Manhattan Sweets Boutique Bakery

- Julia Child

IF you have ever strolled down Main Street in Islip chances are you’ve stopped into Manhattan Sweets Boutique Bakery. It’s impossible to walk past the whimsically decorated display windows without stepping inside. For over two decades Manhattan Sweets has been a mecca for lovers of all sorts of fresh homemade baked goods, but it’s their elaborately decorated cakes and cookies that have made them famous. Looking more like works of art, it seems a shame to actually eat them. And yes, they taste even better than they look.

“We have a team of bakers and decorators who have really made Manhattan Sweets stand out as a fantastic location on Long Island for spectacular desserts. Our head baker has over 60 years of experience, spanning from an early upbringing in Germany to a vast resume of bakeries on Long Island. His mastery of baking has made Manhattan Sweets well known for creating superior quality desserts that not only taste incredible but look visually stunning. Our culinary manager and decorating team take a modern approach to decorating and staying ahead of the trends, yet are also masters of very sophisticated and elegant decorating techniques. Our entire team has an influence on our products, and we are always open to new ideas and designs, especially those that fit the fun and imaginative Manhattan Sweets style!” Travis Simon told us.

Nestled beside Manhattan Sweets Bakery is The Cake Boutique, a new addition created to provide a more intimate and personalized experience for those interested in custom cake and dessert orders. The elegant space provides a relaxed and comfortable approach to special event planning. Wedding cakes and dessert tables are a highlight for many. Let’s be honest…the dessert table is always a favorite part of any event! “We came up with the concept for The Cake Boutique when we realized how important personalization is when planning a cake for a wedding or special affair,” Cindy explained. “We wanted to have a dedicated space for guests to visit, enjoy a cup of coffee and relax in. Here, they receive our undivided attention and we can take the time to listen to their ideas and desires. We offer expert guidance and planning from start to finish, from scheduling personalized tastings to creating custom designs, and coordinating every component for the affair, including delivery and set up at the venue or guest’s home. We have created some exciting dessert tables for weddings that have featured our signature baked donuts, rich chocolate dipped rainbow bars, elegant cupcakes, French macarons, and of course massively beautiful cakes. Gold leaf and fresh hand selected flowers are popular garnishes on all of these desserts, but anything our guests can imagine we can typically incorporate into the experience. We also carry a full line of party supplies, party favors and specialty one-of-a kind gifts for all occasions. We welcome anyone to schedule an appointment to sit with one of our skilled decorators and discuss an idea for an upcoming event. Our goal is to go above and beyond our guests expectations. If they can dream it we can bake it!”

Manhattan Sweets holiday specialties are expansive. With a European background, they do make several popular European inspired classics, including their signature Bûche de Noël, more commonly known as the Yule Log. This delicious Christmas time torte is made with fresh vanilla sponge cake rolled with various fillings, from chocolate mousse to fresh raspberry jam, and coated in a rich chocolate fudge to resemble bark. Each log is beautifully detailed and hand decorated with pine cones, mushrooms and spruce branches making it a realistic and wonderfully festive centerpiece for a holiday table. “Over the years we’ve made multiple variations of the Yule Log adding our own flair to it. We even make a pink Yule Log that matches the Manhattan Sweets aesthetic!” laughed Cindy. “We also make a delicious authentic Stolen, which is a German sweet bread soaked with pure butter and loaded with candied fruits and nuts. This type of bread is found everywhere in Germany throughout the Christmas season. It is something we’ve served for decades throughout our family history and has become extremely popular with our customers. We offer many special holiday desserts and Christmas cookies and confections, especially our classic Rainbow Cakes, which look like Christmas decorations, making them perfect for a holiday table. We also make rainbow cookie donuts, cupcakes, muffins and truffles, which are very popular. We ship our famous rainbow bars nationwide…these make fantastic holiday gifts, especially for friends or relatives who have moved out of state and can’t stop by the bakery for their favorite baked goods.” Whatever event you are celebrating, desserts make life’s special occasions even sweeter. Manhattan Sweets Bakery Boutique can make planning for your event a fun and enjoyable experience. Even an ordinary day can become a little special with a baked goodie, so stop in to Manhattan Sweets for freshly brewed coffee or hot chocolate and a morning Danish, but do go early as they typically sell out of Danish before noon! Happy Holidays!

A beautifully styled dessert table is typically the first thing your guests will notice. Besides being a focal point, buffet tables are convenient when entertaining at home because guests can serve themselves. Here are some tips for designing a fabulous table.

A small table or sideboard is perfect to display your desserts on. If you are entertaining in close quarters, a wheeled or bar cart makes a great display table and can be moved around as needed. A two-tiered cart or table will provide extra serving space - the bottom shelf is a convenient place to put plates and utensils. Set up your table away from the main gathering area so it will free up space. Your dessert table will be a magnet for guests and become an additional place for them to mingle.

Using serving dishes with varied heights is essential! Avoid setting everything flat on the table. Decorative items like flowers and tiered cake stands are perfect for adding height. Plates of cookies can be placed atop festively wrapped boxes; mini and bite-sized desserts can be displayed on cake stands. Decorative plates, bowls and wood boards can all be used to display treats and décor. It’s a good idea to leave some serving dishes and places on the table empty so that guests who brought a dessert have a place to put it.

Anchor your table with a spectacular cake as the centerpiece. Surround it with an eye-catching mix of bitesized desserts and confections like cupcakes, cookies, brownies, pastries, truffles and mints. Your dessert table can also double as bar space. Offer shot-sized signature cocktails on rustic trays; designate space on your buffet for after-dinner cordials and glasses; or arrange a coffee station with mugs, flavored syrups and creamers.

Use holiday decor, jars, candles, flowers, picture frames and string lights to jazz up your buffet. If your table is very large add bowls of fruit or ornaments, vintage seasonal pieces or sprigs of fresh greenery. Nothing needs to match, but everything should tie together through color and/or style. The only rule is to make it your own. Be it sophisticated or playful, your dessert table should reflect your personality…have some fun with it!