A New York Holiday Treat - Rocco‘s Bakery

New York at Christmastime is magical. The city is alive with the smells and sounds of the season. The best aromas come from Manhattan’s many bakeries, primarily Rocco’s on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village It is a definitive holiday stop for my family. We get our panettones, pan d’oros and marzipan there. It’s also a great stop for a refreshing cappucino and a small pastry.

Rocco’s is actually one of the city’s newest bakeries. Usually most Manhattan pastariccios started in the late 1800’s Rocco’s has only been around since 1974 but like the others is family owned and run. There is amazing array of everything there. The Italian pastries are the best and their cannolis were rated number one in Manhattan by a number of reviews. My favorite is their holiday panettone, the yeasty fruitcake favored by all Italians, Another treat are their various cookies,. These are not just sugar cookies but the Neopolitan almond and Sicilian lemon kinds. There are also the luscious chocolate dipped butter cookie sandwiches brimming with raspberry jam. You can also find biscotti here and thanks to New York‘s cupcake craze, vanilla, chocolate and red velvet cupcakes.

Rocco‘s also has tables where you can sit and enjoy any kind of coffee along with a pastry or gelati. Yes, they have gelati here as well, always freshly made with fresh fruit even in the winter. Another plus is that the bakery offers fresh made marzipan fruit figures and gingerbread houses- perfect holiday hostess gifts.

If you’re in the Greenwich Village , then stop your X-mas shopping and head over to Rocco’s. Treat yourself to a holiday sweet or better yet buy your Christmas cookies and cakes here . Rocco‘s pastries are the perfect dessert after a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinner.