#98 – PRETZEL CAKE TRUFFLES at MOMOFUKU NOODLE BAR

For the third year in a row, I’m going to attempt to eat every single item on Time Out New York’s annual 100 Best Dishes list. In no particular order, here’s my take on their Top 100. Let the gluttony continue…

Am I the only one with a sweet tooth who does not like Momofuku Milk Bar? I keep trying their bizarre soft serve flavors (like Cereal Milk, Salted Cucumber, or BBQ) in hopes that maybe this time I’ll “get it.” I can never finish the ice cream due to the cloyingly sweet flavors and the artificial taste. Yet they keep opening these dessert spots all over the city and people keep coming. I guess I just don’t get it.

I did finally “get” one of their other desserts. I’ve had some of their cake truffles in the past and again found them too sweet, rich, and borderline nauseating. I think the concept is great, but the execution has always left me unimpressed. So I wasn’t terribly excited when Time Out included the pretzel cake balls on their list.

They originally listed them as available at Momofuku’s Noodle Bar. The menu has changed there but we were able to conquer them during our Duck Lunch at Ssäm Bar. These round little cake balls are covered with a blanket of crushed pretzels to ensure the salty/sweet experience.

Inside is a very moist chocolate pretzel cake that tastes more like molasses than chocolate. It was sweet and rich, but had contrasting textures (the crunchy exterior and buttery inside) that made it my favorite dessert from the Momofuku team yet.

The order comes with 3, but I could really only eat one without exploding. One small nugget really felt as if I had eaten an entire piece of cake. We also sampled their Corn Ice Cream Pie, which reminded me why I don’t generally like the desserts here. Thankfully, I’ve found an exception.

Would Momofuku Noodle Bar’s Pretzel Cake Truffles make my Top 100 of the year? They get an 8 out of 10 for giving me the most satisfying sweet bite without being too over-the-top.