Greater Babylon coverage is funded in part by The Argyle Theatre, where Broadway comes to Babylon. Click here for tickets to ‘A Christmas Carol,’ Nov. 7 – Jan. 5.
By Beth Ann Mayer
Is apple the new pumpkin? There’s no real data, but recent headlines suggest this classic fall flavor may be coming for the pumpkin-spice crown.
Blame Starbucks — the creators of the ubiquitous Pumpkin Spice Latte that drops each August, well before the apple-picking season in September. In 2022, the coffee giant introduced an Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato, sparking a food fight that was once reserved for Thanksgiving pie orders, now beginning even before Daylight Savings Time.
Welcome to the party, Starbucks.
Long Islanders have long had a love affair with apples. Out East, orchards and farmstands teem with apple cider doughnuts, drawing people out to enjoy autumn. But if the East End is miles (and hours of traffic) away, Babylon Village offers a convenient alternative for Suffolk and Nassau residents to get their apple cider doughnut fix without the long drive. This small, walkable village packs a punch with a trio of stops for fall pastries.
Torta Fina Bakeshoppe & Patisserie
In a charming, 1950s-inspired shop with pink floral wallpaper and retro decor, Torta Fina Bakeshoppe & Patisserie is love at first sight. But just wait until you taste their apple cider doughnuts, which have people calling in orders and hurrying over to Torta Fina every fall. These doughnuts are kept behind the counter rather than in one of the many clear display cases (which showcase everything from wedding cakes to cake pops). It’s a good call, as it’s hard to resist these cinnamon-sugar-coated treats before checkout.
80 Deer Park Ave., Babylon, 11702
Doughology Babylon
Follow the red-brick road to Doughology Babylon, nestled in a small shopping center on West Main Street near Post Office Café. The shop claims to have unlocked the science behind the perfect doughnut, and their Caramel Apple Crumbcake is a testament to that. This caramel-dipped vanilla doughnut is topped with house-made crumbs and powdered sugar, while the apple pie filling adds a finishing touch that brings together dessert and autumn in one bite. Another fall favorite, the Maple Bacon doughnut, combines breakfast and dessert in perfect harmony. For Nassau residents, there’s also a location in Lynbrook.
80 W. Main Street, Babylon, 11702
The Shuga Pie Shop
Tucked away in a Deer Park Ave. alleyway, The Shuga Pie Shop has a story rooted in chance and resilience. Micheline Cummings and Terry Haughy, former owners of wedding cake business Madame Butterfly, began making “Shuga Pies” out of cake scraps mixed with cream. When the pandemic forced them to close Madame Butterfly’s doors, they pivoted fully to Shuga Pies. Though their alleyway storefront is nondescript, the lines out the door are unmistakable, and the apple-flavored treats are well worth the wait. The menu changes daily, with previews posted on Shuga Pie’s Instagram. Recent fall offerings include apple cider doughnuts, apple sauce cake, and apple jack whiskey pie.
135 Deer Park Ave Unit 3, Babylon, 11702
— Beth Ann Mayer is a Long Island-based freelance writer, content creator, wife and mother of two children and a surplus of pets. Her bylines have appeared in Northforker, Southforker and Long Island Pulse Magazine.
