s hearty and packed with plump raisins, dried cranberries and walnuts. It’s got a great crispness and crunch on the outside, and loaded with the natural sweetness of the fruit and nuts.

Then, my eyes went straight for this horseshoe looking pastry. I’d never seen one like it. Since there’s nothing in the picture to scale the size, believe me when I say it’s the size of my face (or your face, your friend’s face, whoever). The pastry itself is layered with a light and flaky pastry dough, and what I would describe as a cross between a crisp croissant and a cookie. It has a slightly savory quality to it, but mixed with the large sugar crystals on top, you get a balanced combination. Then, seeping out of the middle is this perfectly sweet prune puree meets paste.

Lastly, they said that one of their most popular items was their jelly donut. Sold. This softball sized donut is pretty awesome. The dough is pillowy, light and soft and confected with powdered sugar.

The amount of jelly on the inside isn’t very liberally injected, but, it is unique and delicious. It’s a bit tart from the berries, but then, out of nowhere, you have a hint of floral, potentially rosewater.

The Shorts:
Name: Northside Bakery
Location: 149 North 8th Street, Brooklyn
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Yes, the goods were so tasty.
Would I recommend it? Yes, it’s a great little bakery with really affordable treats.