Chewy Cakey Fudgy

Published on Tuesday, August 8, 2006, by The CHOW Editorial Team / Edit Post

Our ideal brownie is more dense than cake, more chewy than fudge, intensely chocolaty with a crackly top. But while the CHOW tasters could agree on those things, we had different opinions about which mail-order brownies are best. In the end, we all preferred the brownie we developed ourselves. But if you’d rather someone else do the baking, we’ve also included some good candidates. (Prices do not include shipping.)

Dancing Deer
(three stars)
Our favorite cakey brownie. Moist and dense on the inside with a sweet and crumbly crust. May be too sweet for some.
1.25 pounds for $16.95

Embrace
(three stars)
These brownies were so rich and moist that one taster questioned if they were “underdone.” Not for the cakey camp.
2 pounds for $23.95

Fat Witch Bakery
(four stars)
The baby witches are small, which we liked. More chocolate than other brownies. A little fudgy.
2.6 pounds for $32.50

New York Brownies
(four stars)
Both the fudgy camp and the cakey camp liked these brownies. Uniformly moist with an intense but balanced chocolate flavor.
4 pounds for $30

Sans Souci Gourmet Confections
(five stars)
The confections formerly known as brownies are now called Marquis Bars. Dense, fudgy, chocolaty.
1.25 pounds for $23

Photograph by Kevin Twomey

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POST A COMMENT |17 Comments

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  • The brownies at LollipopChef.com are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Hey everyone, I'm a big fan of Embrace, I've been ordering their brownies since this article came out and am in love. They now do cookies and granola as well but their brownies still reign. I've also just found out they are now in San Francisco (might open a store), i'm gonna have to join a gym or have my sweet tooth pulled.

  • Last year, I think I mentioned that I tried The Exceptional Brownie at one of the food shows in NY and I've been ordering since then. They are very chocolately, and not too sweet like many other brownies. That's the best part plus they have great flavors, the espresso is my favorite. I don't know where they are sold but you can get them at their site which is www.exceptionalbrownie.com

  • Solomon's in Chicago make a great brownie too - and for something unusual - Dolcielo make liquor enhanced brownies for "adults". I think Dancing Deer's Caramel Brownies are great and Fat Witch are pretty good.

  • To retrieve the brownie recipe just click "the brownie we developed ourselves" in the introduction.

  • I always do the orange box Baker's also. Much easier than going to the store to buy fake ones and much better, also. I don't think there are any better than Baker's microwaved brownies and there's pretty much unanimous agreement from the kids around here.
    There's no brownie recipe in the right hand side of my screen, by the way. No "related recipes." There's a recipes column below here, but it...+READ

    I always do the orange box Baker's also. Much easier than going to the store to buy fake ones and much better, also. I don't think there are any better than Baker's microwaved brownies and there's pretty much unanimous agreement from the kids around here.
    There's no brownie recipe in the right hand side of my screen, by the way. No "related recipes." There's a recipes column below here, but it doesn't have any brownies.-COLLAPSE

  • Nigella's snow flecked brownies are the best. Also I always use the best quality Lindt Dark Chocolate as it really does make a difference

  • I have been using a very similar recipe originally found in Chocolatier, but adapted it to use all bittersweet chocolate instead of unsweeteened. Consistently good results & I use a metal 8 x 8 pan lined with heavyduty foil sprayed with nonstick spray. Also melt the chocolate & the butter together in a glass or plastic bowl for about 1-2 minutes (depending on wattage) in the microwave. Easier...+READ

    I have been using a very similar recipe originally found in Chocolatier, but adapted it to use all bittersweet chocolate instead of unsweeteened. Consistently good results & I use a metal 8 x 8 pan lined with heavyduty foil sprayed with nonstick spray. Also melt the chocolate & the butter together in a glass or plastic bowl for about 1-2 minutes (depending on wattage) in the microwave. Easier cleanup is my goal. Mix the eggs & sugar in a large mixing bowl, dump in the melted chocolate, sift the dry ingredients over everything, mix until just blended & pour onto pan. Bake at 325 for 25 minutes or so until JUST pulling away from sides of pan. Cool completely (a couple of hours) & cut with a plastic knife for best results. If you can't wait, stick the whole pan into the freezer for 20 minutes or so & then it will cut easily. I have been sending these & other brownies & my biscotti all over the country for the last 6 years successfully.-COLLAPSE

  • Baker's chocolate. Orange box you find in the grocery store. Use the recipe on the back of the box. Not only is it ridiculously easy but they are the best brownies anyone who tries them has ever had. Bake them in a glass pan lined with aluminium foil. You will never buy brownies again.

  • Zingermans, nothing in this world is better.

  • Why a glass baking dish. Does it make a difference? Or could you just adjust the temperature 25 degrees higher if you use a metal one?

  • Hi there. You've left out Simply Divine Heavenly Brownies. Those are the best. They have frosting on top, which at times is overboard, but they are so very indulgent.

  • Ghirardelli's recipe from the box (1940's?) is hand's down the best. I do need to try the receipe with Scharfenberger... it may be killer!

  • You need to try Zingerman's Brownies....if I could find your address I'd send you some......

  • Ever try Mary Louise Butter's brownies? They rock!! I am a fan of the Aztec that has chipotle chili in it. They are are cakey-fudgy, dark, rich chocolate goodness!! www.buttersbrownies.com

  • Look all the way over on the righthand column in "Related Recipes"

  • Where's the recipe???