New York City's Best Brownies

As we eat our way through the city’s greatest sweets, we check on how brownies are stacking up these days.  As we learned, there’s more to life in the big city than just brownies…

BEST BROWNIE – PERIOD

Fat Witch Bakery
Chelsea Market
75 9^th Ave. (at 15^th St.)
1-888-41 WITCH
http://www.fatwitch.com/brownie.html
Though
they’re small, Fat Witch Babies (or mini brownies) pack a sweet punch,
especially the blondie. Described as a chocolate chip cookie in brownie
form, it’s a cube of chewy perfection  that
doesn’t skimp on the chocolate ($1.40). The white chocolate Snow Witch,
Red Witch (cherry), and Breakfast Witch (oatmeal, nuts and coffee) are
other unusual takes on the classic brownie that come in larger sizes
for $2.75 each.

BEST BROWNIE INVENTION — THE BROWNIE ICE CREAM SANDWICH
Bierkraft
191 5^th Ave. (btwn. Berkeley Place and Sackett St.)
(718) 230-7600
www.bierkraft.com
Apparently, ice cold German beer goes best with a brownie ice cream sandwich.  At least, that’s what the owners at this gourmet beer emporium must think.  Take a look
inside the freezer near the cash register: Inside lies the 
“Brownie-wich,” an ice cream sandwich made with il laboratorio del gelato
ice cream and two slabs of homemade brownies.   You’ll burn a few calories just trying to fit the whole concoction in your mouth.  Creamy and decadent, our favorite is the sandwich with vanilla chocolate chip ice cream
filling.

THE MOISTEST BROWNIE
Grey Dog Coffee
90 University Place, (btwn. 11^th & 12^th Sts.)
(212) 414-4739
www.thegreydog.com
It’s worth the wait in line for a whopping piece of what just might be the moistest brownie in New York City.  That’s right.  Think a torrid affair between cheesecake and a brownie: Swirls
of tangy cream cheese cut through the richness of each marbled
brownie.  Grey Dog’s is best savored straight from the oven, which happens frequently.    

DO-IT-YOURSELF BROWNIE

Insomnia Cookies
50 West 8^th Street, (btwn. 7th & Greenwich Aves.)
(877) 63-COOKIE
http://www.insomniacookies.com/index.php
Have you ever craved a fresh-from-the-oven sweets in the the middle of the night?  That’s why Insomnia Cookies is open til three in the morning.   Of course, they peddle in cookies too, but the real find here are the do-it-yourself brownies with your choice of toppings.   Try the white chocolate chips or Snickers: both have a way of cushioning the blow of a hangover over late-night studies.

BEST BROWNIE SUNDAE

Penny Licks
158 Bedford Ave. (btwn. 8^th and 9^th Sts.)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
(718) 384-0158
This
Brooklyn ice cream parlor caters to everybody’s sweet tooth. 
Literally.   They even feature a vegan brownie sundae that’s curiously delicious.  At the bottom of a biodegradable
cup lies a warm, fudgy brownie glossed in chocolate sauce.   Customers
can take their pick of vegan or regular ice cream in a variety of
flavors, and the entire concoction is appropriately topped off with
vegan whipped cream and a cherry.

BEST NON-CHOCOLATE BROWNIE

Baked
359 Van Brunt St., (btwn. Dikeman & Wolcott Sts.)
Red Hook, Brooklyn
(718) 222-0345
www.bakednyc.com
If you live in Red Hook, we envy you.  If you don’t, the unconventional brownies at this bakery are worth traveling for.   Chewy and moist, Baked not only offers classic flavor combinations like PB&J and lemon lime, but also a superby salted caramel, peppermint, or peanut butter.   Whatever you’re craving, ask for a warm and crusty end piece!

BEST CLASSICALLY FRENCH BROWNIE

Balthazar
80 Spring St., (btwn Broadway and Crosby Sts.)
(212) 965-1414
www.balthazarny.com
When people think of this French bakery, they think croissants, madeleines and coffee.  But Balthazar not only delivers on the brownie, they deliver “Le Brownie:”  A perfect square of light but sophisticated chocolate, dusted with bittersweet cocoa and filled with chunky walnuts ($3.)

RICHEST BROWNIE…

RICHEST BROWNIE

Charbonnet et Walker
Saks Fifth Avenue, 8^th Floor
611 5^th Ave., (btwn 49^th & 50^th Sts.)
(212) 588-0546
Most
women have a weakness when it comes to shoes and chocolate, so Saks Fifth Avenue wised up.  Now, you can indulge in a freshly baked chocolate brownie as you shop.  Dusted with confectioner’s sugar, these dark chocolate brownies
are so rich and soft they literally melt in the mouth.

MOST EXOTIC BROWNIE
Chocolate Bar
127 East 7^th St., (btwn. 1^st Ave. & Ave. A)
(212) 366-1541
www.chocolatebarnyc.com
This
small shop features an array of unusual chocolates, candy bars, and
even clothing, but the brownies are what really stand out here.  If
you like your brownies cakey, this is the place to go.  For $2.50 a
piece, they come in regular and spicy flavors, like chipotle or
cinnamon.  

 
BEST VEGAN BROWNIE
Babycakes
248 Broome Street, (btwn. Ludlow and Orchard Sts.)
(212) 677-5047
www.babycakesnyc.com
This Lower East Side bakery isn’t just popular with health conscious eaters.  Babycakes pulls of vegan, dairy-free sweets, that are strangely addictive.   The agave- sweetened brownies (pictured right) each get a rich cap of gooey chocolate.  “Supposedly,” they’re made with just soy, gluten agave, eggs.  We’re just miffed as you are.   

Until we eat again,
Restaurant Girl
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