Carol Becker

As owner of William Greenberg Desserts, a New York City Upper East Side institution, Carol Becker is the caretaker of almost 80 years of tradition. The bakery’s Black & White Cookies have been called the best in the city, the brownies have appeared on AMC’s Mad Men and baked goods like Challah and Rugelach are integral to holidays, celebrations, and everyday lives of many. When Becker took over the bakery from William Greenberg, she ushered the beloved Madison Avenue destination into a new era while respecting its cherished legacy.

Since 1946, William Greenberg Desserts has been making American and eastern European pastries like fruit filled Hamantaschen cookies, shortbread Linzer Tarts and delectable fruit pies for legions of fans throughout the city. Growing up on the Upper East Side, Becker knew that William Greenberg Desserts wasn’t just a bakery but an integral part of a community. To maintain that heritage, she chose to continue with William Greenberg’s original recipes prepared by the bakers who had been with the bakery for decades.

In addition to maintaining the bakery’s high quality and kosher reputation, Becker has ushered in a new era. She has added lemon bars, mini bundt cakes, and custom colored Black & White Cookies among others while expanding the bakery’s web presence and mail order business significantly. With a deep appreciation for heritage and community and a love of fine baked goods, Carol Becker has become a caretaker of tradition while modernizing William Greenberg Desserts for a whole new generation