11 New Jersey Pastries Everyone Is Talking About
Bakeries have a way of drawing people in with warmth, aroma, and the kind of comfort that never goes out of style. In New Jersey, that feeling is everywhere, from neighborhood storefronts to family-run institutions passing down recipes through generations.
Flaky layers, rich fillings, and nostalgic flavors fill display cases with treats that spark instant joy.
Some pastries feel timeless, others offer a fresh twist, but all carry the unmistakable character of a state that loves great baking. For anyone with a sweet tooth, New Jersey delivers delights worth seeking out again and again.
1. Lobster Tail Pastries From Rispoli Pastry Shop
With locations in Emerson and Ridgefield, Rispoli’s serves up lobster tails that look almost too pretty to eat. These shell-shaped pastries feature countless delicate layers that puff up into airy, golden perfection.
Light custard cream fills the center without overwhelming the pastry itself. The texture contrast between crispy layers and smooth filling creates something truly special that keeps people talking.
2. Rainbow Cookies From Gencarelli’s Bakery
Gencarelli’s has been baking these tricolor treats in Bloomfield and Wayne, New Jersey for years, and they’ve nailed the recipe. Each cookie features three moist almond cake layers in red, white, and green, held together with raspberry jam.
A thin chocolate coating seals everything together. The almond flavor shines through without being overpowering, and the texture stays perfectly soft and tender days after purchase.
3. Sfogliatelle From Gencarelli’s Bakery
Sfogliatelle might look intimidating, but one bite explains why they’re worth the effort to make. Gencarelli’s version features impossibly crispy ridged shells that took hours of careful laminating.
Inside, orange-scented ricotta filling provides a bright, citrusy contrast to the buttery pastry. These are best enjoyed warm, when the shells are at their crispiest and the filling is slightly melty and fragrant.
4. Heavy Crumb Coffee Cake From B&W Bakery
Early birds line up at B&W Bakery in Hackensack, New Jersey every morning for this legendary cake. The name says it all – the crumb topping is thick, buttery, and almost as tall as the cake itself.
Unlike lighter versions, this one feels substantial and satisfying with coffee or tea. The cake base stays moist while supporting that famous heavy crumb layer that crumbles perfectly with each forkful.
5. Jelly Donuts From B&W Bakery
Forget what you think you know about jelly donuts. B&W Bakery makes theirs fresh every morning, and regulars know to arrive early before they sell out.
The dough is light and pillowy, fried to golden perfection. Each donut gets filled generously with sweet jelly and dusted with powdered sugar. They’re best enjoyed warm, when the jelly is still slightly warm and the sugar hasn’t dissolved yet.
6. Pignoli Cookies From Sorrento Bakery
Sorrento Bakery in East Hanover, New Jersey has built a loyal following around these chewy almond cookies. Covered completely in pine nuts, they offer a texture that’s both soft and slightly crunchy at the same time.
The almond paste base creates a rich, marzipan-like flavor without being overly sweet. These cookies stay fresh for days and actually improve slightly as the flavors meld together.
7. Cannoli From Sorrento Bakery & Deli
East Hanover’s Sorrento Bakery fills their cannoli shells only when you order them. This simple practice makes all the difference in maintaining that essential shell crispness that defines a great cannoli.
The sweetened ricotta filling is smooth and creamy, never grainy or watery. Some bakeries overfill their cannoli, but Sorrento’s keeps the shell-to-filling ratio just right for balanced flavor in every bite.
8. Sfogliatelle From Italian Peoples Bakery
Italian Peoples Bakery serves Mercerville and Trenton, New Jersey with pastries that honor old-world techniques. Their sfogliatelle features dozens of paper-thin layers wrapped around a citrusy ricotta filling that tastes like sunshine.
Each pastry takes serious skill to create, and you can taste the craftsmanship. The filling carries hints of orange and lemon that brighten the rich, buttery dough surrounding it.
9. Seeded Italian Bread From Italian Peoples Bakery
While technically bread rather than pastry, these crusty loaves deserve recognition for their perfection. Italian Peoples Bakery bakes them with generous sesame seed coating and a crust that crackles when you squeeze it.
The interior is soft and airy with big, irregular holes – exactly what good Italian bread should be. These loaves are perfect for sandwiches or simply torn apart and dipped in olive oil.
10. Homemade Crumb Cakes From Mueller’s Bakery
Down at the Jersey Shore in Bay Head, Mueller’s Bakery keeps things simple and delicious. Their crumb cakes bring that classic bakery flavor that reminds people of childhood weekend mornings.
The crumb topping is generous without being overwhelming, and the cake underneath stays tender and moist. Everything is made from scratch daily, giving the bakery that warm, yeasty smell that draws people in from the street.
11. Cannoli From Calandra’s Bakery
Nothing beats biting into a cannoli shell that shatters just right. Calandra’s in Newark, New Jersey has perfected this classic Italian pastry with shells that stay crispy until the very last bite.
The ricotta filling strikes a beautiful balance – not too sweet, not too heavy. Customers can choose between plain shells or chocolate-dipped versions, both filled fresh to order so the shell never gets soggy.
