Ten of the Chicest Cakes in New York

By Gillian Sagansky, Vogue

Katharine Hepburn reportedly once said, “What you see before you, my friend, is the result of a lifetime of chocolate.” And if chocolate worked for Katharine Hepburn, it could also work for you. In honor of National Chocolate Cake Day, Vogue.com found the most sublime chocolate cakes in New York City. From a flourless cake from confectioner François Payard (he swears it just worked out that way) to the charred marshmallows and malted milk crumbs on Momofuku’s signature sweet, chocolate cake comes in many iterations, each as delicious as the last. Of course, we had to ask, what’s the secret to a good chocolate cake? According to Balthazar pastry chef Mark Tasker, “A good chocolate cake requires great chocolate, great complementary ingredients, and a knowledge of how to put them all together. That’s why I had to go to school for three years!” So whether you’re celebrating this momentous holiday, doing some preemptive planning for Valentine’s Day, or following Ms. Hepburn’s lifestyle choice, these ten cakes are sure to ignite the senses.

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Lady M

Couronne du Chocolat

The Couronne du Chocolat is made of layers of chocolate sponge cake and dark chocolate mousse and finished with a coat of ganache, chocolate crumbs, and white chocolate shavings.

Mast Brothers Chocolate

Cocoa Nib Fudge Cake

This fudgelike cake contains cacao nibs mixed in the batter and is coated with toasted marshmallow meringue.

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Clinton Street Baking Company

Black and White Layer Cake

For dark chocolate lovers: a cake made of the bittersweet variety and topped with a ganache frosting.

Balthazar

Classic Opera Cake

For your afternoon coffee break, try this almond sponge cake with an espresso rum soak, filled with coffee butter cream and chocolate ganache, and dressed with marzipan roses.

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Momofuku Milk Bar

Chocolate Malt Cake

This iteration is made of layers of malted fudge, malted milk crumbs, charred marshmallows and frosted with malted chocolate.

Sant Ambroeus

Sant Ambroeus Chocolate Cake

A mousselike cake with a chocolate-custard center.

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François Payard

Decadence Cake

Another rich, flourless iteration, this time with cocoa powder dusted on top.

Dominique Ansel

Mini Me Cake

A treat for those who eat gluten-free, this textured cake is flourless (of course) and has light chocolate milk, creamy chocolate ganache, and crispy chocolate meringues.

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La Maison du Chocolat

The Brésilien Cake

For espresso lovers, this cake features an infusion of Arabica coffee from Papua and is layered with coffee-chocolate mousse.

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Sugar Factory

Devil’s Sponge Cake

What better way to crown this chocolate ganache mousse cake than with a bit of whipped cream?

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