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...